I’ll swear anything on your god that you ask me to.
I’d just go ahead and swear. Not like it matters. It’s the oath that’s important.
Could just grab your scrotum with one hand and raise the other, like the Romans did. That’s where the “testi” in testimony comes from.
I was recently in court (civil, not criminal); the opposition swore on the bible. I just said to the magistrate I wanted to affirm and they had a prepared statement for me to read out.
Here in Massachusetts (where the procedure for the appointment of notaries public is actually written into our state constitution), notaries can, by statute, charge as much as $1.25 for the service they provide. Most probably do it for free, however. Justices of the Peace, however, can charge a LOT more for performing wedding ceremonies. I think the JP that married my wife and I charged either $150 or $200.
Barry
At my divorce hearing, I was asked if I would swear to God that I had no intention of going back to my maiden name for purposes of fraud or debt evasion. I said I didn’t believe in God, but was perfectly willing to swear on my life to the truth that I had no intention whatsoever to participate in fraud, debt evasion or other criminal activities (which WAS the truth; in fact the question actually shocked me!), that all I wanted was the legal right to change my name back. This was acceptable and I was granted my divorce plus the right to go back to my former last name.
Another athiest checking in. My opinions are very similar to the OP; I’m not a mission to prove She/He/It/Og doesn’t exist or anything. However, on prinicipal I would take an oath with a reference to something I don’t believe in.
would = wouldn’t :smack: :wally