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| Yes | 57% | 2415 votes | Total: 4274 votes | |
| No | 43% | 1859 votes |
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Add to FavoritesWhile my own religion is not anywhere close to the Christian faith, or any faith that loosely resembles Christianity, I believe that in most of the "English" world, ie: the countries that use English as a primary language, use the bible, not necessarily as a religious tome in the courts, when swearing a person in.
Instead, I believe, that because most of these countries were built on Christian values, that the book symbolizes the country, it's values, ethics, and most importantly, it's citizens.
Save Australia, I find it somewhat disheartening that this is actually called in to question. This isn't so much an "Is it right that we make everyone do it with the holy book of our' religion" question, as a "Is it right for people who immigrate to this country from one of worse conditions, and fewer rights, to have the right to question how we do things, and, more importantly, is it right for these same people to question how we do things?"
I am fairly certain that this likely will spawn hate-mail, citing "Racist" charges, but sometimes I have to wonder what these people think they are doing, when they come to our' country, asking for refuge from their' own' country's laws, and lack of freedoms, and then try and turn our' country into a near-mirror of the one they just left?
It has been a tradition of this country, and most others in what either is now, or used to be, part of the United Kingdom, to swear people in to court sessions using the Bible. But the bible doesn't strictly stand for Christianity. Not anymore. It may be interpreted many ways, but it stands for a simple belief: That there may be a peaceful way of living.
Feel free to criticize me, stipulating that the bible has started many wars, or that it is a "Christian themed religious relic". I'll be glad to debate you. Let's start with the bible wars thing. The book itself, is incapable of being the instigator of war. The bible itself is a piece of literature. An in-animate object, which we, the people, have to interpret how to view it. Some people mis-interpreted it, and started wars upon other countries, based on their' beliefs. Some people mis-interpreted it, and burned "witches" at the stake. Some people mis-interpreted is, and murdered their' wives, or sons, or neighbours, because "God told them too", but the book itself, is not at fault.
So in summary, I will steal a quote here from the Australian Prime Minister:
"Immigrants, Not Australians, must adapt. We speak predominantly english, and our' country was founded on Christian Beliefs. We don't ask you to convert, when you come within our' borders, only that you learn the language, and accept that our' beliefs are what make us different from the country you are seeking refuge from. If you want to live under religious laws, or laws of another country, stay in the country the practices, and enforces them."
Learn more about this author, Adam Churchill.
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No
The Bible should no longer be used for swearing ceremonies, or to have witnesses testify in court. As much as this country bickers over the separation of Religion and State, it seems ironic that we still continue to have swearing in ceremonies at all. With corruption being as it is in politics, it seems sacrilegious to continue the practice to claim truth over.
This country was founded in the belief that religious freedom was a right of all it's citizens. Being a melting pot of many religions, it becomes discriminatory to use the Bible as the base of telling the truth, when other books of religion are used by different faiths. Such as the Koran for Muslims, and the Torah for the Jews.
If our government was faithful to the word of God, it would obey his commandments , and the rules set up in the Bible. If that were to happen, our world would not be in the terrible state that it is now in. Our leaders have no intention of following the laws of the Bible. They make up their own laws. They would also have to believe the verse in 1 Timothy 6:10. where it states that, "For the LOVE of money is the root of all evil." It is no secret that our leaders are obsessed with, and lust after, wealth and power.
Prosecutors and Judges have become arrogant and self righteous with their unlimited power to abuse their authority and get away with it. Hardly anyone can trust their honesty any more. They rule as if they are Gods of the earth. Prosecutors manipulate and twist facts and truth, any way they can, in order to get a conviction.When the person doing the convicting lies, and the police write up false reports, how can we expect the accused to tell the truth, simply by swearing on a Bible?
The swearing in process is a mockery to what this Nation was built on. If our government refuses to feed the hungry, house the homeless, and free the innocent from prison: they are not obeying the will of God. When our politicians vote to kill by way of the death penalty, or by starting wars that the people do not approve, how can they be trusted? Using the Bible to profess their honesty is not seen as an act of truth by the people.
We see the words, "In God we Trust" on all our currency. The words should read, "In money we trust." We all know that money is the machine that runs this country. Those who have it make all the decisions for the rest of us. Swearing on the Bible does not wash away the sins of those who corrupt.
Learn more about this author, Simonne Liberty.
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