In almost every court in the USA when people are called to the stand to make a statement they must put there hand on a Bible and swear not to lie. Yes there is a law in court where a person can be punished for lying or making false statements, but should the Bible be involved? Should people that do not believe in the Bible still have to swear on it? This should be an option but in most courts a person has to.
Mr - I've tried it, they refuse to believe anything you show them that proves the USA isn't founded upon Christianity by Christians.
Yes well I am not debating to get closed minded people to recant their ignorant, uneducated, or biased opinions. I debate so that the undecided observers have an opportunity to see both sides of the argument, and all relative evidence, and make an informed decision.
I would also like to point out that our nation was founded by people fleeing religious persecution from a Christian nation. Just mull that over for a bit. Think about it.
Although USA is not a Christian country (and its president is not dubbed defensor fidei), USA still represents the Western morals and thus Christianity. Looking at the wars on the Middle East, it's just like the Crusade.
@ MRWALKER82 Yes this is true they did not like that England had a National Denomination but the system was set up not to keep religion out just to stop a National Denomination.
There may not be a peice of paper stateing that America was founded on Christianity but here are some facts that show it was.
Most of the founding fathers were Christian
The first offical act as a congress was to open with a Christian prayer
Benjamin Franklin said at the Constitutional Convention "God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"
John Adams also said at the convention "The general principles on which the fathers achieved Independence were ... the general principles of Christianity ... I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that the general principles of Christianity are as etemal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."
Did they have a choice? At that time, it was foolish to express disbelief in God.
John Adams also said at the convention "The general principles on which the fathers achieved Independence were ... the general principles of Christianity ... I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that the general principles of Christianity are as etemal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."
The general principles include freedom of religion, right? So the quote can be interpreted as "under the name of God (or Christianity whatsoever), nobody is obliged to believe in God." Well, by my knowledge in Christianity, the Bible said that Christians should tolerate disbelievers.
Again, wrong. They were freemasons and deists, not Christians. In fact several of them spoke out openly AGAINST Christianity, most notably Jefferson and Franklin. While many of them believed in God and felt that the tenets put forth by Christianity were noble tenets, these men were by and large against organized religion and few were Christians at all. You will notice that they all speak of God, where is the mention of Jesus? A belief in and following of Jesus Christ is what makes one a Christian, and these men did not have that.
Again, wrong. They were freemasons and deists, not Christians. In fact several of them spoke out openly AGAINST Christianity, most notably Jefferson and Franklin. While many of them believed in God and felt that the tenets put forth by Christianity were noble tenets, these men were by and large against organized religion and few were Christians at all. You will notice that they all speak of God, where is the mention of Jesus? A belief in and following of Jesus Christ is what makes one a Christian, and these men did not have that.
But yet, it's the interpretation of the people. Would an American think that the God in the speech of Jefferson is Allah? No. Don't forget, many people in that time didn't know anything about philosophy and religions, so when someone spoke about God, they would simply link it to Jesus.
Also, where was Americans from? Europe. And what was the majority religion in Europe? Christianity. Yes, America was not found on Christianity, but Christianity affects America greatly.
The way I see it, if you're religious it'll make you want to tell the truth (swearing on your holy book would bind you). If you're an atheist, then it shouldn't matter to you anyway because you probably think we live in a mundane world where things like swearing on books doesn't affect anything.
It shouldn't be involved at all. The Christians who swear on it still lie any way and the others who refuse it simply look bad. That is it in a nutshell.
It shouldn't be involved at all. The Christians who swear on it still lie any way and the others who refuse it simply look bad. That is it in a nutshell.
Very true, if you are Christian and in court for crime, you disobeyed one of Gods 'rules' somewhere anyway.. so what's stopping them from lying about it.
If I ever was to swear on something, I'd swear 'on everything I love'. Sounds cheesy but it's something I wouldn't break just like that. But not on the bible. At least if it was me it wouldn't be credible.
The way I see it, if you're religious it'll make you want to tell the truth (swearing on your holy book would bind you). If you're an atheist, then it shouldn't matter to you anyway because you probably think we live in a mundane world where things like swearing on books doesn't affect anything.
Or maybe its because we're pretty sure that lying to a book won't get us smitten by God. Even so, plenty of criminals easily set aside their religion to lie in court. Most of them don't even think about their oath.
If I ever was to swear on something, I'd swear 'on everything I love'. Sounds cheesy but it's something I wouldn't break just like that. But not on the bible. At least if it was me it wouldn't be credible.
Can I get a cheese pizza to swear on? What it contains at least I know exists.
