Why do courts have people swearing on God and swearing on the Bible when there’s supposed to be a separation between church and state?

Question

ShrunkenGuy · Accepted Answer

Because you’re swearing to a higher morale authority (your religious belief) that your testimony to the court will be truthful.

Otherwise you’re lying to your religion and usually in the religion that means you’re going to whatever hell there is. Plus your fellow faith followers are unlikely to look kindly upon you if proven you lied after swearing on God and the Bible or whatever equivalent. You could be ex-communicated.

I suppose the issue is it doesn’t mean anything for an Atheist, so perhaps we need them to swear on a Prada catalogue or something. Not that they’d care if you lied I suppose.

Orion84 · Accepted Answer

Yeah, I don't understand that one, either.

What if you don't believe in God? What if you believe in a different God? It seems to me that an athiest, buddhist, muslim, etc, could just lie their ass off, since they fear no reprisal from an entity/religion they don't believe in.

Hell, even so-called Christians swear on the Bible, and still lie their asses off, so the whole premise seems kind of ridiculous to me. Ridiculous, and pointless.

dustybiker2 · Accepted Answer

Excellent Q
Especially when so many people disbelieve in a god. Religion is used to control the masses and the judicial system attempts to use religious strength through this manipulation to attempt to control the process as well.

Archaic and laughable.

Gwendoline · Accepted Answer

Its to do with if you swear on the bible before God to tell the truth and you don't you are damming your soul to hell. Though shalt not bear false witness is number 8 in the ten commandments

MannMitAntworten · Answer

There is a “Swear” or “Affirm” option. This being said, there is no state sponsored nor government recognized church within the United Stares say for example, “Church of England” - Anglican Church or Episcopalian here. Point is, separation is recognized through no formal nor informal ‘state’ church recognition. I mean, our “unalienable rights” as recognized in our Declaration of Independence, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which cannot be taken away, are however understood to be endowed by our, “Creator”. Which to remove this element of the Declaration, well, who knows how the entirety of our founding documents would look or how they may or may not be approached in modern times.

ohsheeT · Answer

Because the judge allows it. People have been changing just not caring anymore7.

And before anything even starts the bailiff holds up the bible

And says do you swear on the Bible?

I guess you used to get contempt of you could, but then you could fight it because it's a bailiff. Asked you swear on the bible

jeremy_09 · Answer

The Constitution says the government can't  establish  a religion. The Supreme Court then came up with this concept of separation of church and state which is vaguely applied depending on the situation. So far they've left alone the oath swearing and printing on money and things like that, even though it seems like that alone is establishing Christianity as the religion of the United States. What they're really doing is recognizing the U. S. is generally a Christian nation, which was done historically by the people not the government. It has been challenged and it will probably be challenged again and probably change at some point.

Red_Arrow · Answer

It is not required! You may swear on whatever religious text that you believe in. You may simply affirm that you will tell the truth without any religious text.

jshm2 · Answer

Eh... it's the Torah for Jews and Quran for Muslims, you dimwit.

The laws come from the religious texts. So swearing the oath means you are claiming honesty on them, while accepting sentencing if found wanting of them.

Also, the "separation of church and state" doesn't mean what you think it does. It just means the government cannot directly fund or support one faith over another.

Kaneki05 · Answer

Because there never has been that, The Founding Fathers pushed for Separation however religious dogma fought back. So they receded more views on it keeping the peace. Hence why Church is still and always was a massive influence over there.

If The Fathers got what their ideal was, Abortion would be non-talked about issue as religious debate towards it wouldn't matter to the law, and there is many other examples but this is easiest on if their will to religion not being separated.

Northstar84 · Answer

You don’t have to swear on the bible, you can be placed under oath by swearing on other religions texts or by other sacred things, either way your under oath and the consequences of perjury are the same.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

The whole idea is stupid. They can swear on it all day long, that doesn't mean they AREN''T gonna lie!! And, if they DO lie, what's god gonna do about it?

Ariesman81 · Answer

Why is polygamy illegal in all 50 states? U. S. laws are based on Christian laws. You cannot separate Church and State. Church is always the higher authority.

BarryLiverstone · Answer

USA is based on Christian morals. In the original constitution there was no separation of church and state. So it’s based on tradition. No one should lie in court.

Cubus · Answer

You're swearing on values that are important to you.

usernamedddln · Answer

Hello sister, you commented on my question about OCD, but I deleted that question, sorry I didn't answer.

Staximus · Answer

That's a good question

Jennz6 · Answer

It works for me

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