Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Carrie · 06-23-2003, 07:57 PM

I'm just wondering, when you go to court, do you still have to put your hand on the Bible and swear to tell the truth?

Boy what a joke that would be! Pretend you're a Christian, swear on the Bible and make people think you're sincere, and then lie out your ass!

Also, when a President is sworn in, does he still have to say, "so help me God."

If the President didn't believe in God, he sure wouldn't want to admit it. Saying you're an atheist isn't very P.C.

If swearing on the Bible, or saying "so help me God" are still in effect, shouldn't these things be stopped? I wouldn't want to say "so help me God" when I don't believe in any God that will help me. And I wouldn't want people to think that I'm such an idiot to believe in such things.

By the way, our President obviously isn't a very intellectual man if he hasn't even figured out yet that the Bible isn't true. He reads the Bible every day. Ugh. Of course Al Gore also said he's a Christian, but I doubt it. He probably just had to say that.

Peregrine · 06-23-2003, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Also, when a President is sworn in, does he still have to say, "so help me God."

If you take a look in the Constitution, you will find the presidential oath of office. You will also see that "so help me god" is not part of the oath. The president has never had to say those words to close out the oath, it has always been the president elects choice.

SLD · 06-23-2003, 08:21 PM

No.

SLD

Jewel · 06-24-2003, 04:05 AM

No. All you need to do is let the judge know you would rather affirm or give a civil oath. It's no big deal -- it happens all the time.

Stephen Maturin · 06-24-2003, 05:32 AM

None of the courts I practice in makes witnesses place a hand on the Bible. As for oath-taking, practices vary from judge to judge. In my experience, most judges have witnesses take a "so help me God" type oath by default. However, AFAIK every jurisdiction allows witnesses to make an affirmation instead of taking an oath. An affirmation is simply a promise to tell the truth, without all the swearing to God stuff. Anyone witness who wants to affirm rather than take a God-oath would be well advised to check with court personnel in advance.

The presidential oath of office is set forth in Art. II, Sec. 1, Cl. 8 of the U.S. Constitution. It reads:

Quote:

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

George Washington started the practice of tacking on "so help me God" at his first inaugural. I don't know whether any president-elect has ever deviated from that practice, but it certainly hasn't happened in my lifetime.

hezekiah jones · 06-24-2003, 05:59 AM

Originally posted by Stephen Maturin
George Washington started the practice of tacking on "so help me God" at his first inaugural.

And they've been lying like twenty-dollar whores ever since.

nogods4me · 06-24-2003, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hezekiah jones

And they've been lying like twenty-dollar whores ever since.

Comparing many politicians to twenty dollar whores is an affront to to an ancient and honorable profession.

paul30 · 06-24-2003, 02:26 PM

Q: What's the difference between a politician and a prostitute?

A: There are SOME things a prostitute will not do for money.

As for the Presidential oath, no one could be elected President who did not profess belief in God--and more particularly the Christian God.

It would be fun to hear one say, "So help me Zeus."

Stephen Maturin · 06-24-2003, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by paul30
It would be fun to hear one say, "So help me Zeus."

It certainly would! It'd be even more fun to hear one say, "I'm not mentioning any deities and anyone who doesn't like it needs to suck my dick." And it would be even better than that if the president-elect making the statement is a woman.

JonathanChance · 06-24-2003, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Maturin
It certainly would! It'd be even more fun to hear one say, "I'm not mentioning any deities and anyone who doesn't like it needs to suck my dick." And it would be even better than that if the president-elect making the statement is a woman.

Why would a woman tell anyone to suck her dick when she doesn't posses one in the first place?

06-23-2003, 07:57 PM	#1
Carrie Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Midwest Posts: 424	Do you still have to swear on the Bible when you go to court? I'm just wondering, when you go to court, do you still have to put your hand on the Bible and swear to tell the truth? Boy what a joke that would be! Pretend you're a Christian, swear on the Bible and make people think you're sincere, and then lie out your ass! Also, when a President is sworn in, does he still have to say, "so help me God." If the President didn't believe in God, he sure wouldn't want to admit it. Saying you're an atheist isn't very P.C. If swearing on the Bible, or saying "so help me God" are still in effect, shouldn't these things be stopped? I wouldn't want to say "so help me God" when I don't believe in any God that will help me. And I wouldn't want people to think that I'm such an idiot to believe in such things. By the way, our President obviously isn't a very intellectual man if he hasn't even figured out yet that the Bible isn't true. He reads the Bible every day. Ugh. Of course Al Gore also said he's a Christian, but I doubt it. He probably just had to say that.

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06-23-2003, 08:21 PM	#3
SLD Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 4,109	No. SLD

06-24-2003, 04:05 AM	#4
Jewel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 1,112	No. All you need to do is let the judge know you would rather affirm or give a civil oath. It's no big deal -- it happens all the time.

06-24-2003, 05:59 AM	#6
hezekiah jones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: WI Posts: 4,357	Originally posted by Stephen Maturin George Washington started the practice of tacking on "so help me God" at his first inaugural. And they've been lying like twenty-dollar whores ever since.

06-24-2003, 02:26 PM	#8
paul30 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 870	Q: What's the difference between a politician and a prostitute? A: There are SOME things a prostitute will not do for money. As for the Presidential oath, no one could be elected President who did not profess belief in God--and more particularly the Christian God. It would be fun to hear one say, "So help me Zeus."

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