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Placing Hand on Bible to Swear Oath of Office?
Now that there is a furor over the first elected Muslim's plan to swear his oath with the Koran, I'm curious about others' feelings. It would seem, completely ignoring the fact that Article VI of the Constitution forbids using religion as eligibility for office, that somebody who doesn't believe in the Bible - but swears an oath on it - might as well be using a Harry Potter book.
Why don't politicians put their hands on THE CONSITUTION to swear into office? Is that what they're swearing to uphold?
11 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Very good question. They shouldn't use any "book". They should just be sworn in with their right hand raised and not sworn in under any god. They are serving our country not a church or religious group.
- 1 decade ago
From the Constitution:
"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
Oath OR affirmation, NO RELIGIOUS TEST - why don't you people know this? It is right there!
Source(s): US Constitution Article IV - 1 decade ago
That's a very good idea. I don't get how there isn't an establishment of religion, but at the same time you can't swear on any book other then the bible. Either let all books open to be sworn in with, or don't have any books be sworn in on. Or you idea, that they should use the Constitution, since that is really what they are supposed to have allegiance to.
- MuttLv 71 decade ago
When they take the oath with their hand on the Bible, it is only for photos. They already had taken the oath in a group setting.
But I do like the idea of taking the oath with your hand on the Constitution.
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- 1 decade ago
Here in Canada, you can either swear on the bible or do something that avoids the use of the bible altogether yet means the same thing -- I forget the term -- since we have a few Sikhs and Hindus and Jewish members of parliament and whatnot.
- GraceLv 45 years ago
How dare you make fun of the Lincoln Bible!! You are no Patriot. As for the Koran, it was an essential part of every Age of Enlightenment library, and our Founding Fathers treasured their personal copies. especially John Adams.
- Terry SLv 51 decade ago
Sure ! swear upoun a book that states 28 times to kill the Jews and Christians and any infidel that wont bow down to mahamed , Yea we need that book in this country ,They killed 3 thousand of us in a single day and now they want to kill all of us in a single swipe of a pen , Where are the Men of this country,
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Good point. What if an Athiest was elected to office?
- 1 decade ago
BRAVO, I don't have an answer for you but I love it when people on here make actual VALID points about politics and religion.
Thank You
- Anonymous1 decade ago
A great question which I 100% agree with...!
