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| Yes | 57% | 2416 votes | Total: 4276 votes | |
| No | 43% | 1860 votes |
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Add to FavoritesOur founding fathers used the Bible to write The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America, henceforth our laws are strictly based upon the Bible as the ultimate source of wisdom and truth in America Today.
Case laws or common law are laws established by legal precedent by the judges throughout our land. Certain judges have more influence than others. For example a local superior court judge can have his or her opinion over ruled by a local supreme court justice.
The supreme court justice has the responsibility of sticking to the facts of the case. If legal jurisprudence has been violated on a lower level, a court's decision can be made null and void. But even common law, especially in the past had a Biblical influence.
There are several political actions groups that want to change and rewrite the constitution of the United States either by amendment, or case law or presidential edict. Frequently, the proposed amendment is merely to further the agenda of political action groups, rather than acting in the best interest of the American people.
When candidates use the Koran to swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States, they forget our laws were not based on the Koran. They claim, that they will uphold the laws of the land, but they don't worship the God of the Bible! One candidate used the Korean that belonged to Thomas Jefferson! Using the Bible to take his oath of office would have violated his religious principles! The people who elected him to public office felt that he was the most qualified candidate for the job.
There are several Muslims who will be seeking office, in order to protect the rights of their people. It is a fact that innocent Muslims are being persecuted by the government because of their religious extremists groups. When office leaders in their former nations, take office do they use the Bible or the Koran? The Koran, of course! Office holders would not be able to use the Bible to take their oath of office!
There's an old fashioned saying, "When in Roman, do as the Romans do," in short obey the laws of the land. Several Western nations such as England have a Bible based background. The Nobles during the reign of one of their tyrant rulers, stepped on too many toes, hence the doctrine of the Magma Carte came into existence centuries before the United States of America even existed on the world maps as a nation.
Part two of my article involves using the Bible, "to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God!" The correct response is I do! When Mickey Rooney was about 70 years old, he had to take the witness stand. "I had nothing to do with God my entire life, and I want nothing to do with Him now!" I firmly believe that God will honor his request by having nothing to do with him!"
The Bible consists of the ultimate truth which is why witnesses are asked to swear by it, and promise not to commit perjury or bare false witness against their neighbor! The witnesses and the defendant are being asked to tell the truth, not believe in God. They are admitting, however, that God will adamantly judge them for false testimony! If the legal system is forbidden to use the Bible as the complete word of truth, what would atheists and agnostics substitute it with?
Learn more about this author, Roxanne Dubarry.
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No
Using the Bible for the swearing in of public officials, or witnesses in court proceedings, is unnecessary and unfair to those who do not believe the same. These are both flagrantly in violation of the separation clause of our founding document.
The passage reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." This is rather succinct and direct. For any municipality, state, or federal office to require a swearing in on the Bible or taking a "so help you God" oath in court (with or without the Holy Bible) is a violation of a citizen's civil rights.
It seems ridiculous to require someone to "swear" to tell the truth: honesty is the required currency for all moral human transactions already.
Swearing someone in on a Bible or another other religious document is a carry-over from ancient times and has no purpose in a modern context. It is further testament to the human zest for ritual, but that does not make it correct or even necessary.
The same goes for public officials: they are chosen by the general population or appointed by others; once the votes have spoken, a need for any additional "ceremony" is mere pomp and circumstance.
Since people enjoy such things, and as governments also have a healthy appetite for pageantry, it's unlikely we'll be able to remove them. However they can and must be modified to prevent favoritism of any one belief system. The only way to do this is sanitize all such proceedings of any religious bent.
Using a Bible in of itself does not endorse Christianity as a state religion; but that changes when it becomes of state-sanctioned and expected design. If a Christian wishes to use a Bible for swearing in one might want to ask them why. Is their word by itself not good enough? Naturally, free speech is also protected and if a public official wants to talk about God all day long that's their privilege.
However, favoring one belief over another is an effective way to disenfranchise non-believers or goad them into "acting" as if they are a part of the group. The rights of all citizens must be on an equal playing field in respect to faith or lack thereof.
Let's allow everyone to worship (or not) as they choose. However, inclusion of blatantly religious rituals which masquerade as politically and/or legally necessary proceedings is dishonest, superfluous, and unconstitutional.
Learn more about this author, Cameron Foster.
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