Oh Noes! Muslim Congressman Plans To Swear In On Koran!

The BBQ Pit
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I’d still like to know who the hell Prager is asserting should “not allow” Ellison to swear on a Qur"an. The entirety of column makes it sound like Prager is under some kind of impression that Ellison is asking for permission, or that somebody, somehow is in charge of how elected officials take oaths. His other factual inaccuracies make me wonder if he did any research at all on this topic.

I’m a little surprised at the near totality of ignoarnce displayed in the article. I’ve seen Prager on television from time to time and thought he was a bit of a blow hard but he didn’t strike me as THIS much of a mouth breather.

82

Jesus?

83

But Prager is Jewish. That’s the crazy thing. He has been aligned with the conservative Christian movement for a while now. I makes no damn sense at all. Jews aren’t supposed to try to convert people so what would he do with the Moslems? Does he want them to become Christians or leave the country or stay but not run for office or they can win elections but swear on someone else’s Holy Book and then it’s ok? The guy is totally cracked.

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If you get tired of reading Prager’s nonsense, go over to Michael Medved. No, wait – he’s a moron too. Sheesh. Just forget I said anything.

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<crazy paranoid thought> I don’t suppose Prager’s thinking of becoming a Congressman at some point? So if he makes sure he’ll have to swear on a Bible (which, as a Jew, he does not believe in) that would mean he does not have to hold himself to his oath? </cpt>

86

Can person be forced to say the “so help me God part”? Is that part of the affirmation, too?

If I had to swear on something, it would be a big poster that says, “The God of the Christians and Jews supports RAPE.”

http://www.evilbible.com/Rape.htm

87

I’m a resident of the District, and Keith Ellison is my Congressman-elect.

I think the most relevant comment on the claim that he is or was anti-semitic when a local elderly jewish woman (mother of one of our State Legislators), stated that she knew about anti-semitism (she had a concentration camp tattoo to prove that), and she was still supporting Keith Ellison, despite these attacks from his opponents. That made quite an impression on me.

And apparently on the rest of the voters in the District, who gave him twice as many votes as either of his opponents.

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This is a warning to knock off the trolling immediately, Sherwin, or you will be banned.

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Taxes.

90

Article VI forbids any religious test for office, so I doubt it.

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During meetings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when people are asked if they sustain someone in their office, the presiding officer asks everyone to “so indicate by raising your right hand.” If a person is unable to rais their right hand for any reason, they may indicate their agreement by raising their left hand.

I made the mistake of trying to read all of the comments to the article linked in the OP. I think my sanity will now sue me for pain and suffering. Anyway, I did e-mail that site and inform them of a couple of interesting points:

  1. Prager doesn’t know what the Constitution says.
  2. Other people have assumed office in our government without swearing in on a book of any kind.
  3. Other people have assumed office by affirmiation, not oath.
  4. The Bible is actually the Bible of Islam. The Qur’an is the final revelation, but the Prophet Muhammed maintained that studying the Bible is also of benefit.
  5. The Book of Mormon is not the bible of the Latter-day Saints. The Bible is. Mormons do believe the Book of Mormon, but they also believe the Bible.
  6. Prager doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
92

When I first read the title of the OP, I thought “Does Islam allow someone to swear by/on the Koran?” Only an idiot like Prager would have a problem with it.

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I don’t get Jews like Medved and Prager. It’s one thing to respect Christianity culturally politically or socially. But these guys seem to think that Judiasm and Christianity are one in the same… even while purporting to be religiously Jewish. It seems like their grasp of Judiasm is about as good as their grasp of the Constitution.

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Mormons consider themselves Christians and believe in the Bible, so they would have no reason to swear on aything other than a Bible.

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No reason? Couldn’t they also swear on the Book of Mormon?

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Well, I’m Mormon and I don’t swear oaths (save the jokes, okay). I affirm. When I was a witness, I affirmed. When I re-enlisted, I affirmed. If I run for office and get elected, I will affirm then.

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Is this because you’re a Morman? Are practicing Mormons not supposed to swear oaths? If they are allowed to do so, would they do it on the Book of Mormon?

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Sounds like a question for an “Ask the Mormon” thread.

But my guess would be that the answer is “yes”.

A person can, of course, have an objection to swearing an oath even without a religion-based stricture.

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I can see why they would be this way, since they are strong supporters of Israel and therefore would be opponents of Islam, and seeing an ally in conservative Christianity they appease and pander to this group. A “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” situation.

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I don’t do it because of my reading of the New Testament. As far as I can tell, mandating that someone take an oath with their hand on something turns that something into a talisman. I’m not all that interested in turning my Scriptures into amulets.

BTW, the word’s Mormon, not Morman. I actually knew one guy with the surname of Morman. My surname’s different.