# The irreligious House of Commons (UK)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-irreligious-house-of-commons-uk/1004091>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [July 12, 2024, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-irreligious-house-of-commons-uk/1004091 "2024-07-12T08:51:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-irreligious-house-of-commons-uk/1004091/21 "2024-07-13T14:09:55Z")

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> [@StarvingButStrong](#):
>
> Every time I’ve watched a US president sworn in, they’re asked to place a hand on a Bible.

Books are optional for oaths. I know I didn’t have one when I was sworn into the military. In fact I expect that most oaths are taken without books, including, I’m going to guess, the ones for MPs.

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**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-irreligious-house-of-commons-uk/1004091/22 "2024-07-13T14:37:59Z")

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From the Parliament link above:

“MPs take the oath by holding the sacred text in their uplifted hand and saying the words of the oath”. The text/book can presumably be whatever’s sacred to them (by default a bible), but I don’t suppose the authorities will hunt around for just anything.

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**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-irreligious-house-of-commons-uk/1004091/23 "2024-07-13T16:12:47Z")

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They can use the Koran, the Talmud or other religious texts that are important to them.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-irreligious-house-of-commons-uk/1004091/24 "2024-07-13T16:36:53Z")

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> [@PatrickLondon](#):
>
> but I don’t suppose the authorities will hunt around for just anything.

I think that, for high-profile cases, the swearer will bring their own book. Which, yes, is usually a bible, but it might be a bible that’s been in their family for generations, or which has some other sentimental value.

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