Why do American Christians desire the seperation of church and state while making defendants swear an oath?

Question

Oh, I see. Well, Jesus said for us not to swear oaths. That's the only thing I had in mind...

Answer 1

The oath is not on the bible any more.

Generally, while taking the oath you are asked to swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God.

The word "God" is included, but the oath is never on a book, nor the word bible is invoked.

I think the bible these days is not quite as sacred as the dollar.

But you cannot say while taking an oath that you promise to tell the truth, so help you Dollar.

That would be blasphemous, wouldn't it?

Besides the dollar itself says, "In God we trust"!!

So focus your attention on the dollar.

The more dollar you have, the more trust you will have in God.

Answer 2

American Christians do not insist that defendants swear an oath. It is optional.Many defendants affirm they will tell the truth. Swearing on a Bible used to reassure people that a person would tell the truth because they believed in God and would not risk their mortal soul.  

Answer 3

You just swear to tell the truth. God is not involved.

Answer 4

Did you just crawl out of your rock today? Swearing on the Bible is no longer in fashion. Americans just simply "affirm" that they will tell the truth, without the silly "so help me God" that used to end the oath.

Edit @ Ari J - What would make people think twice about lying under oath is a little crime called "perjury," which means JAIL time. No one in his right mind is afraid of invisible sky daddys. You must be - so where's YOUR mind gone?

Answer 5

nothing to do with religion, it's a secular law designed as a "legal contract" that someone is telling the truth........there's no swearing on bibles in court

Answer 6

You know we don't actually have to swear in on a bible anymore. Although it is perplexing how they don't see the hypocrisy in these kind of things. I guess it's the mentality that thinks about what would make them comfortable and s***w the other guy if he doesn't want to pray to my god.  

Answer 7

You watched too many American movies. Swearing on the Bible is no longer required.

Answer 8

It's not required anymore, thank goodness.

Answer 9

You're mixing realities.

The Court requires an oath to ensure that they're getting true testimony.

The "swearing an oath" part comes from the past, when Christianity was the only game in town.

Today, people are allowed to swear or affirm.

Answer 10

Or even better, if they don't swear an oath then who are they accountable on the stand and what is stopping them from lying?

Hmmm...

See, God IS needed to keep people in line.

Answer 11

They do not make defendants swear an oath, unless of course the defendant is giving testimony, which she or he is not required to do.  Witnesses are sworn however, but not on a bible, just as others have here related.

Answer 12

You can choose to affirm instead of swearing on a bible.

And yes, some American courts still use the bible to swear people in. I live in NC and it is still used here.

Answer 13

im american and christian, i dont desire anything. soo thats a little uch to catagorize all christians that way, maybe though because the states are morally wrong?