In Christian countries, it is customary to swear an oath to Almighty God, such as if you were about to give evidence in a court.
Do atheists swear such oaths, and if so, to whom?
Or do they make Affirmations, a secular form of oath swearing.
And yes, the "atheists only please" is there to make Gandalf happy.
2007-12-14 23:42:55 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well if they want it to mean something I would say it'd have to be Lovejoy's Kansas City BBQ.
2007-12-14 23:47:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Federal Courts take a flexible approach to trying to guarantee honesty. Their rules say that a witness must “declare that he will testify truthfully, by oath or affirmation administered in a form calculated to awaken his conscience and impress his mind with his duty to do so.”
This flexibility has resulted in courts allowing a variety of individualized oaths or affirmations. One witness was allowed “to speak with fully integrated Honesty,” instead of swearing to tell the truth. Another didn’t have to swear “solemnly.”
Some judges simply ask witnesses to “swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Period. That includes the oath and affirmation options, and avoids the objections of non-believers. If necessary, you can ask for a similar oath or affirmation without a religious component. It is not a big issue. Most court rooms don't have the swearing on a Bible thing and you would have the right to decline it ask for a nonreligious affirmation to tell the truth instead.
2007-12-14 23:56:14 · answer #2 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why would you make some one swear an oath to a diety they don't believe exists - that would be lying.
I promise not to lie. If I do lie you can send me to jail - which is EXACTLY what happens if a xian lies after swearing an oath to a diety they do believe in.
Also IIRC some religions refuse to take an oath because their religion deems it against god
2007-12-15 00:40:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ironically the Bible makes it abundantly clear that believers in Christ should not swear under any circumstances (James 5:12). So while atheists can in all honesty affirm, the question is why do Christians swear?
2007-12-14 23:50:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what atheists actually swear to in a court of law, but I do know that before the Federal Rules of Evidence were introduced atheists couldn't testify because they were considered "incompetent" witnesseses. Not in the sense that they were stupid, but just that the courts wouldn't allow testimony from people who didn't believe in God because they didn't think that they were as likely to tell the truth.
That is pretty stupid, huh?
2007-12-14 23:48:14 · answer #5 · answered by eastchic2001 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Oh my god where have you been and I bet it isn't to any court these days. You don't have to use the bible thanks to multicultural correctness in allowing people to swear by the oath of what ever religion you can think of. Just as long as you say: You swear to tell the truth to the court of the land or face perjury charges if you are caught telling lies to the court.
2007-12-14 23:55:41 · answer #6 · answered by Drop short and duck 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I guess that would be honesty as in court I would be swearing, without use of the bible, to tell the truth.
Other than in a court of law, I'd swear to nothing or no one.
2007-12-14 23:48:08 · answer #7 · answered by genaddt 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about in court but two of my friends are Athiest and they "swear to God" so...
2007-12-15 12:13:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
long time ago. Greeks swear on their testicles. Haha i swear to, well, nobody. And that's what makes it gooood.
2007-12-14 23:51:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
~~~ Deck ,,,, I swear on "My Word of Honor". If that's not good enough, then find somebody else. ~ Namaste`
2007-12-15 05:59:00 · answer #10 · answered by Sensei TeAloha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋