Stock Legal Phrases: Difference between revisions
the Bible says not to swear on the Bible, in a couple of places
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(the Bible says not to swear on the Bible, in a couple of places) |
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** In a similar vein "In my chambers, ''now''! Both of you!"
* "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" The last clause is occasionally dropped in some situations.
** The United States introduced "affirming" in the 1780s to answer the objections of those whose religious convictions<ref>For instance, as gospel "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (Matthew 5:37), reiterated as "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgement" (James 5:12)</ref> wouldn't let them say the "God" part or swear on [[The Bible]].<ref>Before this, it wouldn't be a stretch that anyone who ''wouldn't'' swear on a Bible [[Burn the Witch|might find themselves tied to a flaming piece of wood]].</ref>
*** In [[Ayn Rand]]'s play ''Night of January 16th'', a judge forces Karen Andre to affirm despite her objecting as an atheist to the "so help you God" part.
** The UK courts comment that "oath cards and holy books are available for several religions". You can also miss out the 'God' bit by choosing to affirm.
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