Swearing on the bible in court

[Source]

Anybody else think this is stupid? Do they make everybody do it? I've never been to court but my mother has, and they made her do it. She's Christian so it didn't matter to her.

Seen as I'm an atheist though, if I ever had to go to court, it seems somewhat pointless in them swearing me in over a bible.

quote:Originally posted by Source:

Do they make everybody do it?

There is no requirement to swear on a Bible. Atheists (and anyone else who wants to) can 'affirm', and it is legally binding, same as an oath sworn on a bible.

You don't have to tell the judge beforehand, but depending on how the bailiff handles it, you may want to do so, so as to make it less obvious to a jury which might be prejudiced.

[boozehound420]

I've been to coart a dozen times or so and nobody has to be sworn in on anything.

Not shur what would happen in a bigger type of case though.

Theres no respect for the bible, all respect for the crown, for the lawyers and shit anyways.

[This message has been edited by boozehound420 (edited 02-10-2007).]

I believe Jesus actualy says not to swear on the Bible. Or at least on God or the Church, I would take the Bible as in the same class as those things. I know in Canada they have alternative oaths for different faiths.

[gibson lespaul]

quote:Originally posted by boozehound420:

I've been to coart a dozen times or so and nobody has to be sworn in on anything.

Not shur what would happen in a bigger type of case though.

Theres no respect for the bible, all respect for the crown, for the lawyers and shit anyways.

Then again,you can't type a decent paragraph..

For years they actually wouldn't let atheists testify in court because they would apparently have no reason to tell the truth.

quote:Originally posted by bung:

For years they actually wouldn't let atheists testify in court because they would apparently have no reason to tell the truth.

B/C all Christians have been morals than any atheists

I don't see the point.

A serious Christian will believe an omniscient God will punish them for sinning (lying) anyway, whether they swear on the Bible or not.

If somebody wants to lie, whether they are christian or not, swearing on the bible has nothing to do with it these days.

However, in the earlier years of american history, American felt like a country united under god's will. This was the general sentiment of the people, and by "swearing on the bible", the testifier was bowing his/her head to that cultural disposition.

Now we are slightly more educated, and we don't need to rely on dispositions of the masses to sway our sense of guilt. We rely on hard science and deductive reasoning to prove or disprove innocence.

The "One nation under god" phrase has been put under this same lense of reasoning, and it's usage in the public school system is bound to dissappear sooner or later. Liberal states will likely change their policy on this statement in schools in the near future.

In short, our age-old concept of god is evaporating from society, but it still effects us just as strongly, but in more subtle ways.

Taking an oath is just entering people into a contract that bad things will happen to them if they get caught in a lie. Mostly perjury charges and jail time. All the religious mumbo jumbo is just tradition now days.