Should the Bible have any place in the Inauguration?

This nation was not founded on the Bible or the Ten Commandments. In fact, freedom was the foundation of this nation, including freedom of (and from) religion. Agree or disagree, but all evidence points to that.

What I'd like to discuss, though, are the points made in this segment of The Last Word, especially this:

“We will ensure that whoever delivers the benediction rejects the same parts of the Bible that President Obama rejects and most Democrats reject, even though every word of the Bible is the word of God,” O’Donnell said. “As I’ve pointed out … no one accepts all of the teachings of the Bible. No one. … Still, the president, following one of our most absurdest traditions in the government that invented the separation of church and state, will put his hand on this book filled with things he does not believe – filled with things that no one in the United States of America believes – and with his hand on this book he will recite the oath of office. ”

(Bold and italics are mine, not O'Donnell's)

The video is worth watching, too - especially when he talks about the parts of the Bible that command death to prostitutes, death to those who work on the Sabbath, etc.

Answer Question

SHARE THIS QUESTION:

Asked by jsbenkert at 1:40 PM on Jan. 11, 2013 in Religious Debate

87630 Level 37

Answers (24)

No
The POTUS should be sworn in with a copy of the Constitution or Bill of Rights

Answer by butterflyblue19 at 1:43 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 341821 Level 49 Religious Debate Minor

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!
thats a hard one. i think the tradition of "hand on the Bible" means a lot more to the majority of Americans than the separation of church & state. to me its a choice for the President to make, as he is the one making the oath. like if we had a Jewish President i wouldnt expect him/her to oath on the Bible but rather the Torah or Tanakh.

Obama isnt the first President to not believe everything in the Bible...shoot some of the first Presidents didnt believe everything the Bible. but either way, Obama isnt dumb enough to make that kinda change...he's already "Muslim" and this wouldnt help. his hands are tied. it will be a long time before this is changed, and personally i like Butterfly's suggestions.

Answer by okmanders at 1:57 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 135664 Level 41 Religious Debate Degree

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!
Ah, now that you have changed the title, hell no it shouldn't. But you know that right winged Christians will flip the fuck out if anyone ever changes it.

Answer by JulieJacobKyle at 2:11 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 198987 Level 45 Religious Debate Minor

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!
Change? No. Christians would flip out! Remember the fuss over the dog being on the Xmas card?

Answer by butterflyblue19 at 1:58 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 341821 Level 49 Religious Debate Minor

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!
Yes, what BB said makes perfect sense, in fact the constitution should've been used all along, when you really think about it. But, she's also right in that Christians will freak out if anyone tries to change it & Fox News would have a field day! They already cling to "keep Christ in Christmas" it would be a completely illogical, over-emotional chaos of protest after protest.

Answer by 3libras at 2:04 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 368805 Level 49 Religious Debate Minor

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!
yeah, doesn't make much sense does it?

Do you think we will ever see it change though?

Answer by charlotsomtimes at 1:54 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 147111 Level 42 Religious Debate Major

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!
John Adams swore in on a book of law. It really just comes down to the personal choice of the chosen president. They are not forced to use a Bible.

Answer by But_Mommie at 2:22 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 169636 Level 43 Religious Debate Minor

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!
From time Magazine:
While most presidential oaths have been administered by the Chief Justice--Roger Taney swore in seven Commanders in Chief, a record--it's not required. Calvin Coolidge's father, a notary public, presided over one of his son's two oaths, in 1923. Presidents can choose to affirm instead of swear (although only one has: the devout Franklin Pierce). And most have added "So help me God" at the end, as George Washington is believed to have done, though historians now dispute it. Several Presidents, including George W. Bush, were sworn in on the Washington Bible, a 10-lb. volume belonging to a New York Freemasons' society. John Quincy Adams, to keep a barrier between church and state, was sworn in on a book of U.S. laws. Harry S Truman used two Bibles in 1949--one, a gift from friends; the other, the one he used in his 1945 Inauguration. No matter what book or how many, an oath is an oath: the swearer is con't

Answer by But_Mommie at 2:29 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 169636 Level 43 Religious Debate Minor

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!
officially considered President from that moment on. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1871905,00.html

Answer by But_Mommie at 2:29 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 169636 Level 43 Religious Debate Minor

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!
Not only should it not be done it should be banned. Our presidents should be swearing on our constitution as this is what they are to uphold. Not one chosen religion over another.

Answer by sahmamax2 at 3:12 PM on Jan. 11, 2013
Credits: 73391 Level 35 Religious Debate Degree

Found an answer to your question?
Like us on Facebook!