Do you mind if I don't swear on the Bible when I become President?

[Fly320s]

A recently elected US Representative, or maybe a Senator- I'm not sure, wants to use a Koran instead of a Bible for his swearing-in.  I caught part of the discussion on Hannity and Colms tonight on Fox.

So, would any of you mind if I didn't use a Bible when I am sworn into office as President?  What about the congress-critter's use of the Koran?

[cosine]

No problem either way. I don't mind.

[Ron]

Do you mind if I don't swear on the Bible when I become President?

They should drop the whole swear on a book thing, whether its the Bible or not.

When you get in the White House, think you could put some muscle on Illinois and get them to recognize our right to CCW?

[Nightfall]

How about we have them swear in with their hand on the US Constitution instead? Seems more relevant.

[Standing Wolf]

How about we have them swear in with their hand on the US Constitution instead? Seems more relevant.

That's assuming a.) our elected misrepresentatives are smart enough to read, and b.) they're honorable enough actually to read the Constitution before swearing to uphold and defend it.

[Eleven Mike]

They should drop the whole swear on a book thing, whether its the Bible or not.

Perhaps so.  Most of them are contemptible liars and cheats anyhow.  They shouldn't be profaning holy books with their money-grubbing little hands.

[Twycross]

Considering that most of them have zero regard for the oath, they can swear on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for all I care.

[Fly320s]

Twycross,

Pass me a gargleblaster, please! 

[Ron]

DON'T PANIC !

[DJJ]

There's a passage in the Bible (maybe Preacherman can help) that (paraphrased) says, "Don't swear on the Bible, for you didn't write a single word in it; don't swear on <something>, because <something>; don't even swear on your own head, because you cannot make a single hair black or white; just say yes. That ought to be good enough."

So the oath ought to go something like,

"Do you promise..."
"Yes."

[Ron]

It is in the sermon on the mount, Matthew 5:36

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

The whole swearing oaths thing was kinda dumped in the New Testament, it was real common in the Old Testament.

Swearing oaths and the like served the same purpose as the Law that God gave. It provided great examples of how humans cannot obey His law or keep their promises.

[Chris]

When I was sworn in to the Army, I had my right hand up, left hand at my side.
When I was sworn in as an attorney, I had my right hand up, left hand at my side.
When I was sworn in as a prosecutor, I had my right hand up, left hand at my side.
When I was sworn in as a magistrate, I had my right hand up, left hand at my side.

It's the oath that matters, not where the left hand is.  Assuming that the person taking the oath has any real honor.

That said, if I was standing there being sworn in as President, I'd want that big old Bible that many previous Presidents have used.  For the history and the tradition.

[wingnutx]

When I'm sworn in it will be on a first-edition of Starship Troopers.