What if a non-Christian was elected president? Would they still swear on the bible? It occurred to me because they were just saying most presidents bring a family bible, but what if the president didn't have a family bible, would they swear on their own religious text?
(Not trying to start anything or saying it's right or wrong, just genuinely curious if anyone else has thought of this. I realize that in court I think everyone, regardless of religion, swears on a bible).?
Re: NSAIFR: Swearing on the bible?
i've never thought about it- but i'd assume they'd have to swear on the Bible regardless because this country was founded on the Bible.
they probably have a back up Bible- heh
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yep! and it was Obama's choice to use Lincoln's bible.?
I saw that - very cool to use the national heirloom. THanks for those that responded above, I missed the part about the bible not being required (but googled and found that stated elsewhere as well).?
agreed! (i was actually just thinking about this during the prayer)
I don't actually know - and I'm a lawyer! (But not the kind that goes to court and I've never witnessed a trial). Maybe not??
In court you do not swear in on a bible, you just raise your right hand. I'm (well, was for right now) a cop so I spend a lot of time in court.
"Franklin Pierce was the first president to use the word affirm rather than swear. Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible when taking the oath in 1901. Dwight Eisenhower, Harry Truman, and Richard Nixon swore the oath on two Bibles. John Quincy Adams swore on a book of law.[1] Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on a Roman Catholic missal on Air Force One."
From Wikipedia.
And, yeah, no bible in court.
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