Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Categories
- All Categories 13.8K
- General Category 10.9K
- General Announcements 184
- Faith Issues 3.4K
- Coptic Orthodox Church 2.5K
- Personal Issues 1.4K
- Prayer Requests 423
- Random Issues 1.8K
- Introductions 294
- Non-Orthodox Inquiries 232
- Youth Corner 606
- Hymns 2.5K
- Hymns Discussion 2.5K
- Technicial Difficulties 368
- Technical Topics 368
Affirmation/Oath
Affirmation – A promise to tell the truth in court.Used by people who do not wish to swear on the
Bible or other religious book.
Oath – A promise to tell the truth by swearing on a religious book that is important to the person making the promise.
which would you choose?? i would choose affirmation as i see it wrong swearing on the Bible, but what i dont understand is why so many christians (coptic too) are taking the oath........i dont get it............both the affirmation and oath mean nothing to non christians.......jus my thorts........
Bible or other religious book.
Oath – A promise to tell the truth by swearing on a religious book that is important to the person making the promise.
which would you choose?? i would choose affirmation as i see it wrong swearing on the Bible, but what i dont understand is why so many christians (coptic too) are taking the oath........i dont get it............both the affirmation and oath mean nothing to non christians.......jus my thorts........
Comments
Interesting question.
There are some Protestants who object to swearing on the Bible; and, of course, many atheists who also, for different reasons, object. But for Orthodox Christians there is nothing wrong, and much right, with swearing to tell the truth on the Bible; for a Christian it is the surest guarantee to others that you are telling the truth. Of course, when Britain was a more Christian country than it is today, this was precisely why that practice was introduced. It was thought in the nineteenth century that even the most hardened criminal would hesitate before lying on his Bible oath.
In Christ,
John
so swearing an oath is ok, if you comply with it?
or shudnt be swearing at all (including an oath)?
Certainly some Protestant groups, particularly the Quakers, would take these verses and make the point that is being made here. This suggests the dangers inherent in the habit of reading verses out of context.
We should render unto Caesar those things that are his. If the state asks us to swear an oath before we testify in court, then the state is justified in expecting us to comply; it is prideful and unnecessarily antagonistic to take these Biblical verses and say I will not swear an oath - if we are asked so to do. In practice most States let people affirm, so it isn't a problem. I am not sure the Church takes a view on this - other than the one that we render to God those things which are His, and to Caesar those which belong to him.
What are we saying if we take these verses and say - that justifies us not swearing to tell the truth by the book we hold most dear? Are we not being a trifle holier than thou in our attitude?
Of course, anyone with real scruples about this can affirm - but the fact that that practice was introduced to allow atheists and Protestants to take an oath without swearing it would make me doubtful about following their example. If in doubt, ask your priest.
In Christ,
John
so we cant swear i God's name but we can swear on his bible???
i don't think that's rit since the Bible is God's word. so some how there would be a connection to God from there.
it is like going to war,we shouldn`t kill anyone,however soldiers have to kill the enemies` soldiers otherwise they will be killed.
i asked someone from uni this question and this was her response: Oath relates to a divine promise and affirmation is a statement that you believe is true.
muslims or non christians often take the affirmation so christians assume that its their duty to choose oath......and this is where i think those verses link into, if u do make an oath, we need to make sure we abide by it
In Christ,
John
did u know that it is now no longer used!!! that is the swearing on the physical Bible. it was a common practice to use the Bible now its just the words of the oath that are recited before giving evidence in court
i beleive that the following are the words of the oath where in the end you say i do
"do u swear to tell the truth and the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help u God if u do say i do"
although when iwas admitted within the Supreme Court of Australia iwas required to hold the bible as i was taking the oath to uphold the law etc. we were not asked to hold it with the right hand etc as u see in the movies but simply have it in our hands.
i believe you do not swear on the Bible as such, as u can see by the words of the oath.
the reason for the oath is that it is believed to be linked to the conscience. so that people if they swore by God would feel obliged to tell the truth out of fear of God etc. they needed the affirmation for non believers
in any event it is illegal to lie in court and this is called contempt and is an offence in its self.
this is the link to the Oaths Act if you wish to find out more (only applicable within New South Wales in Australia)
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/oa190079/s11a.html
Kristina123