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What should one do when asked to tell the truth so help you god?

I recently had to go to traffic court and had to start a payment plan for my ticket which requires a hearing.Mind you this is small town."god"fearing.

#god
Nogodnohate 5 Jan 5
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35 comments

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1

Tell the truth. They put the godliness and placing the hand on the bible thing all over the world. Just be a good human and tell the truth and ignore the religious mumbojumbo.

Sacha Level 7 Jan 5, 2018

Done!

Tell the truth about one's belief?

@bingst The truth about if she was speeding or went through a redlight, or whatever you go to traffic court for.

3

Tell the truth.

Always! Lying complicates lives

The truth about one's beliefs?

3

Don't you have a choice in America? I used to be a magistrate and we very rarely had people swear on a bible (much more often on a koran!), but most people just read out that they'd tell the truth.

2

I thought that courts would let a person 'affirm' rather than 'swear in'....?

6

Ask for the USA Constitution.

Should I be in that position again I shall opt for the constitution

5

I will do that if you want, your honor. However, in full disclosure, this procedure really has no significance to me since I'm an atheist

Rudy!!!! You understood me!!! Lol

2

Very few places do this anymore...a good thing. Most just ask you if you will tell the truth.

I'm not so sure about that.

2

I had to appear in court a few years ago when I was charged with embezzlement.

The jury have to be sworn in too and, like the defendant, are given the choice to swear on the Bible or another holy book, or make a non-religious affirmation. One of them took the Bible offered to him, stared at it for a moment in absolute disgust, then threw it down looking for all the world as though he was going to spit on it.

Good chap!

(I was completely cleared of any involvement, incidentally!)

Jnei Level 8 Jan 5, 2018

lol

1

I don't think in those cases that they'd accept anything less, even if you flat out tell them you believe in their fairytales. I'd say you'd just have to go with it. It's a hollow expression to me, like 'oh my god' or something, so just live up to your own standards of honestly and play their game when there's no way around it.

By far the best response. Thank you.

1

Meh. I'd just tell the truth. It is what it is.

Duke Level 8 Jan 5, 2018
1

What choice do you have? To lie? If you're secure enough in your non-belief then none of it should really bother you.

We can't force other people to see things the way we do. In fact, we shouldn't want to. That would be rather selfish of us.

0

You say which one? It gets funny after that. If you want to be one that fits in with the crowd then leave the funny stuff at home.

1

You are are there swearing the truth, why start out with a lie. I think "so help me god" should be replaced with "under penalty of perjury".

4

I would respond, "I tell the truth without any outside help."

2

Tell the truth. Let them know you'll swear on the constitution. OR inform ahead of time that you don't believe in god.

2

Wasn't ever thinking of lying? Lol!That's stupid and makes things more complicated than they need to be. Just was curious about what y'alls take on it was,thanks for the feedback

1

You are in the US, so how can it be constitutional having to use a formula that involves god? Most countries I know have legal provisions for people to do some formal act of telling the truth where doing it on a holy book (could be the Bible or the Qran etc) is an option, but not a requirement.

2

Say that you want to make a sacrificial burnt offering (..a goat, lets say...) to Zeus (they can't argue WHICH god you vow to). If they don't go for that, demand that god appear in person to hear your vow. No, maybe they won't have a sense of humor...When they ask if you swear to tell the truth, just say, "yeah, whatever..."

2

I generally ask them which 'god' do they mean... if I really want to piss them off 🙂

0

You could always just say "no", but that's frowned upon.

2

Well, yes. But in my mind I know I don't need god in order to tell the truth. It also won't be god who punishes me if i get caught purjuring in a court of law.

Cheri Level 5 Jan 5, 2018
2

When dealing with courts and police I stay as low key as possible. Them people got guns.

1

At my last jury duty I was selected (all the others were women and I said if they chose me as fore-person I would claim sexual harassment - joke but true). The judge swore us in with the god thing but I kept quiet. However, later I sent in a note of complaint. I was told I could opt out but I would have to say something before the proceedings started. I think that is common practice at least among the more 'civilized' states.

2

In that old movie "god" with John Denver and George burns, when George burns was being sworn in he said. " so help me, me !""

1

Affirm

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