Do you have to swear on a Bible?

Answer 1

No. Physically placing ones hand on a Bible and swearing an oath is not required nor was it ever legally enforceable. The court gives those giving testimony the option of "swearing an oath" or making an affirmation to tell the truth as to the best of their knowledge.

Answer 2

Matthew 5:34--37 But I say unto you, SWEAR NOT AT ALL; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Aside from some religious claims against swearing oaths ect...No where in the USA are you legally required to swear and oath on a bible or any other religious book,Nor are you required by law to take a court oath that states "So help you God"...Because the Supreme Court has held that the Constitution forbids the Government from giving Christian law any preference over atheistic law or other religious law.

The recent First Amendment jurisprudence are those of the Court in Everson v. Board of education:

The "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment means that: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can they force nor influence a person to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs...

Forcefully requiring a person to swear upon The Bible in the court oath is promoting one religion over all others,and in effect is forcing that person to profess to be of certain religion which they may not be..it is therefor Illegal and immoral to require a person to swear an oath on the bible or other religious book or to any god or other diety.

Some courts still use the bible and the original oath but it is not mandatory and All US courts recognize this law and if the person objects in court to the use of the bible and/or the term "so help you God" the court is then required by law to use the basic oath that is being widely used today.Which is.

"do you swear or affirm that the statements you shall give to the best of your knowledge will be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

There are several other variations of this basic oath all of which do not use a religious book or reference to any god or other diety..

Answer 3

I solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, or so help me god.

Answer:

"Swearing on the Bible" is supposed to impart some special "truthiness" to answers.

There is no group that would profit by swearing on a Bible, except those wishing to use superstitious belief as a lever to get others to believe them:

• Christians are enjoined not to swear (promise to tell he truth) in their own Bible. In the Epistle of James 5:12 it states "Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned."
• Atheists would see no purpose to swearing on any book - Bible, phonebook or Dictionary
• Other religions would see nothing special about a Bible as an "anchor" for their truthfulness
• The ancient Romans gave us the word "testify" by holding their testicles while swearing to tell the truth

Any of the above groups can aver that they will tell the truth without recourse to a Christian Bible. Most jurisdictions recognize this as equivalent to the oath.

Answer 4

Yes people swear on the Bible when elected into office.

Answer 5

swear on a book that is made up of lies that you wont lie?

sounds very necessary thing to do for me.

Answer 6

They can, although in most administrations a humanist affirmation is available.

Answer 7

NO YOU DONT