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of non-Christian faith to swear upon the Bible would be meaningless at best, and insulting at worst.

What matters is not the book but the act.

Swearing-in is a matter of public declaration. It requires an individual to stand in front of their peers, or their electorate, the accused and the plaintiff, in front of witnesses with vested interests and with none, and in their own voice to promise to those people and to the world at large that they will speak truthfully and act fairly.

This cannot be a split-second ticking of a box. It must have a form which requires a ritual symbolic act be it the raising of the right hand, the holding of a holy book or of a relic or of the symbols of office, the placing of the hand over the heart or whatever.

The words similarly should remain of standard form and brook no interpretation other than that intended. "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" leaves no room for being economical or creative with it.

The basic ritual must remain. The Bible should continue to be used for those to whom its use has meaning and in the predominantly Christian countries of the USA and the UK its use can be presumptive, so long as all are aware of their right to affirm or to take the oath in line with their own beliefs.

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The sad fact is that many people do not take their solemn vows any more seriously than they do a half-thought promise to a child. These people will break their oath regardless of its form. The vast majority of witnesses know exactly how much truth they will tell before they enter the court building; scarcely any will change their mind when faced with taking the oath. Most people enter public office with a very specific personal or political agenda and are likely to break the rules to achieve it. But if slowing the whirlwind of process down for a few seconds, giving them space to actually think for even that short a time, makes just one or two reconsider their integrity, before they make their promise that's worth continuing.

Learn more about this author, Lesley Mason.
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