If you believe in God, but do not believe that the Bible is TRUE, and has not been translated correctly, and is more of a man's word, and law, and story, rather than the word of God? If you are called into court to testify, should you have to swear on the Bible?
How can you swear to tell the truth, using a religious icon, that you do not believe is true?
2007-07-23 17:54:18 · 7 answers · asked by jaded 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Well, first, in legal terminology, an "oath" and an "affirmation" are not the same thing. An oath is a promise to tell the truth with one's hand on the bible or another religious icon (in many states, if you are not Christian, you may ask to swear on the sacred text of your particular religion).
An "affirmation" is specifically the non-religious equivalent of the oath. You do not place your hand upon the bible when you make an "affirmation." As a matter of constitutional law, a court must accept either an oath or an affirmation as equivalent: they cannot discriminate against you in any way because you choose to make an affirmation rather than an oath.
Interesting trivia: When making an affirmation, it is customary to raise one's right hand into the air with the palm open. This is an extremely old custom. In the Middle Ages, before centralized criminal records existed, courts would signify a felony conviction by branding the guilty party in various places (including the fleshy part of the right hand) with a small letter or symbol to signify the person's crime. (For example, "T" would mean "thief"). Then, as now, felons were disqualified from giving testimony under oath. By raising their right hand, a person would show that they were free of branding marks, and therefore able to legally give testimony.
2007-07-23 21:40:53 · answer #1 · answered by Jason W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian. I believe that the Bible is the word of God. However, I would not oppose a change in law that says a person does not have to 'swear' on the Bible or any book. Why not just promise to tell the truth? Millions of people have placed their hand on the Bible and lied like hell. So what's the point? Just tell people that there reputation as a decent human being is riding on whether or not they tell the truth. Although, I guess that throughout much of the history of the western world, one's adherence to Christian teachings has been the thing we judge them on.
2007-07-23 18:04:19 · answer #2 · answered by Zezo Zeze Zadfrack 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most people affirm they are telling the truth. The idea of swearing before God, on His Word for a Christian is serious business.
2007-07-23 18:07:05 · answer #3 · answered by ShadowCat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't really swear in on a Bible or anything else in real courts today. Most courts will ask you to "swear or affirm" or just "affirm" that you are telling the truth.
2007-07-23 17:58:50 · answer #4 · answered by Catspaw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legally speaking.... in the US, the law cannot have any opinion on the subject.
But regarding your oath or affirmation to testify truthfully, that is independent of your view of whether the Bible is literally true, figuratively valid, or bedroom fiction.
You are giving your oath or affirmation to the court -- and the court is not basing that on your religious beliefs.
2007-07-23 17:58:45 · answer #5 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you can affirm to tell the truth in court if you prefer
2007-07-23 17:59:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
fact and fiction = both = there are truth and there are false
2007-07-23 21:37:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋