Here's one for ya.....

Steyr

If your in court what happens if your an Athiest and your asked to swear on the Bible?

swear on it and lie all you like.

Ross_Mahon

I've been wondering this all the time! What would happen if you refused to swear on the bible? I must try it if I'm ever called in for something.

orestes

You can refuse as it does not correspond to your beliefs and give them your word as a citizen of the state instead afaik. It's still legally binding though and if you lie it's still perjury

Unfortunately in this country it will probably render your testimony useless in the eyes of a lot of the jury members though as people will think that if you don't believe in the bible you're an evil, kitten eating, virgin raping, blood drinking psychopath who has direct dealings with the devil.

AlmightyCushion

God will smite you.

Kold

I was a witness in England and they asked me if I would swear on a Bible, I said I wouldn't because it means nothing to me. So you have the choice over there anyway.

eVeNtInE

This post has been deleted.

Dave!

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/justice/witnesses/the-procedure-for-being-a-witness

If you wish to make the affirmation (suitable for those who are not Christians), then you must tell the registrar. The words of the affirmation are "I, do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that the evidence that I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".

NEXT!

monkeyfudge

If an atheist wanted to lie could they take the oath instead of the affirmation?

Dave!

monkeyfudge wrote: »

If an atheist wanted to lie could they take the oath instead of the affirmation?

You're still saying "I swear...that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth", so I don't think it matters who you're swearing it to as long as you say it!

javaboy

What did you do OP? TV licence evasion? Murder?

deleriumtremens

I'm not sure.
But wouldnt it be good to be back in the old days for a wee while to commit a crime. You'd get dragged to a court hearing as a suspect and get told to swear on the bible. But unlike everyone else in the room you wouldnt be afraid of perishing in hell if you lie because you know that religion is all BS. So you could lie away to your hearts content and people would be more likely to believe you then if you did it today!

Bottle_of_Smoke

a copy of the god delusion

Mr. Incognito

You explode.

You really need better things to be wasting your brain cells on.

AlmightyCushion

javaboy wrote: »

What did you do OP? TV licence evasion? Murder?

Definitely isn't a TV license evasion, they have a shoot to kill order for that.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Why not just have everyone take he damn oath, regardless of whether they are Christians or not...?

Dave!

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Why not just have everyone take he damn oath, regardless of whether they are Christians or not...?

oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh, you're so controversial!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

javaboy

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Definitely isn't a TV license evasion, they have a shoot to kill order for that.

Didn't you hear? There's an amnesty for non-payment while Colm and Jim-Jim's reign of terror continues. Well not quite an amnesty but they've temporarily cut out the summary executions.

orestes

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Why not just have everyone take he damn oath, regardless of whether they are Christians or not...?

The answer to that is contained in the question

javaboy

Number One: Everyone takes the same oath.

jhegarty

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

a copy of the god delusion

so you are suggesting it's a religious book ?

Sangre

monkeyfudge wrote: »

If an atheist wanted to lie could they take the oath instead of the affirmation?

Not if they wanted to be charged for purjery.

Sam Vimes

i was on jury duty last week and i just didn't kick up a fuss and swore on the bible, making my oath meaningless. Then i went against everyone else on the jury for the craic.

I really really wanted to proclaim "i swear to almighty spaghetti monster" but i restrained myself

Bob the Builder

But it's still a CRIME either way. Whether you took the oath or not. Either way, you're just acknowledging that this is 'serious business', and you are aware that you are expected to tell the truth.

By bringing the bible into it, I'd imagine, they're just telling you that God will spit on you and your lying soul.

Manic Moran

Way back when I was joining the FCA, I took a "Solemn Declaration" instead of swearing an oath.

Similarly, when I entered the US military, I 'solemnly declared' instead of 'solemnly swearing', and was given the option of omitting the 'So help me God' at the end, which I duly omitted.

NTM

Overheal

To be honest I'd just ask to be sworn in on The Constitution.

dSTAR

When asked if you understand the charges being brought against you say NO. Also when you are called up to the dock inform the judge that you are representing the person on the charge sheet and not actually the person in question which is a legal or corporate entity and not you as a sovereign individual. Watch the judge squirm as he is forced to throw the charges out.

AlmightyCushion

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

God will smite you.

Smite me almighty smiter!