a few questions for atheists

olylifter420

olylifter420

Well-Known Member
I have been so curious these past few days thinking about how you guys do it.

How do you guys do it when you have jury duty and have to swear or when you have to be a witness at a court hearing and have to place you hand over the bible and say "i swear"? If you state that you are an atheist will that save you from having to do that or will it get you thrown out because of your lack of belief in God and we all know how religious courtrooms can be.

I just want to know, i aint being a dick like "the sativa high" who is always trying to fuck with believers, i would just like to know.:-P
 
mindphuk

mindphuk

Well-Known Member
Court scenes in American movies, television, and books typically show people swearing an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Usually they swear an oath "to God" and with a hand on the Bible. Such scenes are so common that most people seem to assume that it's required, but it's not. You have a right to just "affirm" that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No gods, Bibles, or anything else religious need to be involved.

This is not an issue that only affects atheists. Many religious believers, including some Christians, object to swearing oaths to God and would prefer to affirm that they will tell the truth. Britain has guaranteed a right to affirm rather than swear an oath since 1695. In America, the Constitution specifically references affirming alongside swearing at four different points.

read the rest at http://atheism.about.com/od/ideasforatheistactivism/a/AffirmSwear.htm
 
Luger187

Luger187

Well-Known Member
olylifter420 said:
I have been so curious these past few days thinking about how you guys do it.

How do you guys do it when you have jury duty and have to swear or when you have to be a witness at a court hearing and have to place you hand over the bible and say "i swear"? If you state that you are an atheist will that save you from having to do that or will it get you thrown out because of your lack of belief in God and we all know how religious courtrooms can be.

I just want to know, i aint being a dick like "the sativa high" who is always trying to fuck with believers, i would just like to know.:-P
Click to expand...
they have a secular version that you can say. all you have to do is ask for it
 
nog

nog

Active Member
i guess a christian witness never lied on the stand? Saint Peter lied 3 times and he wasnt even under oath, being under oath is not a stricktly christian thing anyway, many old religions like the Vikings religion and Samurai considered oath breaking as a scumbag thing to do, the worst thing and you would be treated like shit, by all the other hypochrites, human beings are liars, most british mp's and even the president of the united states lies sometimes,
 
olylifter420

olylifter420

Well-Known Member
the reason i asked was, when i had to go to court one time i had to swear with my hand on the bible and stuff... and most people that i have asked around here say they have also...

i guess where im from, people dont keep up with advancements in everything, lol.



mindphuk said:
Court scenes in American movies, television, and books typically show people swearing an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Usually they swear an oath "to God" and with a hand on the Bible. Such scenes are so common that most people seem to assume that it's required, but it's not. You have a right to just "affirm" that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No gods, Bibles, or anything else religious need to be involved.

This is not an issue that only affects atheists. Many religious believers, including some Christians, object to swearing oaths to God and would prefer to affirm that they will tell the truth. Britain has guaranteed a right to affirm rather than swear an oath since 1695. In America, the Constitution specifically references affirming alongside swearing at four different points.

read the rest at http://atheism.about.com/od/ideasforatheistactivism/a/AffirmSwear.htm
Click to expand...
 
cannabineer

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
When I have jury duty I bring my Monster Book of Monsters for swearing-on puropses. Poor dears always forget to stroke the spine. That's when the swearing begins for real.
cheers 'neer
 
Phillip J Fry

Phillip J Fry

Active Member
Like it matters what you say your gonna do. Anybody can lie at any time no matter what they believe in or what book they touch. As for me I would just put my beliefs aside and swear on the bible to please the judge. You don't have to believe in god to touch the bible.
 
Heisenberg

Heisenberg

Well-Known Member
cannabineer said:
When I have jury duty I bring my Monster Book of Monsters for swearing-on puropses. Poor dears always forget to stroke the spine. That's when the swearing begins for real.
cheers 'neer
Click to expand...
If you really want to get out of jury duty, tell them you belong to a skeptical society and you are currently researching a paper on the fallibility of human testimony.
 
U

Underthelight

Member
olylifter420 said:
I have been so curious these past few days thinking about how you guys do it.

How do you guys do it when you have jury duty and have to swear or when you have to be a witness at a court hearing and have to place you hand over the bible and say "i swear"? If you state that you are an atheist will that save you from having to do that or will it get you thrown out because of your lack of belief in God and we all know how religious courtrooms can be.

I just want to know, i aint being a dick like "the sativa high" who is always trying to fuck with believers, i would just like to know.:-P
Click to expand...
Good question! I will definitively state that next time I happen to be in court for whatever reason. But seems to me will it be just like the Muslim cop who swore on the bible when I was being charged, he lied though his teeth as well but I don't think the fact it was a Bible or even if it could be a Qur'an, that it would have made a bit of difference. I had to swear on a bible in a legal office to get a marriage certificate, I told them I never believed in an God, they laughed and had me swear anyways as they said it was just procedure.
 
bb419

bb419

Member
Underthelight said:
Good question! I will definitively state that next time I happen to be in court for whatever reason. But seems to me will it be just like the Muslim cop who swore on the bible when I was being charged, he lied though his teeth as well but I don't think the fact it was a Bible or even if it could be a Qur'an, that it would have made a bit of difference. I had to swear on a bible in a legal office to get a marriage certificate, I told them I never believed in an God, they laughed and had me swear anyways as they said it was just procedure.
Click to expand...
That is funny, sorta like taking a deep breath and saying I don't believe in oxygen...... -Yeah, guy just inhale and exhale anyway and have a seat, thank you, NEXT!-
 
bb419

bb419

Member
Fear of god is what's important. What will happen when we lie and swear to the father. To people who fear GOD thats the the most hurtful thing we could do to ourself. To athiest its a joke, thats followed by unexplainable "bad luck" or maybe aliens punish the athiest?

To me having GOD ignore me is punishment enough but since they dont believe in GOD, no loss.
They do, they just like attention.
 
Padawanbater2

Padawanbater2

Well-Known Member
Yup, you've solved the mystery..

It's not because every single claim can be proven wrong..

It's not because these grown up fairy tales hurt people...

It's not because they inhibit critical thought...

It's not because they promote prejudice...

It's not because they're hypocritical...


I just love the attention.

 
Brazko

Brazko

Well-Known Member
The most conflicting proponent of swearing to God in court rooms to me is that using God as an alibi usually leads to a guilty or insanity verdict.
 
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