I'm not religious and, moreover, do not respect religions. The Bible is an obvious mockery of truth and I would have to regard any testimony made under oath to tell the truth made on the Bible to be a worthless.
If I were to participate in a trial in any capacity, (witness, defendant, juror) could I insist that non-religious oaths be taken by all participants as well as myself?
2007-06-25 04:58:02 · 9 answers · asked by Frog Five 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
How do you read "imposing and forcing my views on others" from requiring an agnostic or secular oath?
It's the other way round, if anything. There is no earthly reason to take seriously any oath sworn to a god when I only have your word and opinion that it exists in the first place! A religious oath is a peice of nonsense.
2007-06-25 16:20:40 · update #1
There is already provision for people like you. You would be required to affirm. The affirmation is as binding on your conscience as the oath and any breach of your solemn undertaking could lead to perjury proceedings.
You would have no right whatseover to dictate what other people do according to conscience. They would be free to swear on the religious book of their choice or to affirm.
2007-06-25 05:35:37 · answer #1 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In Pennsylvania you have two choices:
(1) an oath [which you may find objectionable for religious grounds]; or
(2) an affirmation [which is just a promise that you will tell the truth or faithfully perform your duties as a juror or as a personal representative of an estate, or whatever capacity in which you may serve].
2007-06-25 12:25:50 · answer #2 · answered by Mark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you're in the U.S., the Constitution, Article VI, section 3, provides: “ ...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. ”, and most state constitutions have similar language. You are entitled to your religious views, and most judges are very sensitive to this issue. Generally, if you discretely ask, prior to being "sworn in" if you can instead affirm, or give an alternate oath, the judge will often with courtesy provide you with an inoffensive process.
I hope this helps. Good luck to you.
Smith & Raver LLP. Minneapolis.
2007-06-25 12:11:07 · answer #3 · answered by Smith & Raver LLP, Minneapolis 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't use bibles anymore. They make you swear to tell the truth under the penalty of perjury. If you tell a lie, you may not have a hell to go to, but there is a jail cell waiting for you.
It's only for a year usually but that's better than burning in all eternity I guess.
2007-06-25 12:00:56 · answer #4 · answered by Eisbär 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You as an individual can certainly opt to make a non-religious affirmation as to your intention to be true and honest... anybody else involved can affirm or avow according to their own belief system...
Why would you want to force your views on other people when the court system is prepared to take your opinions into account in what is a broadly christian nation (UK)?
2007-06-25 19:20:13 · answer #5 · answered by thelongview 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
there may be some places in the bible belt that still use "god" in the swearing in, but by and large it IS "agonstic" now.( see answer below)
2007-06-25 12:03:18 · answer #6 · answered by lily-of-the-valley 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not about you. It's about in which country the testimony is to be given.
2007-06-25 12:02:55 · answer #7 · answered by captbullshot 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Why should you impose your views on all around you?
2007-06-25 12:02:47 · answer #8 · answered by Canute 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
what a pratt
2007-06-27 20:23:58 · answer #9 · answered by Jezabel 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋