What does it mean to be put under oath?

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

and "Do you swear to tell the WHOLE truth"?

I mean if I have to put my hand on The HOLY Bible... what if I don't believe in this religion or any religion? Am I then lying under oath while I'm swearing to tell the truth? :shrug:

[NightWatcher]

1. you dont put your hand on a bible

you simply raise your right hand. The bible is only for ceremonial purposes for those who want to do so

[endarkenment]

2. You do not have to swear on a bible or to a supernatural diety.

You simply affirm that your statements are true.

[soothsayer]

3. it means you are committing perjury if you lie. but you're already not

alowed to lie to congress, so they say.

[Deep13]

4. Practically speaking: lying or evasive answers has criminal penalties.

Some judges still say "so help you god" around here, but the legally authorized oath is to affirm to tell the truth whole truth etc. or else answer to the laws of perjury.

[meegbear]

5. From The Straight Dope ...

I recently saw a movie that featured a trial scene at the end, and I noticed how heavily the court played on the witnesses' belief in God, the Bible, etc., as they were sworn in. I began to wonder: what if an atheist or an agnostic were an important witness to a crime--how would that person be sworn in? --Barbara T., Los Angeles

Dear Barbara:

When a witness refuses to swear to God, the court accepts an "affirmation" instead. In a jury trial, the smart lawyer will arrange for this ahead of time in the judge's chambers, so the witness won't look unduly obstreperous or morally deficient in open court. The judge may then instruct the jury that the funny oath they are about to hear should be considered legally valid.

In U.S. District Court (to take the most widespread example), the standard oath is amended to: "You do affirm that all the testimony you are about to give in the case now before the court will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; this you do affirm under the pains and penalties of perjury?" After the witness replies, "You got it, Jack," or whatever godless heathens say in such situations, everyone sits back and pretends that the "pains and penalties of perjury" are every bit as intimidating as the wrath of a vengeful Almighty. It's not an ideal situation, if you want my opinion, but I suppose it's the best the judges can do under the circumstances.

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_145.html

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

8. Thanks everyone for the answer..

I hope I don't end up in court with a "bible-thumping right wingnut" judge!

[Richard D]

6. It means . . .

. . . that you say "I do not recall" to nearly every question asked of you. If you don't remember, you're not lying.

[11 Bravo]

7. If your name is Gonzalez, it means you can't remember a fucking thing...

including your name, address, and what you had for breakfast.

[EST]

9. What it means to me is-

I am so sure that I can and will describe the history of reality accurately that I am willing to accept whatever penalty you may prescribe should I err in so doing.
Furthermore, I expect you to accord more respect for my opinions and to give my responses more credence than you might for anyone not willing to make such a commitment.

In other words, my word is now, has been, and will be gold and should be considered such.

[Mnemosyne]

10. What does it mean to swear under oath?

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=o...
#

1. A solemn, formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge, often calling on God, a god, or a sacred object as witness.
2. The words or formula of such a declaration or promise.
3. Something declared or promised.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

1 : a solemn attestation of the truth of one's words or the sincerity of one's intentions; specifically : one accompanied by calling upon a deity as a witness
2 : a promise (as to perform official duties faithfully) corroborated by an oath —compare PERJURY—under oath : under a solemn and esp. legal obligation to tell the truth (as when testifying)
Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

2: a commitment to tell the truth (especially in a court of law); to lie under oath is to become subject to prosecution for perjury 3: a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior; "they took an oath of allegiance"
Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
oath

a solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deut. 6:13; Jer. 4:2),
in various forms (Gen. 16:5; 2 Sam. 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hos. 4:15; Rom. 1 and
taken in different ways (Gen. 14:22; 24:2; 2 Chr. 6:22). God is represented as
taking an oath (Heb. 6:16-18), so also Christ (Matt. 26:64), and Paul (Rom.
9:1; Gal. 1:20; Phil. 1:8). The precept, "Swear not at all," refers probably to
ordinary conversation between man and man (Matt. 5:34,37). But if the words are
taken as referring to oaths, then their intention may have been to show "that
the proper state of Christians is to require no oaths; that when evil is
expelled from among them every yea and nay will be as decisive as an oath,
every promise as binding as a vow."

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary