If an atheist has to go to court, do they make him swear on the Bible?
458261
No. All non-Christians have the right to request and use a non-Christian or non-religious oath, or in some courts they will be required to "affirm" that their testimony is the truth.  Even Christians may do that -- some Quakers, for instance, believe that asking god to back up your testimony is a form of cheating (and if you think about it, they have a point), so they use the affirmation oath instead.
962942
I wish I had a dime for every time this question comes up to show the inaccuracy of the bible. Let me use some applied logic, you are standing before a judge with a rap sheet, you look at the judge and say "I believe you are a good man (the judge is a good man, he donates lots of money to charity he has a list of awards for helping people, on and on and on) so that is why I think you won't send me to prison" (a nervous smile) would the judge be loving and kind to let you go? In that same moment would he be JUST to let you go? Let's say that your list of crimes was two miles long, should he just forgive your debt and let you go?\n\nThis is God. He is love, but He is HOLY, JUST. He punishes sin. That is why people who do not take His payment for sin go to hell.
461106
I've been an attorney since 1993 and most of my practice is litigation.  The only time I have ever seen a witness swear on a Bible is on TV.
416804
Vanity has the correct answer...  Pretty much all of them if you can show a tribunal how your rights are affected by not having religious guidance then they have to 'recognize' your religion.  Now just because they recognize it, participants in the religion are still bound by the UCMJ and laws of the country or SOFA.  Basically you can't have a religion where you rape and pillage for 'sabbath'.
114893
Yes and no.  \n\nNo, in this present world in which the US court system is a sewer of corruption in which going to court is like shooting dice. \n\nYes, he will put millions of people to death who refuse to repent after he returns and establishes the kingdom of God on this planet.
298533
Recently I was in court as a juror and we were sworn in with just the raising of our hands. \n\nThis issue has been filed against our government and the bibles use is being weeded out though out the land. It is a violation of the separation between church and state and should be eliminated all together. \n\nIf you are ever a witness, it is your right to refuse to do this act. I would have if they had tried to make me do it, for the simple fact that I believe in the separation between church and state.
647855
This is just one of many ideas that people can misuse.\n\nI believe that Christians are supposed to obey the laws of the land unless and until those laws contradict God's laws.  Currently there aren't any civil laws that fall under that category for me.  It's one of those hypotheticals.  This is the first case I've heard of that used that idea as a defense.\n\nI don't know enough about both sides to speak to whether he was justified or not.  The courts unfortunately, because they are so overloaded, often send children back into homes that are really still unfit.\n\nStill, based on what they showed on the segment I saw, he didn't seem justified to me.
1038028
An atheist will definitely go to hell.  Satan has atheists to make money and to do good works to add confusion to the nonbelievers, the noneducated Biblically, and the weak Christians so they can't commit fully to Christ.  Satan is a wiley critter and has confusion as one of his greatest tools against God! My uncle was an atheist who did good works but his was the saddest funeral I have been to.  There were no prayers or hymns of encouragement  for his family, just a few other volunteers saying what he had done.  It was an earie atmosphere with everyone knowing that he hadn't made the choice to follow Christ and that he was in hell. It is hard to comfort family by saying that he is in a better place because he isn't. Accept Christ into your heart and ask for His forgivness.  You will feel the difference immediately like a wieght has been lifted off of your chest.  Ask Him for strength and guidace to make good choices and join a good Bible class to learn more and to fellowshiip with.  God Bless You!
706782
If you badly cheat an atheist, he will be upset. He appeals to a natural moral law that he expects everyone, including the cheater to know and obey. "That's not right, or that's not fair" are acknowledgements that there is a standard of right and fair that everyone should know. It is not subjecive in moments like that. Moral law is very absolute at times like these. The atheist demands justice. Blind to his own behavior that well establishes the natural moral law common to man, he then says morals are subjective.  He bullsh*ts himself. A hedonist likes to say morals are subjective because if morals are relative then there are no morals at all. Punch him in the nose and suddenly morals become absolute again.
478681
No, they can't force you to however, it may impair your credibility so you can instead make an affirmation. \n\nI do not "believe in god" either, I also will not swear an oath to any state or government either. Many legal documents require a notary seal, I refuse their oath so, instead i make only a documented affirmation, it works and is completely legal.(saves on notary fees to boot)
620446
I would say yes, it is a form of judgement, but I don't want to judge.  :D  BTW, more Christians should read the verse you posted and the verse after that.  It says that whatever whatever judgement you judge, you shall be judged and whatever you meet, (out to someone) shall be measured to you again.  To me, that would mean that if you say, "You're going to hell," you will go to hell if you don't repent.
549876
Proof that our "friend" is a hypocrite and a mental case, see above.\n\nI ask myself every time I read the Bible, what does this mean FOR me.
123427
Hannibal Lecktor said, "...if you do as God does, enough times, you become as God is."\n\nWell, that is a twisted truth. Hey, it's Lecktor, what do you expect? But basically, God made man and gave him an incredible authority, that of being a "judge". As a judge you are exercising power much like God--that is, as judge and arbiter over men's lives. This was an awesome responisbility. Now look at the Psalm you sited closely and in context...\n\nWhat sets God apart?\nGod stands in the congregation of the mighty;\nHe judges among the gods.\n\nWas God satisfied with their judgments?\nHow long will you judge unjustly,\nAnd show partiality to the wicked? \n\nGod gave them a great responsibility...\nI said, “You are gods,\nAnd all of you are children of the Most High.\n\nBut did they live up to the task? NO!\nBut you shall die like men,\nAnd fall like one of the princes.\n\nThe Pharisees knew the scriptures up and down, inside and out. When He said, "It is written", the Pharisees would pride themselves on knowing the full scripture, its context, and what early sages said about it. When Jesus said, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"' What the Pharisee would immediately recognize is that in judging Jesus of being a blasphemer, they were not fulfilling their role as proper judges and would die as men due to mishandling their office. Jesus would only be a blasphemer if He wasn't GOD, and so He told them to judge by the works He did since they would validate His claim.\n\nIt's a toughy, but you have to put yourself in the place of the Pharisees listening to Him. It was a real jaw dropper for them. Notice they did not say much after that.
155576
Thats a strange question, I feel you are judging and dont want to be judged. Also your not well informed about the bible.\nLike back in the old testament a kid was just a little more worth than a slave. The parents even had the right to get the disobidient kid publicly executed... thats in the bible too and apparently you didnt read that, yet you turned an "atheist"?\nIf you are honest about it then you arent an atheist, your having doubts about it, thats why you are asking this question.\nStop being stubborn. Search the bible for answers and dont look here!
566349
The phrase, "so help you God," has been removed from most US courts a long time ago.  Also, you don't have to "swear" either, you can "affirm."\n\nLawrence\nhttp://www.truebiblesermons.com
521011
The Bible says that for a time God winked at the silliness of mankind until they got out of hand with brutality and so on..., MEANING he didn't wink as in approval, he pretty much just let man do his own thing.\n\nI cant recall where the scripture is other than the New Testament and I assume it was the Apostle Paul.\n\nHOWEVER If your read the Genesis you'll find there was an understanding that there were certain things considered sinful. This suggest it was passed down from father to son and family to family by word of mouth.\n\nThe WRITTEN LAW.., came as a hard copy (so to speak) something more tangible. Men can argue over what's legal and illegal all they want UNTIL there is a written code for all to see.., hence God passed to Moses the Law which gaged sin without a doubt and the fines and penalties and remedies for violating these laws. Violation of those laws is a sin.\n\nPlease leave $5 in the bucket on your way out. Daddy needs a new pair of shoes.
808640
In the Old Testament he was reactive.  That's cause the people brought that out in him.  In modern times he is not reactive, but neither is he proactive; he's taken a wait-and-see attitude.  Why do you ask?  Are you an atheist looking for an argument?