If the USA is a none-religious country, why are people sworn on the bible? and what if you are an atheist?

Answer 1

There's the flaw. America has indeed become a very religious country. So, the premise of "If the USA is a nonreligious country," is wrong from the beginning.

In fact, the government of America is only a couple of steps away from reaching the same level of fervor as the Taliban.

The fact that the founding fathers placed safeguards against such religious zeal just drives home the point that the religious in the country have taken great strides to undermine that freedom.

As I understand it, an atheist (or other non-Christian) can decline to swear on the Bible. I would warn against that, as juries are not always impartial. If you have a few religious fanatics in the jury, they may side against you simply for being a godless heathen.

Answer 2

A man was sworn in on the Quran recently. The First Amendment forbids a state religion, so one should not be sworn in with religious books. I refuse to swear anything on Bible, Quran, Tao Te Ching, Sutras, Eddas or any other religious book. That is my right.

Answer 3

They don't have to be sworn in on the Bible. Most courts nowadays do not require witnesses to put their hand on the Bible. They just have to swear or affirm that they will tell the truth.

Officials like the President don't have to swear on the Bible, they choose to. It's voluntary. The first Muslim member of Congress was sworn in on the Koran - Thomas Jefferson's copy.

Answer 4

If you are an atheist and are asked to swear on a bible before testifying, don't. That is called perjury, and if the opposing counsel has done his or her background check on you, the jury is going to wonder if anything else you say is the truth, since the first words out of your mouth were lies. I am not ashamed of being an atheist, and I will never back down from my beliefs. Too many people have shed blood to defend them.

Answer 5

It is a secular custom without any religious significance. If you believe in the God of the Bible, there is no need to swear on the Bible because you believe that God is all-knowing and will judge you anyway. Notice that when people get married in a Church they don't put their hands on a Bible when they make their vows. So it is not important.

In fact, I'm not sure if they even do that in court anymore.

Answer 6

The USA is a VERY religious country.

We don't have a state relgion, and we're SUPPOSED to have religious freedom, which includes choosing not to be religious.

But in practice, it's not always so.

BTW, it's only in small towns in the "bible belt" that judges tend to require swearing-in on the bible. Hopefully that will stop everywhere in America, soon.

Answer 7

America was founded on Christian values and and on a Christian lifestyle. That is why the Pilgrims came! To worship God freely! And our Founding Fathers had Biblical standards as well. And that is why when George Washington was sworn in to the presidency, there was a Bible present, that he swore with to do his very best for our country. In years gone by, the world as turned more and more against God and these clean values and morals, so it would appear as though America is non-religious. People have become so wrapped up in sin and dirty living, and have begun to refuse Jesus Christ, that America is slowing going to pot. But to answer your question, people (like myself) are sworn on the Bible, because that's what this country was founded on. And if you are atheist, then that's your personal choice.

Answer 8

It is a country that has separation of Church and State, but while the United States works hard to keep this separation distinct, there are a few...bleed overs, if you will. For the most part, the First Amendment protects this from becoming more prominent than it all ready is.

Answer 9

Have you ever read your first amendment?

It says - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

It does not say "separation of church and state", it says "the state shall not make a law to establish a religion, or to prohibit the exercise of a religion."

As to being sworn on the Bible, the Bible itself says to not to do that. There are alternatives for atheists who wish not to swear before God.

Answer 10

The US is a non-religious country on paper (i.e., the Constitution). Getting people to follow the law of the land is another thing and has taken decades upon decades.