If an atheist is asked to "tell the truth, so help them god" are they require to do so?

Question

If its "so help me god" and an atheist doesn't believe in god, then would negate purgury laws? What if I don't wish to put my hands on a bible? How about a copy of Jurassic Park? Way I see it, it would mean about the same........."so help me rex"

Answer 1

If someone wanted to push the issue in court, they would be sworn in simply by raising their right hand (with their left hand down at their side) and swearing "to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, under penalty of law for perjury". Those may not be the exact words used, but that was what I witnessed after a long delay of someone throwing a fit for having to swear to God in court.

Answer 2

Well, I certainly find the 'so help me god' part to be no threat, since I don't believe that god will punish me.

I do not believe that it is necessary to put your hand on the bible, accept in some backward (probably in the South) towns.

There is some room for modification. For instance, a federal congressman, within the past year, swore into office, using Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Quran.

I believe though, that atheists will merely be asked to 'swear to tell the truth', without the religious text touching.

:-)

Answer 3

One, you are being rediculous even if you don't believe in God to disrespect others beleif int he bible by comparing swearing on the bible to tell the truth, to searing on a book of Jurassic Park.

Now if you want to know the reality. Swearing on the bible to tell the truth is because most people won't lie before God if they believe in him. But if you place your hand on the bible in court and say you swear to tell hte truth, you will be held legally bound to tell the truth. Now if you have a problem with the Bible, make that known tot he court and say, "I do not believe in the Bible or in God, so you iwll know swearing to tell the truth before God has no validity for me." They may say, then just swear to tell the truth before these witnesses. Many states even have removed the act of swearing on the Bible to tell the truth. I was in a Utah court several years ago, they simply had those giving testimony raise their right hand and the office of the court simply said, Rise your right hand. The person did. They were asked if they understood that lying in court is a crime , the crime of purgery and those who purger themselves will be charged and then told us how many years you could get in prison for pergery. Then said, understanding this, do you swear to tell the truth. You either then say with your right hand uplifted, I do or I don't. If you don't swear to tell the truth, it's my understanding the courts declare you a hostile witness and they let the jury know what being a hostile witness means.

If you truly are an atheist, then just be honest in court and tell them if they use the bible, that you don't believe in the bible, its teaching or in God so you can't swear on the bible to tell the truth.

Answer 4

Usually the wording is changed to something along the lines of "Tell the truth in accordance to the laws in this state" or some such thing. Most courts don't use "so help me God."

Answer 5

Unless you believe in eternal damnation, all an oath or affirmation does is expose you to civil penalties for perjury. Regardless of your religious beliefs, if you swear an oath and lie you are exposed to criminal sanctions. Belief or non-belief in god makes no difference.

Answer 6

Most courts don't even use that anymore and the few that do will let you take a civil oath.

Answer 7

Yes. Religious people have the power to lie too.

Answer 8

there is normally a different oath they take