Becoming President

[RebDoomer]

Hi everyone, just throwing out another question that can hopefully be answered with good, creative thoughts.

When becoming president, when you have to put your hand over the "holy" bible... What is the purpose in that? I mean, what if you don't believe in that pitiful so-called god? Then what happens?

And I think you can be president no matter what your religion is but I'm just wondering what happens for those people who are against, or don't believe in god?

NO I do not plan to be president lol, but you never know... I'm just wondering.

[Vicarious]

It's American tradition.

Whether you like it or not, our country was founded on Christian values, as much as the Founding Fathers tried to steer clear of them.

Americans are, in my opinion, too close-minded as a whole to see it any other way. Could you imagine the fits some people would throw if the oath were not taken on a Bible?

Plus, the Bible is used in all sworn-in things, from courtroom appearances/testimonials to, well, this.

[Whisper]

I'm so sick of people freaking out over simple crap like this
First of all who cares if he swears over a bible its american tradition there's nothing wrong with that
Second of all its no ordinary run of the mill bible its the Lincoln Bible, that book has allof of history

I'm not religious at all but I love the culture, tradition and history behind it
personally


I'm not american though so
meh

[theOperaGhost]

It is true that America was founded for religious freedom, however this freedom was to worship God in their own way instead of how the king wanted things. The founding fathers wanted religious freedom, however they weren't exactly aware of all the other religions and didn't really take them into account thus they established this country with Christian values.

It has been ingrained into the culture of America for so long, and since the majority of American's are Christians, I doubt it will be changing in the near future.

I don't see why the youth of today have to deviate away from the traditional American culture so much. It kind of annoys me.

[Vicarious]

Because we're open-minded, and this is history repeating itself all over again.

1960s ring a bell?

[theOperaGhost]

Deviance is caused by a subculture (the youth) who feel they need to have an identity in society, thus they make their own traditions. The problem with that is they also want their "new customs" to automatically be accepted. Does the youth realize that older generations have traditions of their own? The new traditions are NOT going to change the traditions of the older generations.

When our generation takes over society with our traditions, the generation under us will also come up with new customs that I can nearly guarantee will not be accepted by our generation. It's a continuous cycle.

[Perseus]

Anything from the past is history, whether you like it or not, the past is what molds the future.

[iJack]

On the topic, i would do it, the negatives out-way the positives in not doing it.

[theOperaGhost]

I've cleaned this thread up and re-opened it. ***NO ARGUING***

[The Batman]

It's more of just swearing on the bible, it's the tradition of it. Every single president has done it and simply being like them is what makes it worthwhile. I would love to put my hand on the bible that previous presidents have touched. The religious values of it have all but died it's simply because of the tradition.

[Atonement]

I believe that if our President was ever Muslim, Atheist, or Jewish, whatever they may be, they could be sworn in over whatever religious text they desire, if any at all.

I believe they are sworn in over a religious text because it means something to them. Its not to be like "YOU SWORE ON THE BIBLE!" No. I see it as a re-enforcing agent of personal beliefs to drive home to magnetude of the oath.

[Halibut]

well im canadian and its the same as a priminister!. we need someone to lead us in a way or someone to fight against!

[Talia]

Even though church and state are supposed to be separated, I suppose things like that are just tradition. But I also think that if a candidate for president is running, and isn't a catholic or christian, they'd have a much harder time making it into office since so many people seem to rely on that aspect of people as to what kind of person they are.

[Oblivion]

If a president was any other religion, they would use their own book right?
Why exclude Atheism?
If someone is Atheist, and America accepts them as president, why not let them swear in on their own terms?

And president's do have the choice- Theodore Roosevelt didn't use a bible (even though he was Christian) because he was strongly opposed to the union of church and state.