Affirming vs. Swearing Oaths in Court

Woman swearing in at courthouse

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When you need to give testimony in court, are you required to swear an oath on the Bible? This is a common question among atheists and non-Christians. In general, it is not required by law. Instead, you can "affirm" to tell the truth.

Swearing an Oath on the Bible Is Not Required

Court scenes in American movies, television, and books typically show people swearing an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Typically, they do so by swearing an oath "to God" with a hand on the Bible. Such scenes are so common that most people seem to assume that it's required. However, it's not.

You have a right to simply "affirm" that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No gods, Bibles, or anything else religious need to be involved.

This is not an issue that only affects atheists. Many religious believers, including some Christians, object to swearing oaths to God and would prefer to affirm that they will tell the truth.

Britain has guaranteed a right to affirm rather than swear an oath since 1695. In America, the Constitution specifically references affirming alongside swearing at four different points.

Religious Favoritism

There are good political and ideological reasons for affirming an oath rather than swearing.

Expecting people in court to swear an oath to God while using a Bible only helps reinforce Christian supremacy in America. It's not just a "privilege" for Christians that courts incorporate Christian beliefs and text into legal procedures. It is also a form of supremacy because as are receiving official state approval and citizens are expected to actively participate.

Even if other religious texts are permitted, it still means that the government is favoring religion in an inappropriate manner.

There are also good personal reasons to affirm an oath rather than swear. If you acquiesce to participate in what is effectively a religious ritual, you are making a public statement of approval of and agreement with the religious underpinnings of that ritual. It's not psychologically healthy to publicly proclaim the existence of God and moral value of the Bible when you don't actually believe any of this.

Finally, there are good legal reasons to affirm an oath rather than swear. If you swear to God on a Bible when you don't believe in either, then you are doing the opposite of what you are supposed to.

You cannot reliably promise to tell the truth in a ceremony where you are lying about your beliefs and commitments. Whether this could be used to undermine your credibility in current or future court proceedings is a matter of debate, but it is a risk.

Risks to Atheists Affirming an Oath

If you ask in open court to be permitted to affirm an oath to tell the truth rather than swear to God and on a Bible, you'll be drawing a great deal of attention to yourself. Because everyone "knows" that you swear an oath to God and on the Bible to tell the truth, then you will attract attention even if you make arrangements ahead of time.

It is more likely that this attention will reflect negatively because so many people associate morality with God and Christianity. Anyone refusing or failing to swear to God is likely to become suspicious to at least a percentage of observers.

Prejudice against atheists in America is widespread. If you are suspected of being an atheist, or even of just not believing in the Christian God, then judges and jurors may be inclined to give your testimony less weight or, if it is your case, you may seem less sympathetic.

Do you want to risk losing your case or hurting the case you favor? This is not a risk to be taken lightly, even though it may not be very likely to lead to any serious problems.

While there are plenty of political, ideological, personal, and legal reasons to affirm rather than swear, there are very strong pragmatic reasons to keep your head down and not contradict the majority's expectations.

If you conclude that it is best to affirm rather than swear an oath, you should do so only if you understand that risks are involved. Also, you need to be prepared to deal with them. At the very least, it would be a good idea to talk to an officer of the court in advance about affirming rather than swearing.

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Cline, Austin. "Affirming vs. Swearing Oaths in Court." Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/affirming-swearing-oaths-difference-4589935. Cline, Austin. (2021, February 8). Affirming vs. Swearing Oaths in Court. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/affirming-swearing-oaths-difference-4589935 Cline, Austin. "Affirming vs. Swearing Oaths in Court." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/affirming-swearing-oaths-difference-4589935 (accessed March 19, 2024).