Affirmation is as binding in court as swearing is in court. In both cases. it's the judge who can hold a witness in contempt or even find a witness has committed perjury. What concerns me are those atheists who swear on the Bible anyway because they haven't come out as atheists yet or are too intimidated by the system to be completely honest before affirming to tell the truth.

I find it interesting alone that the assumption that someone who believes in the Bible is naturally going to lie with out swearing.
But i would expect that anyone who talks to invisible people on a regular basis may need a reminder to be honest in the real world

I live in the South. Believe it or not, some courts still do require raising your left hand and right hand on the bible. Barbaric, I know.

I'm not a liar but if your asked to tell nothing but the truth so help you God your free to lie. Cause theres no God judging you. We all know right from wrong don't need a book or a fairy tell God telling us!!!

There is an alternative oath for atheists to use. I've been in the situation where in a courthouse they asked me to swear "so help me god" and I said "well I agree with everything but the god part." After a stunned look, the woman got out a book and had me just affirm that what I said was true.

Ever wondered just how many people have sworn on the bible when giving evidence, knowing full well that they are lying through their teeth simply because a) no-one would DARE doubt their veracity BECAUSE they swore on a mere book, or, b) because they knew that they could, later, confess to a priest, etc, and gain absolution?

Good point. It is a bit of a trap, isn't it.

Ironic to be expected to promise to tell the truth while grasping a book full of lies.

Here Australian Courts one can assert their Atheism freely and simply Affirm to their intention to tell the truth.
I have done so a number of times when called to give evidence and have been on a Jury twice with absolutely NO repercussions at all.

Tell a right-wing hater that Rashida Tlabib was sworn into office on Thomas Jefferson's Quran.

They won't believe it, no matter how much you prove it...

But they get so mad it is funny.

When I served on a jury, they asked the witnesses to swear to tell the truth, they said "I do" - Hopefully that's what it's like everywhere irl.

The swearing in should be swear or affirm.

The swearing-in question for Decades in most places has No mention of "god", and you can always tell the court clerk you decline to use a babble, quaran, whatever, if they try to use that to.

There is precedence...

I would just not parrot the ending. And of course, not place my hand on any book.

It seems there are fewer and fewer courts that used bibles.

Don’t attend.

I've been in this situation many times. I say to the judge, "thus is my affirmation that I'm telling the truth."

Say to yourself "is this the hill I really want to die on?" and tell the truth anyway because it's the right thing to do.

Oaths aside, what is the purpose of raising one's right hand? Why not the left hand? Or the left foot? Why raise any body part - does it make any difference to the oath?

It was Reagan that added "So help me g_d" to the P.O.T.U.S. oath of office.

It has been an eye roll obligation ever since.

I served jury duty and it didn't even come up. They did not have you put your hand on a Bible and you just raised your hand and they said "swear or affirm" and we said "I do" as best as I can remember. It was the same for witnesses.

I think this only happens in Hollywood movies. Church and State, remember?

I’m trying to avoid the court in general... just saying

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth should be enough

I would say "I affirm" just like Quaker Friends do.