From what I've heard people can swear an oath on a dictionary if they want; I'd be more concerned about a politician breaking that oath. We must remember that we have freedom
of religion, expression, and speech.
Though certainly "the freedom to swing one's fist ends at
my nose."
I wonder if Ellison might conclude his speeches with
"Allahu Akbar", "God is great". Many Muslims say that every day. Sadly it was the last thing heard by the passengers
on 9/11. In this case, some Muslims twisted their
"religion of peace" and killed innocents. (I tolerate
any religion, but when they use that religion to
justify the killing of thousands of innocents, then
that goes too far.)
But an interesting what if:
America is primarily a Muslim country and the first Christian elected to Congress wants to swear the Oath on
a Christian Bible rather than a Muslim Koran...
The Rutherford Institute, an organization dedicated to
preserving 'religious liberties', runs some radio public
service announcements--one of them defended the right of a little girl to share jellybeans with her classmates. Jelly beans that had Bible verses on them. She has that right:
free expression, freedom of religion.
We have freedom to practice whatever faith we choose, or
no faith. The government cannot establish an official
religion. (Consider if you lived in the Middle East and
Muslim fanatics want to kill you because you're a Christian! Come to think of it, they want to do that over here too...
again, Muslim fanatics--those who twist the religion...)
Though certainly we are predominantly a Christian nation,
something we can point out the next time someone wants
Christmas decorations taken off public lands. (Thousands
in a city don't mind them, but one person does mind them...)
Sure, put up Christmas decorations. Hannukah, too, and
Ramadan, and so on. Tolerate all religions.
An interesting situation, though. But we do have to also
acknowledge than many Muslims hate us and our way of
life and they use their faith to justify it.
What if Christians were to have suicide bombers go into
Muslim cities in the Middle East, blowing up Muslims
in the name of Jesus? Would that be a perversion of
Christianity?
>>Tolerate all religions.
Again, up until the point they use their religion to try
and kill us.