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When the President is sworn in, should he take his oath on the Bible or the Constitution?
When a President is sworn into office he usually places his hand on the Bible to give his oath. Should that be changed to swear the oath upon the US Constitution as that is what he is upholding?
Bible. It's comforting to know our President swears on top of the stories of murders, rapes, and slavering, all in the name of God. That makes him kind of a bad @ss.
Since the Oath is always meaningless and every president is inevitably acting on behalf of their sponsors and career's longevity rather than on behalf of the American people (especially not on the behalf of those who voted the other parties) then I'd rather they tarnish the Bible's value with their fake Oath rather than the US constitution which is a little more sacred in my eyes.
That is an interesting take on it. Personally I think it would hold more weight to be sworn in under the US Constitution since that is what he or she would be swearing to uphold.
Only political correct insecure bigots would have a problem with taking an oath on the Bible. It's a symbol of our nation's Christian heritage.
The same could be said of someone having an issue with it being taken on the US Constitution. That is more a symbol of our heritage than Christianity is. America is a melting pot of culture and religions, yet we unite under our rights and privileges given to us by our forefathers.
To be clear, I am not attacking your thought on this, it is also one that I've considered as well (with regards to it carrying a weight of the soul -religious- when you swear upon the bible), I am playing devils advocate if you will, so I would like a cordial discussion from you please. The President isn't sworn to uphold Christian religion, however he/she is sworn to uphold the constitution. Do you not think that would hold more weight?
He is not swearing to uphold the Bible! He's swearing to uphold the constitution, and doing so by putting his hand on the Bible, swearing he is not lying when saying yes.
People who have no problem with lying and adultery, etc. would have no problem swearing on the Constitution and ignoring it.
It's not the Book or Document that makes a person honest. It's the law of not lying under oath and the penalty of going to jail or being impeached that means something to them.
If I lived in Iran, I would expect them to use the Quran to make an oath. They are a majority Islamic nation. In America over 80% of Americans identify as Christians.
Nuff said.
ONCE AGAIN, the oath is to tell the truth, not to God.
Expect America was based off religious freedoms, not based off Christianity. 80% is actually an old number, it's now more around 75%, still high but there are still millions of people who live in america that don't identify as Christian. So if one of them runs and wins Presidency why wouldn't you be ok with them using their own religious book to swear an oath by?
If the oath is to tell the truth and not to God, then would you be resistant to them swearing on the US Constitution or to their own religious text?
That's a great idea. We can now have murderers in courts telling the Judge that he wants to put his hand on a Superman comic book when taking the oath.
How could he lie after saying that?
Your political correct bigotry against the freedom of religious expression and our Christian heritage prooves everything i keep saying about the Left.
80% of americans are not christians, they are robots who believe whatever they are program with without thinking, and if you don't except christ out of free will you cant be called a "christian" right?
I'm sorry, could you clarify? What do you mean, "if you don't except Christ out of free will...."
Do you mean accept?
If you don't accept Jesus as Christ you can still be Christian, I think the denomination changes though. I may be mistaken on that last part but there are many Christians who do not readily believe Jesus was the son of God. Many believe he was a profit or messenger.
Yes we have many false Christians who believe Gay Pastors are fine, who believe aborting babies God knows in the womb is fine, who believe Christ is not the son of God, etc. etc
They are the false Cristians I speak to so often. Many Liberals who claim to be Christians fit into that false cult.
The Bible is clear that Christ is the only way to heaven. Tryng to be good does not get you to heaven because the goodness of mankind says it is ok to kill innocent babies.
God sees through all that fake doctrine. He says their goodness is like rags.
Yes, there are some. But nearly all of Americans agree or lean on the Constitution, so would you have an issue with the President swearing upon the constitution as opposed to the Bible since that is what he/she will be upholding? And why?
You dodged again. If, as you say, the President isn't swearing to God, then why would you be up in arms if he/she swears upon the constitution since that is what they are upholding?
I'll answer it for you since you are hiding.
You have no answer. You just want things your way like a two year old and don't have the courage to simply say it means more to YOU that the President swears upon the Bible than it means to others. If you had at least admitted it was more a response in feeling than it was in logic I'd have more respect for you. Instead you pull this nonsense of ad hominem attacks and cries to ignore then stomp off to your corner. Feel free to come out when you are ready to actually debate. I'm not banning you even though you refuse to directly answer any questions or attempts at an adult conversation.
"It's harder for them to lie..." Really? Name me one president that hasn't lied, in my lifetime. Many presidents rank among the most accomplished liars in the world.
Absolutely the Constitution. It's not required that they're sworn in by oath on the bible, incidentally - Roosevelt didn't, according to my information - and to make it a requirement is, in fact, against the first amendment. It's the Constitution they're sworn to protect, not the bible, nor is our law biblical law...and it damn well shouldn't be.
People need to understand that this country was pretty much created for religious freedom and to be free of England. The president should swear on the constitution to promise to obey the basic laws of our founding fathers. Swearing on a bible is basically calling this country prominently Catholic/Christian. And that's not the reason this country exists.
I swear, you "christians" never read that book you swear on:
"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."
If he is swearing to uphold the constitution, then shouldn't it be that way? Honestly, not everyone believes everything the Bible says. They should swear on the constitution instead. Though I do like Grenache's response on the topic ;-)
