To swear on a Bible - or not
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
Rockingham, Australia
November 5, 2020 4:06pm CST
The photo has nothing to do with the discussion. It’s a wildflower growing in the Kalbarri area in Western Australia.
Australians do not, in general, share their religious status/convictions in public. I’ve noticed on myLot, many members are actively practising their faith and often mention/share their beliefs or the fact that they are going to church or whatever. That doesn’t happen so much with Australians. More and more weddings and funerals are being carried out by civil celebrants, and church attendances are dropping.
This moving away from religion was borne out yesterday. I was summonsed for jury duty on Monday and had to attend again yesterday. When twelve or fourteen people had been chosen for duty, they were taken from our waiting room into the courtroom. We could see the courtroom on a big screen. The jurors were asked to take an oath or an affirmation. This could be on a Bible or just a general affirmation. Just two out of the 12 or 14 chose to swear on the Bible.
19 people like this
21 responses
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
5 Nov 20
I understand the meaning behind swearing on the Bible because it's supposed to show that what you say is shown in the most serious fashion possible in front of God's Holy Word. But Jesus said not to swear on anything, so many Christians including myself, will affirm but not swear on the Bible.
Those flowers are beautiful!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 20
The flowers remind me of cauliflower because of the blooms being so close together.
Thanks for the explanation, Vicki. Fiacre said this too. So I wonder how come swearing on the Bible has been the 'done thing' for so long? It's a bit puzzling.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
5 Nov 20
In my country for some jobs people had to take an oath with their hand on the Bible. My daughter had to do it when she started to work as a Judge. It is not done anymore and you can say "I promise" instead of taking the oath with your hand on the Bible.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
6 Nov 20
@TheHorse Things are changing inn many ways. I am glad for many of them.
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
5 Nov 20
An oath is either a solemn promise or an expression of profanity.
In the context of the discussion, this is taken to mean as a solemn promise. The juror will, in the best of his ability and conscience, according to his personal beliefs, undertake his duty and render judgment.
For Christians, why place one's hand on the Bible as one professes an oath?
Catechism has it that since “taking an oath or swearing is to take God as witness to what one affirms”, ergo, a false oath asks God to witness a lie, which is an act of blasphemy. God’s presence and His truthfulness must always be respected. Otherwise, it is mockery of our faith, a mockery of our God.
Hand on the Bible symbolizes an absolute obedience to our God's will, that the juror renders justice to his fellow man.
2 people like this
Thank you.
@xFiacre (14784)
• Ireland
5 Nov 20
@judyev What puzzles me is that Jesus said “But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” So this idea of swearing on the Bible is actually anti-biblical which makes the whole thing non-sensical.
Flower looks a bit like cauliflower.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 20
Vicki said much the same so isn't that interesting? I always reckon it's the human element that creates the problems with religion. Would you mind giving me the reference of the quote?
And yes, the flower is very reminiscent of a cauliflower.
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 20
A few decades ago, most would have sworn on the Bible whether they were believers or not. Now I'm wondering what would have happened if the first one had sworn on the Bible. Would they all have followed suit?
@Torunn (8606)
• Norway
6 Nov 20
I find the whole concept of swearing on something puzzling, and as I agree with most Australian on keeping religion private, swearing on any religious book makes even less sense. If I had to pick, in that situation I suppose a law book would make sense.
Come to think of it, I've got no clue about the beliefs of most of my friends.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
6 Nov 20
Yes God and the Bible have all but been banned over here that is what they are aiming for.
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@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 20
The pendulum always swings too far with these things. There should be room for all religions and beliefs.
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
7 Nov 20
i'm glad they'd the choice. i 'gree, folks're 'ntited to their faiths/'r lack there'f. ya know what 'they' say - quickest way to cause hard feelin's 'tis speak 'r religion 'r politics. :)
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (17029)
• United States
6 Nov 20
A few years back I got to serve on jury duty. Only one of the 12 refused to swear on the bible. We didn't one by one swear on it but the man held the bible, we held our right hands up and repeated after him. When he was done he spoke a different paragraph to the lady who stated she was an atheist.
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@Dena91 (17029)
• United States
6 Nov 20
@JudyEv That was my first and only experience being on jury duty. Once a friend was sued after an accident and I was called as a witness as I was in the car at the time of the accident. I had to place my hand on the bible then and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God.
The guy lost his case and most of the money he would have kept from the insurance settlement in order to pay his lawyer fees. The judge saw that he wasn't truthful because of all the witnesses of the accident. He was finally found to be at fault, not her.
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@GodServantme (1543)
•
7 Nov 20
@JudyEv it's not the same broccoli and cauliflower are fruits ?
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@wolfgirl569 (135601)
• Marion, Ohio
6 Nov 20
We can choose here as there is many different religions
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@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 20
It wouldn't have worried me either. I guess I would see an oath on the Bible as perhaps taken more seriously.
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
6 Nov 20
Wow! 2 out of 14? That's amazing to me. That flower looks like our Queen Anne's Lace.
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