2007-11-08 08:23:21 · 21 answers · asked by April 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They can but what difference does it make, it means nothing to them.
2007-11-08 08:26:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
It's actually Christians who shouldn't be swearing on the Bible more than anyone else. The bible strictly forbids it in numerous places in the New Testament. Thankfully, though, I don't think swearing on the bible is even a policy courts practice anymore.
2007-11-08 16:47:08 · answer #2 · answered by Mary 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can but it's not respectful to the court or to themselves to do so. I think that quite a few Atheists that do swear on the Bible do it because they're afraid not to. Afraid that they will be "outed" and persecuted for their lack of belief. A true Atheist would not lie but they're perceived as being liars, thieves, scoundrels simply because the organized religions have preached that they are the opposite of whatever they are preaching.
2007-11-13 00:17:38 · answer #3 · answered by Laura S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We're still asked to (or at least to raise our right hand and swear "so help me God"), and I'll do it just to keep from raising a stink (look, if I'm already in a courtroom, there's a reason for it...I'm not going to raise hell over that...).
I don't have a problem with it, necessarily, but for me, swearing on a Bible is about as meaningless as swearing on an auto repair manual.
2007-11-08 16:43:54 · answer #4 · answered by War Games AM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't been in court, but in my state when I worked for the school board, the board members and myself were sworn in on a bible.
I really, truly, do not see why people must swear on a bible in court. If you're lying, the perjury laws are what's going to get you in trouble. The Bible's got no legal standing there.
2007-11-08 16:27:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Why not? Although when I went I didn't swear and there was no bible so the point is moot. But I could swear on a bible all day long. Hold on I'll go get one now...
2007-11-08 16:26:10 · answer #6 · answered by tamyp 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The swearing in is just a reminder that any lies are punishable. Everyone, Christian, Atheist, Muslim, Pagan is subject to the law in court.
2007-11-08 16:32:02 · answer #7 · answered by AlexAtlanta 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They don't have a choice, really...
It doesn't matter what their religious preference is, Christianity is the religion our country is based in. God and Country are supposed to be separate, but they're not; that's why "In God We Trust" is on all our currency, and why students are more or less forced to learn and recite The Pledge Of Allegiance. "One Nation Under God", being said in school does not separate God, State, Country or Education or anything else from each other. It's a line of crap.
Ugh... I have attitude about this. I'll just stop now.
2007-11-08 16:35:54 · answer #8 · answered by bloodline_down 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The question is; why do people still have to swear on the bible in a judicial system which should have been separated from the church centuries ago?
2007-11-08 16:29:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
We can, but it doesn't mean anything.
The threat of getting my butt thrown in jail for perjury does though.
Christians lie after swearing on the Bible in court all the time.
It doesn't mean the seriousness it used to when it began I assure you.
2007-11-08 16:27:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
They're offered the option of taking an oath of affirmation instead of upon the Bible.
2007-11-08 16:36:25 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋