When Atheists go to Court, they can't swear on the bible, can they?

Answer 1

no one has to swear on a bible.You "affirm"you will tell the truth.Interestingly,that is more in line with biblical scripture than someone swearing on the bible.Scripture admonishes people to swear on nothing,in heaven or on Earth,but let you yes mean yes and your no mean no.So Christians,trying to act all holy and moral,go against their own scripture by thinking "swearing on the bible"means anything.Of course,you'd have to read the bible to know that,something Christians are loathe to do

Answer 2

Perhaps it varies from state to state. (And certainly from country to country. Can you imagine swearing on the bible in China?)

I have testified in court many, many times, and there was never a bible to be seen. I did have to swear to tell the truth, but there was no "so help me G-d" at the end. So I don't think there would be anything there that atheists would object to.

Quakers do not take oaths, and for that reason they are usually allowed to "affirm" instead of "swear." Or simply skip the oath.

Answer 3

Please visit an actual court room rather than getting your impression of proceedings from Hollywood..

You will learn a lot, be able to ask insightful, relevant questions and avoid looking like a fool.

I have testified in court numerous times never once have I been asked to swear on a bible and never have the words "Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god." ever come up.. The judge simply asks "Do you agree to tell the truth?" to which I reply "Yes" I then go on to testify in the case... I have never even seen a bible in a court room outside of the movies...

Answer 4

The literature on jury service, in my state atleast, says that you can ask to 'affirm' rather than 'swear'

When I served on a jury - during the swearing in process the judge failed to ask whether anyone objected to swearing on the bible, and I had to stand up and say that I preferred to 'affirm' - turns out that 2 other jurors wanted to affirm as well. But I guess there would be nothing to stop an atheist from swearing - it would be legally binding but it just wouldn't have any personal commitment.

Answer 5

they shouldn't in good conscience. They can take an oath to tell the truth though. You don't imagine that just because a xian swears on a bible he or she is more likely to tell the truth do you?

Also I think there are some religions out there who refuse to swear on the bible because they're something in it about not swearing oaths to god

Answer 6

I am a Christian and I won't swear on a Bible in court (breaks the commandment of taking the Lord's name in vain), I say "I Affirm". That's just how I was raised. Funny story, 57 years ago, when my parents got their marriage license, they were asked to swear on a Bible for some reason or another and my Mom said "I affirm". My Dad didn't know what that meant and got upset because he thought she was saying she didn't want to marry him.

Answer 7

I don't think anybody swears on the bible.
Anyway, you are considered to be under oath the moment you open your mouth in court. If you lie they can charge you with perjury. I guess the courts are not interested if God punishes you and prefer to do the job themselves if they must.

Answer 8

I think you asked this question earlier or a similar question any way. Well IT STILL COUNTS AS PERJURY. Like it or not the Separation of State and Church makes your religion irrelevant when you swore to tell the truth, That's why they say so help you God? instead of you swore to God? And The Bible is simply symbolic.

Answer 9

Swearing on the bible is no longer mandatory.. in fact, I think they have done away with the practice all together.

Answer 10

We COULD, but there would be no point, since that isn't a requirement, except maybe on TV. Atheists can be trusted to tell the truth WITHOUT putting their hand on any books. Apparently, not everyone can be.