Magistrates debate end to Bible oaths in court

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24588854

Magistrates debate end to Bible oaths in court

Magistrates are to debate whether do away with the swearing of oaths on the Bible and other holy books in courts in England and Wales.

Instead there would be a statement in which people would promise "very sincerely" to tell the truth.

Supporters say many people have become indifferent to the Bible but opponents believe it strengthens evidence.

The practice is so old that it is not clear whether it is simply custom or if Parliament would have to change it.

For centuries, magistrates have dispensed justice in England and Wales, and relied on the Bible to force people to tell them the truth.

Its moral force was unquestioned, placing intense pressure on witnesses to tell the truth.

The oath, still sworn by witnesses and defendants as they hold a copy of the Bible, has given the English language one of its most familiar sentences.

"I swear by Almighty God, to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

Other faiths can take the oath on their own holy books - Muslims on the Koran, Jews on the Old Testament, for example.

But the Magistrates' Association - which represents three-quarters of the 23,000 magistrates in England and Wales - is to debate a proposal to banish all holy books and oaths to "Almighty God".

(continued, do the oath well and its a get out of jail free card if the judge is Christian....)

[JimC]

"I shall faithfully utter what the voices in my head tell me to..."

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

"The whole truth? That may take some time..."

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I promise to tell the best guess, the holey best guess and nothing but what I think I remember, so help me, Rhonda.

[JimC]

"The organism who may be approximated to "I" shall make some noises which, after interpretation by the cognitive structures of other nearby organisms, may contain truth statements about certain aspects of what is alleged to be reality"

[cronus]

What's the oath if you are a Jedi?

[Svartalf]

I swear any oath on the bible to be worthless, so help me the inexistent god.

[Trinity]

I weally weally weally pwomise I won't lie mister judge sir.

[cronus]

I have a huge wallet looks like a Bible can I swear on that, your honour?

[Audley Strange]

Make them swear on their organs, then harvest perjurers.

[klr]

I've always found it amusing that defendants in particular would be asked to swear on a bible or other religious tome, given that they tend to be accused of things that outlawed by said books. How can you trust them when they swear to tell the truth?

[cronus]

James 5:12 ESV

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.


Says in the book not to take oathes - no one bothers reads the thing it seems?

[JimC]

James 5:12 ESV

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.


Says in the book not to take oathes - no one bothers reads the thing it seems?

Isn't there a particular christian sect whose members used to get into trouble in court because they took this passage literally, and refused to take various oaths?

I should brush up on my taxonomy of weird christian sects - there ought to be a taxonomic key which would separate your Jehova's Witnesses from your Seventh Day Adventists...

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I am going to remember that one if I am ever called to testify in court...

[JimC]

I am going to remember that one if I am ever called to testify in court...

But if asked to defend your bible-based argument against taking an oath strapped to a lie detector, the damn thing would explode!