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Posted on 01/06/2015 8:24:53 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The Secular Coalition for America asked members of Congress to reject using religious texts such as the Bible or Torah to swear into office Tuesday, urging them to instead use the Constitution — or nothing at all.
“By taking the oath of office on the Constitution, senators will demonstrate their commitment to our secular government, the laws that they’re affirming to uphold, and the people they were elected to represent,” said the coalition, which bills itself as a group of atheists, agnostics and humanists who are fighting against religious influences in politics.
All members of the House and more than a third of the Senate are due to be sworn in on Tuesday, officially opening the 114th Congress.
Some will carry their own religious texts with them for their official swearing in en masse on the chamber floors, and then repair to ornate rooms off the floor where they will have ceremonial do-overs which their family and friends are invited to join.
Each chamber provides copies of religious texts that the lawmakers can hold for the ceremonial swearing-in, and the growing diversity has spawned new options. A lawmaker was sworn in on a Koran for the first time in 2007, and last year the Hindu Bhagavad-Gita was used for the first time, bringing the total to nine options for House lawmakers.
There is no requirement that a text be used, and many lawmakers will simply hold up their hand — particularly for the official swearing-in on the chamber floor. But most do choose to hold a text for the ceremonial swearing-in.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Sponsored by Keith “Muhammed” Ellison.
But the Koran will be okay for mussies that get elected.
The atheists would prefer nothing at all as they see the Constitution as being a document written by Christians who like capitalism (which is a big no no for them).
I bet that they would cheer if someone swore in while holding a copy of the Communist Manifesto or the little red book.
I hereby demand that all Athiest’s immediately STOP using the Calender, and immediately stop using Common Era Dates as well, they are founded in RELIGION!
Because Atheists are dead set on getting the Koran to replace it. They don’t know it yet (because they are colossally stupid) but that is where they are going.
Yeah what about Koran for Obama LOL!
For people that don’t care about religion, they seem to obsess over it 24/7.
The article says they would prefer no religious text for swearing in . I tend to agree.
BTW, most bibles today are printed in China , most have not been read by the office holder and is usually symbolic in gesture anyway.
I think the suggestion of using a copy of the constitution for the ceremony is the most relevant.
I’ve noticed a theme in your posts.
What is your opinion on this encouragement and on the observations that Congress is too Christian?
Atheists sure are worried about other people believing in an “imaginary” G-d.
Plainly we should have our elected officials swear their oaths of office with whatever material or symbolic actions is most likely to make the oath-taker most likely to keep his or her oath. The current system doesn’t seem to be working. Maybe they should swear by their stock portfolio or their pension, rather than on the Bible and before God.
“I swear, So help me, me”
Most being sworn in hold the Constitution in as high regard as the Bible they get sworn in on.
then swear in on a copy of the constitution
By taking the oath of office on the Constitution, senators will demonstrate their commitment to our secular government, the laws that they’re affirming to uphold, and the people they were elected to represent,”
I find this statement to be appropriate
I want them to swear to me they are going to uphold the laws and duties of their office to which they were elected.
RE: What is your opinion on this encouragement and on the observations that Congress is too Christian?
LET IT BE. I just want the best, most honest, patriotic and most competent lawmaker PERIOD.
Thanks.
I certainly agree with your second sentence but don’t know what you mean by let it be.
Let them swear on a bag of dog food for all I care. But if they violate their oath of office, hang them. Let them fear the rule of law as much as I do. It doesn't take a Bible to do that.
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