# Why do people swear on a Bible? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-swear-on-a-bible/915890 "2020-07-21T02:08:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-swear-on-a-bible/915890/21 "2020-07-21T21:28:24Z")
Many of my Quaker friends won’t swear oaths (including “so help me God”), but instead state that they will [do whatever it is they’re being asked about or inducted into]. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-swear-on-a-bible/915890/22 "2020-07-21T21:58:44Z")
I needed to have someone take an oath once and of course I didn’t have a bible, so I used a copy of Vanity Fair and made her say “so help me Jackie O.” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-swear-on-a-bible/915890/23 "2020-07-21T22:10:58Z")
When I was in 7th grade, we had a mock trial in a science class, and we swore each other in on a textbook and ended it with “so help my Life Science grade.” Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who was raised Mormon but now claims to be areligious, was sworn in on copies of the U.S. and Arizona constitutions. She showed up dressed and made up to look like Marilyn Monroe, in a minidress and thigh-high boots, and is openly bisexual. I’m mentioning all this because she was sworn in by Mr. Mother, AKA Mike Pence. [Kyrsten Sinema - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrsten_Sinema#:~:text=During%20the%20oath%20of%20office,and%20the%20Constitution%20of%20Arizona). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-swear-on-a-bible/915890/24 "2020-07-21T22:24:46Z")
I think you might have your photos confused. [Sen. Sinema’s wardrobe when she was sworn in got her the nickname “Senator Madonna.”](https://www.latimes.com/112482477-132.html) Her thigh-high boots look like she was dressed for [walking through slush.](https://miro.medium.com/max/700/1*yrjc_xpvZrrcuCC-8zijWg@2x.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-swear-on-a-bible/915890/25 "2020-07-21T22:54:13Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I find it interesting that swearing on a Bible is used in government proceedings, but not bona fide religious ceremonies. When I swore an oath to love and honor till death do us part, nobody put out a Bible for me to swear on. Swearing on the Bible is simply political theater. Politicians do it to cater to the majority population who are Christians. They know that any appearance of not being sufficiently devout has usually been political death. It’s the same reason that “In God we Trust” and other religious slogans in public use have always been allowed by the Supreme Court under the guise of [“ceremonial deism.”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_deism) It’s not law, it’s pandering. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-swear-on-a-bible/915890.md?page=1)