When Atheists go to Court, they can't swear on the bible, can they?
2007-07-31 20:01:51 · 26 answers · asked by flannelpajamas1 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I suppose an Atheist could swear on the bible. It just wouldn't mean anything.
2007-07-31 20:04:15 · answer #1 · answered by since you asked 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I started a job working for a county court, I had to swear to god to uphold the law, yadda, yadda, yadda. As an atheist, I thought it was peculiar, but I went along with it because I needed the job.
I think there are alternate ways of swearing in atheists, but I can't recall them at the moment. It's easier to just swear on the Bible even though it personally doesn't mean anything.
One would think that it's blasphemous to swear on a religion one doesn't really believe, but that doesn't seem to bother most people. I think most True Believers would rather have me pretend to follow their religion than to honestly tell them what I really believe...
2007-08-01 03:13:04 · answer #2 · answered by crypto_the_unknown 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheists have just as much right to be a lying hypocrite as Christians. Although they're much less likely, they do have the right. Also, if they refuse, the jury (comprised of a majority of christians) will likely form a prejudiced view of them. Therefore, a christian will lie after swearing to tell the truth, while an Atheist will only lie about taking the swearing on the bible ritual seriously.
2007-08-01 03:05:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I remember something about affirming instead of swearing . . . but don't recall the details.
U P D A T E :
Boy, I can't find much about atheists and swearing on the bible. I find a lot of discussion about it but can't find an example of an alternative oath or affirmation.
Apparently, an atheist can affirm that he'll tell the truth on pain of suffering the consequences for perjury.
2007-08-01 03:04:47 · answer #4 · answered by Seeker 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not positive, but I don't think the courts use the Bible in that way any longer. At least, they don't in the state I live in. They just tell you to raise your right hand and swear to tell the truth. Peace.
2007-08-01 03:06:43 · answer #5 · answered by superfluity 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will be asked to, but they can refuse. Of course they can swear on the bible. Why not?
Some religions prohibit "swearing" of any sort, so the adherents affirm rather than swear.
2007-08-01 03:05:32 · answer #6 · answered by treebird 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can swear at the bible. Is that the same thing?
2007-08-01 03:23:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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This procedure is sometimes required outside of Court too, such as when making a statutory declaration in front of a solicitor. I recently made one in front of my solicitor and had to swear on the Bible even though we are both atheists.
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2007-08-01 03:14:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol good question. but not just atheists. if someone swears on the bible, but they've never read it for themselves, and they dont believe in it for themselves, then its like swearing on dirt. it doesnt mean n e thing at all to give their word based on something they dont even care about. if they break their word and lie, it wont matter to them. so i dont even know why we swear people i n e more. our country is going to waste
2007-08-01 03:05:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just about as useful as a christian swearing on the bible (it doesn't work).
2007-08-01 03:06:49 · answer #10 · answered by misterFR33ZE 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋