I feel embarrassed at how ridiculous it is. It denigrates the entire process.

I won't do it.
Most places don't require it anymore.
If it were required of me, I'd refuse.

It's difficult to believe that method of 'truth getting' is still used. Most people do not fear the magical sky pixie. They should rig the witness stand to a lie detector & the lie detector to a car battery. You lie, you get shocked. Imagine the fun you'd have with trump in the witness stand.

Feel: amused at the stupidity. The swearing on the Bible does not decrease lies, especially when life-long criminals swear.

I witness a lot of oaths - none of them use a bible - and they are only asked to answer "Yes" and that's all. None of the old fashioned "So help me God." Glad to have seen this change over the last 10+ years.

Yeah it's not required anymore since there's such a diversity of faiths and sacred books. If I were asked to, I'd say "sure, but you realize that, to me, this is the same as swearing on a Harry Potter novel?"

You don’t have to. Jews can swear on a Torah, muslims on a Q’ran. Some faiths forbid swearing on their holy book as being blasphemy. Non believers can just make a declaration. No mystery.

I would not do it and tell them I'm Athiest.

Let me suggest that we mount a movement to use a copy of the U.S. Constitution for swearing in witnesses, as opposed to the Bible.

There are alternatives now. I didn't swear on a bible

Is there a rule you have to do it?

Not just the Bible, but also using oath and "under god" would be an issue for me. If I'm in court and swear by something I don't believe in, to me that's lying... So, perjury. I would request an affirmation. Usually that's what's done, in the US at least

It's your choice what you want to swear on, you don't have to swear on the Bible.

Place my hand on a slice of cheese and you are on the right track.

I would tell them I not a believer, but I would do it if for some weird reason it were mandatory. No harm, no foul. I don't believe in it... so what would it matter?

I would refuse to do that.

Doesn’t bother me. It’s just a pile of paper. I think the penalties for perjury compel most people to be truthful. Criminals will say whatever is in their best interest regardless on what they swear on.

I've been to court as a witness and never had to place my hand on the bible or swear to god.

I only had to raise my right hand and "swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

The bible is a book of some geographical references to past civilizations, a few actual historical events , plagiarize poetry and prose, and misogynistic themes, mythical or fictional beings....why would anyone have any uncomfortable feelings about placing their hands on it or any other book if telling a lie or telling the truth?

Well if it's jury service I'll just tell them that it's not my holy book and ask them instead to fetch a copy of the Necronomicon and the menses of a virgin goat.

If it's something I want to do I'd rather just affirm but would swear on a bible if required.

I would refuse. Is there a punishment for refusing I wonder? Is your testimony invalid if you don't swear to the invisible sky fairy that you'll tell the truth, the whole truth? Will I go to hell? So ridiculous

It is offensive, because it infers we have no morality of our own without it.

Ex-court reporter here. I think it’s a violation of church and state. I swore witnesses in for depositions. I said: Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth? More people lie than tell the truth. They are not afraid of being held in contempt for lying.

This doesn't happen much anymore. You will simply be asked to swear if you will tell the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No 'before gawd", no stupid babble. If you oddly found yourself in some backwater, you can simply state this , politely mentioning you have different values. Quakers have been doing it forever!

The hand on the bible thing doesn't concern me nearly as much as wondering what evidence they may have against me.