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From: slb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Swearing in Court
Message-ID: <23@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Sep-85 10:31:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: drutx.23
Posted: Thu Sep 26 10:31:20 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Sep-85 05:36:36 EDT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 39

>
>I notice that in TV court scenes (shaky evidence) and in the
>court system of Georgia a witness is required to raise his
>right hand and repeat (approximately):
>
>"I swear (or affirm) that I will tell the truth, the whole
>truth, and nothing but the truth...so help me God."
>
>Bob Brown {...ihnp4!akgua!rjb}
>

I was in court recently as a juror.  I would never swear on a Bible,
since I don't consider it a valid source of my religion (and I think 
it's a HORRIBLE book.)  I am a Buddhist/Hindu/pagan, and swearing by one 
god would seem silly to me (none, lots, or "so help me Goddess" would 
feel better...). As a result, I noted the oaths with some interest.  

There was no Bible used, and no phrase "so help me God" in any
oath, from the jurors' oath, to the witnesses'.  I believe they did 
use the word "swear" as opposed to "affirm", which would bother Quakers, 
but I wasn't really watching for that one.

TV probably just isn't accurate.  Or it reflects the way things used
to be, back in the old days when everyone just assumed you were a
Christian.  (Unfortunately, we have a lot of people living in the 
past still).  Perhaps this is different in other states, too.
-- 

                                     Sue Brezden
                                     
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