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From: ask@cbdkc1.UUCP (A.S. Kamlet)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: "Secular Humanism" banned
Message-ID: <1128@cbdkc1.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 31-Aug-85 18:12:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbdkc1.1128
Posted: Sat Aug 31 18:12:26 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 1-Sep-85 06:20:51 EDT
Reply-To: ask@cbdkc1.UUCP (A.S. Kamlet)
Followup-To: <7300001@orstcs.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 29

>Many of this country's laws were passed with clauses about religion written
>into the text.  This is most often apparent in (1) oaths of office; (2) laws
>relating to what is or is not allowed in the schools; and (3) laws of exemp
>
>(1) Oaths of office:  Most of the oaths of office are at least religious by
     > implication.  More blatant examples are: The Presidential oath (and
     > the oath required of a witness) require that one hand be on The Bible.
     > I think that this has been relaxed in more recent times, but I wouldn't
     > (on a stack a' Bibles. Honest! :-) ) swear to it.  For example, I don't
     > think that the type or denomination of Bible is specified, so you might
     > be able to get away with substituting the New American (or Koran) for
     > the King James.  

What is the source for saying that, "The Presidential oath (and ...)
require that one hand be on The Bible?"

I believe that using The Bible, or taking an oath rather than
affirming, is the choice of the president.  The Constitution of
The United States, Article II, Section 1, states:

	Before he enter on the execution of his office he shall
	take the following oath or affirmation:
		"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will
		faithfully execute the office of President
		of the United States, and will, to the best
		of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend
		the Constitution of the United States."
-- 
Art Kamlet  AT&T Bell Laboratories  Columbus {ihnp4 | cbosgd}!cbrma!ask