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Swearing on the bible in court?

What happens if you're atheist - does that technically give you the permission to lie?
I've never been to court so I don't know other than what I've seen..is there a different practice if you are not catholic of any kind of division?

Tags: bible, court

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Permalink Reply by funk Q on January 20, 2009 at 5:38pm

In my experience the Clerk of the Court will automatically grab a bible and assume an oath will be sworn. It is left up to the person in the box to declare they choose to make an affirmation or challenge oath giving etc.

I reckon most people in Australia swear the oath because no effort is made to explain or offer the alternatives. Like most things concerning the law the private individual is expected to know the lot intuitively.

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Permalink Reply by Offreality on January 20, 2009 at 6:00pm

thanks for the quick replies!

Absence of religious belief

If an oath has been properly administered and taken, the fact that the person to whom the oath was administered had no religious beliefs at that time does not affect the validity of the oath.
in Victoria Australia... Is it the same around the world?

Regardless doesn't it defeat the purpose of taking an oath in something you don't believe in? If you were thoroughly opposed to the bible why would you even want to touch that thing?

I wouldn't mind holding up my right hand to my chest and swearing i be truthful under the law itself - but with the bible included it's kind of.....stupid.

don't you love the "..had no religious belief at that time..."