I swore on a Bible
By vicki2876
@vicki2876 (5636)
Canada
April 4, 2008 11:22am CST
I had to swear I was telling the truth on a bible this morning. I am applying for a job working with children and I have to do a records and child abuse check. So I needed the forms sworn by a notary.
Though I am not Christian, I swore on a Bible and felt yes I was telling the truth and it was legally binding. So I was wondering how others feel when they swear something on a Bible. Do you feel it is binding? Do you feel the process is outdated?
2 people like this
10 responses
@kezabelle (2974)
•
4 Apr 08
No i would not swear on the bible I would not feel I was being truthful when I hold no connections to the bible what so ever it has no meaning in my life so I would not feel guilty for lieing on the bible so to me that would be wrong. So to me it would not feel binding however I think my word is binding enough so that alone would make me feel guilty for lieing.
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@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
4 Apr 08
Thanks. I figured there would be people who would feel that way. I think if it was a different situation where it wasn't benefiting myself at all I would not have felt bound by the book. But since I wanted the paper signed and I was telling the truth it was all good for me. LOL Thanks
1 person likes this
@kezabelle (2974)
•
4 Apr 08
Oh yes to be fair i work with children in private nurseries (did before having my children) and I had to have a police check and probably would have sworn on the bible if it was required as i said my word is enough id find that binding enough hence I would have done it had it been required.
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@Stiletto (4579)
•
5 Apr 08
How weird - didn't they give you an alternative to swearing on the bible? I've never been asked to swear on the bible. I guess I could swear on it if I had to but it wouldn't have any meaning for me. I'm not religious at all so to me the bible is just another book. I've given evidence in court before but I was given the choice of swearing on a bible or "affirming" and I took the latter option. Basically both are just promising to tell the truth I guess.
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@wolfie34 (26770)
• United Kingdom
4 Apr 08
Is that something new they have introduced? If you work with children my friend? In the UK I have had a CRB check when I have worked with children but never had to swear on the bible. I am not a Christian either and I think they should take into account that there are a lot of different religions that obviously don't use the bible and yes it is very outdated but I am not religious at all. But I don't know what the alternative is or could be.
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
5 Apr 08
I think it was the notary I went to that chooses it. But it was at the police station so it is government run. Weird thanks
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
5 Apr 08
Wow, I see your in Canada and I don't know how it is there but here in the US if the document calls for an oath the Notary will ask - do you swear or affirm that everything is true and then you sign the document. They don't ask you to put your hand on a Bible. Maybe that's the way they do it in your country. I never herd of that before.
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@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
5 Apr 08
I would rather have affirmed. I think it must be where you go that does it. Thanks
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@gemini_rose (16264)
•
5 Apr 08
I have never had to swear on a bible for anything, I have never really thought about it to be honest. But I think if I had to I would. I am not sure that the process is outdated, maybe in some places it is but I think it still holds up in other places.
2 people like this
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
4 Apr 08
I don't feel that it is outdated. And I feel that it is legally binding.
What I am wondering is with the taking prayer and Bibles and such out of the legal system, how they can still use this? The Ten Commandments are not allowed in the courthouses, but they can still swear on the Bible. Really doesn't make sense, does it?
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
6 Apr 08
Well, as I said before Sherri, that is in the US constitution. She lives in Canada, and obviously they have no such law there.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Not only is it outdated, I would find it offensive if I weren't a Christian. The notary actually made you do that? Whenever I go to a notary they just make me hold my right hand up and swear, if they even do that. Most just want you to sign the document in their presence. This is a shock I didn't know that notaries would do that. But I guess its at their discretion. Each notary goes through some process and they are independent business owners of some sort. So I guess as long as they follow the guidelines, they can make a person swear any way they want to. You just happened to run into a religious one.

@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
6 Apr 08
Here in America that would have been a violation of the Separation of Church and State. I forget which amendment that is, but its in the U.S. Constitution. Also, here in the US you can find notaries in many places. Couldn't you have found another, or are they not as available as here?
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
5 Apr 08
It was the notary at the police station which is government run. I did it cause it benefits me but if it didn't I would have had issues. Thanks
1 person likes this

@gantwick (849)
• United States
4 Apr 08
It would have to be something serious indeed for me to swear on a Bible. And I am seldom serious about anything. But yeah, if it was critical enough to swear on a Bible, I would certainly be binding.
If possible, I would rather swear on my honor, which should be good enough for most people.
2 people like this
@renaud_tan (416)
• Philippines
5 Apr 08
haha, if i swore to a bible.. i think that it would do me some good by following what i would asks of me... 

