As an athiest, If I were tried for something is it required to swear on the bible?

Question

I'm an athiest, so swearing on the bible is no more convincing me not to lie than swearing on any other book, but that doesn't mean I'm going to lie because contrary to popular belief I actually have morals. What the hell is the bible gonna do to me if I do lie?

Answer 1

This something I feel I ought to take a stand on... in fact, I'd rather stand on a bible than read one or swear on one any day.

You simply respond that you promise to tell the truth. Neither the bible nor god has to be a part of your promise.

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Answer 2

I'm very tired, so I apologize in advance if my message doesn't make sense (I'm also on a computer that is very slow so it doesn't always type up every character I key in).

I have mixed feelings on this issue. While I do not want to see the Bible removed from the court, I do agree that it makes no sense to have someone who doesn't believe in the Bible take an oath of this type. The reason for this oath is to ensure that a person will be honest.

That's why I supported the Muslim Senator who wanted to swear on the Quaran when he too his oath. The Quaran was the book he felt bound him to honesty. And honesty and understanding the ramifications are really the focus of the oath.

However, here's the dilemma. What other books should be acceptable? What would you use for an atheist? A Hindu? A Pagan? A Satanist? An agnostic? To just have them swear an oath without something used to swear by, would be a big mistake. Possibly a copy of the constitution or the Bill of Rights would be an acceptable alternative for those who do not feel the Bible is meaningful?

But the other flipside? With all of the cheating that goes on in court, this could be really abused and used as a way to overturn a conviction..."Your honor, my client did not feel that his oath is binding because he did not actually believe in that oath, so therefore he is not guilty of perjury" You see the can of worms that can evolve?

Answer 3

Well the swearing on the bible thing is really more out of tradition than anything. It is a symbolic act only, really other than morals all that would keep you from lieing is the knowledge that if your caught you will be arrested for purgery (lieing under oath) basically it's a way to make sure that you understand if you lie after swearing on the bible, your accountable, both legally, and if you were a christian, religiously

Answer 4

I'll reveal something to you that men had never figured out. The bible is nothing more than a contract.
Swearing on the bible is like swearing on a contract.
God made an agreement back in the ancient days. The bible is that agreement, a contract between God and the ancient people.
That's why a verse says that nothing shall be taken from or added to this book. Also another verse says you are going to live according to this law, which is talking about the scriptures (the bible).
The bible is a contractual agreement.
The bible isn't what people thinks it is.
When you go to court to swear, ask the judge if he puts his hands on a contract and swear on it.
I do know that the bible is a contractual agreement.

Answer 5

Well, all I can say is that like it or not, if you are required to swear on the Bible in court, then you are required to do it. In court, we don't get to choose how we want to do things because it is up to the judge, and to the judicial policies, not us.

As for you being an Atheist, if you don't believe in God, then what will it hurt you to swear on the Bible? I mean, it might harm a Jew or Muslim to swear on a Bible because their interpretation of God is different from those who are Christians. Still, if one doesn't believe in God at all, then there is no harm done to swear on something that one doesn't even believe is divinely inspired. You are right. There are no guarantees that anyone will tell the truth simply because one swears upon a Bible. Still, it isn't about whether the person will tell the truth or not. It's about the symbolism that swearing upon the Bible represents, that counts. The idea is that if people swear upon the Bible, whether or not they consider it to be divinely inspired or even believe in God, they will be held to a greater accountability if they DO lie, because they publicly swore that they would not lie, whether they swore on a Bible, a cookie or wrote down their oath on a piece of paper. An oath is an oath, and the idea was to hold people accountable to their oath by making them publicly make one.

Answer 6

I'm pretty sure that any good lawyer would tell you to play it up and swear on the bible since there is a chance that a "die hard" christian may be on the jury.Think about it,if there was a christian as described,they might not care what your fate is or care about any evidence that is in your favor and throw the book at you because of your non belief in their god.

Answer 7

Well swearing on the bible is just a symbolic form of saying that you will not lie. Many people who swear on it still lie. Just make sure that if you ever have to and you lie, you don't get caught or else is perjury.

Answer 8

i'd refuse to do it - I'd put my hand in the air and I'd swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth but it wouldn't be "so help me god"

I've been brought up to believe that you shouldn't lie -especially in court. Lying right off the bat is a bad way to start.

Answer 9

i dunno but i swear on this bible there is no establishment of the christian religion by any level of government in the USA!

in fact, the poor christians are being PERSECUTED!

edit: interesting point further down ... i wonder if
A) an atheist were on trial in the NC courthouse where the bailiffs say "god save the state" the lawyer could have a mistrial declared for the "peer" issue
B) if an atheist DID swear on a bible, would they immediately be arrested for perjury (assuming their atheism was a known fact)

Answer 10

I only swear on the Nicronomicon.