Comments on: Swearing on the Koran http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/ www.thefaithclub.com Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:43:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: muslimah http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-414 Sun, 04 Mar 2007 06:57:26 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-414 In my zeal over having recently discovered this blog I continue to put in my two cents on old posts. As pattip said Muslims, Atheists, Jews, Buddhists, etc. shouldn't be made to swear on the bible to be sworn into office or even when giving sworn testimony in an American court. I wonder if a person can be sworn in using no book @ all. In reality, substituting the Quran for the Bible doesn't really fix the problem since that is an innovation. Muslims by practice don't swear on books (the Quran included), on their mother (as many kids do) or on anything else besides God. We can say as God is my witness or Wallahi (which means by Allah) but swearing on the Quran was something made up for that situation. In a country that supposedly separates church and state why are we swearing by God and on holy books in the first place? In my zeal over having recently discovered this blog I continue to put in my two cents on old posts. As pattip said Muslims, Atheists, Jews, Buddhists, etc. shouldn’t be made to swear on the bible to be sworn into office or even when giving sworn testimony in an American court. I wonder if a person can be sworn in using no book @ all. In reality, substituting the Quran for the Bible doesn’t really fix the problem since that is an innovation. Muslims by practice don’t swear on books (the Quran included), on their mother (as many kids do) or on anything else besides God. We can say as God is my witness or Wallahi (which means by Allah) but swearing on the Quran was something made up for that situation. In a country that supposedly separates church and state why are we swearing by God and on holy books in the first place?

]]> by: pattip http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-407 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:18:30 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-407 I am an American. I also happen to be an atheist. Frankly, swearing on a bible means less to me than just saying that I promise to tell the truth because I dont believe in the bible as a holy book,so saying that over the bible is disingenuous. If I say, "so help me god" this really also means nothing special to me. For me and others in my position, or those whose religious book is the Koran or some other book, swearing on the bible makes no sense. Please understand that I can respect the beliefs of others, unless of course those beliefs lead them to hurt others. I am simply saying that it is doesnt make sense to use any holy book for this purpose for the reasons above. America is a diverse country and some of it's appeal to me is that diversity. We need to leave religion out of public policy because of this diversity. it simply doesn't make sense otherwise. Thank you for listening. I am an American. I also happen to be an atheist. Frankly, swearing on a bible means less to me than just saying that I promise to tell the truth because I dont believe in the bible as a holy book,so saying that over the bible is disingenuous. If I say, “so help me god” this really also means nothing special to me. For me and others in my position, or those whose religious book is the Koran or some other book, swearing on the bible makes no sense.

Please understand that I can respect the beliefs of others, unless of course those beliefs lead them to hurt others. I am simply saying that it is doesnt make sense to use any holy book for this purpose for the reasons above. America is a diverse country and some of it’s appeal to me is that diversity. We need to leave religion out of public policy because of this diversity. it simply doesn’t make sense otherwise. Thank you for listening.

]]> by: Hitsumei http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-392 Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:47:20 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-392 I'm a liberal American Muslim, and I was frankly asking myself why Goode even made an issue out of this. What Virgil Goode did was shameful in the United States, a place that was founded on freedom of religion. Keith Ellison is an American from the start, and the "immigration argument" used by Goode is downright ridiculous. Politicians who want to swear on a holy book other than the Bible have the right to do so. I’m a liberal American Muslim, and I was frankly asking myself why Goode even made an issue out of this. What Virgil Goode did was shameful in the United States, a place that was founded on freedom of religion.

Keith Ellison is an American from the start, and the “immigration argument” used by Goode is downright ridiculous.

Politicians who want to swear on a holy book other than the Bible have the right to do so.

]]> by: AlanRockville http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-365 Sat, 30 Dec 2006 05:26:42 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-365 Hello, I'm a new participant and caught this blog entry. I wrote the following letter on 12/24 to a few newspapers, including those local to the Virginia Congressman: As we debate the issue, I keep in mind the purpose of "swearing-in". That person is giving an oath, a promise, to "uphold the constitution". The important thing, in my view, is that this new member of Congress is making this promise to the God of his religion. It is solemn. I (not of this person's faith) am sure that this new Congressman is aware that breaking this promise is a sin. If his subsequent decisions are not in the "American interest", he should be held accountable for them by his constituents and by God. Thus, we need to respect those who choose to make their solemn vows to our nation and Higher Being in the practiced ways of their recognized religion. Our founding fathers, though primarily of one religion, sought the "free exercise thereof" of all of them - let's make sure our current local and national leaders follow these values. Hello, I’m a new participant and caught this blog entry. I wrote the following letter on 12/24 to a few newspapers, including those local to the Virginia Congressman:

As we debate the issue, I keep in mind the purpose of “swearing-in”. That person is giving an oath, a promise, to “uphold the constitution”. The important thing, in my view, is that this new member of Congress is making this promise to the God of his religion. It is solemn. I (not of this person’s faith) am sure that this new Congressman is aware that breaking this promise is a sin. If his subsequent decisions are not in the “American interest”, he should be held accountable for them by his constituents and by God. Thus, we need to respect those who choose to make their solemn vows to our nation and Higher Being in the practiced ways of their recognized religion. Our founding fathers, though primarily of one religion, sought the “free exercise thereof” of all of them - let’s make sure our current local and national leaders follow these values.

]]> by: Edward http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-356 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:36:50 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-356 Especially since at least the President is sworn in with the "Jefferson" Bible, which has all acts of Miracles taken out and, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't acknowledge Jesus as God/Son of God. I agree with the sediments expressed thus far: Muslims aren't a group that comes over with their own identity. Anyone can become a Muslim, no matter where they are. Many are born or convert right in the United States. I strongly think that any politician should be forced to take basic World Theology courses before accepting office - this type of ignorance is almost unexcusable. Especially since at least the President is sworn in with the “Jefferson” Bible, which has all acts of Miracles taken out and, to the best of my knowledge, doesn’t acknowledge Jesus as God/Son of God.

I agree with the sediments expressed thus far: Muslims aren’t a group that comes over with their own identity. Anyone can become a Muslim, no matter where they are. Many are born or convert right in the United States.

I strongly think that any politician should be forced to take basic World Theology courses before accepting office - this type of ignorance is almost unexcusable.

]]> by: Cytocop http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-333 Sun, 24 Dec 2006 18:55:31 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-333 Mr. Goode should be ashamed of himself. I'm not Muslim but his remarks are even more repulsive, ignorant, and un-American to me than George Allen's "Macaca" incident. I'd like to hear strong condemnation from his fellow congressmen. Mr. Goode should be ashamed of himself. I’m not Muslim but his remarks are even more repulsive, ignorant, and un-American to me than George Allen’s “Macaca” incident. I’d like to hear strong condemnation from his fellow congressmen.

]]> by: Ravenwerks http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-332 Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:40:04 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/22/swearing-on-the-koran/#comment-332 Quote from the article: “I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped,” said Mr. Goode, who vowed to use the Bible when taking his own oath of office." End of quote I find it frightening that Goode is playing on xenophobic fears. His statement ties Ellison together with the immigration issue, although Ellison is a citizen, was born in the U.S. and theoretically, we hope, entitled to all the religious freedoms that represent American values in the minds of many (including myself.) Another quote from the article: "They noted that the Constitution specifically bars any religious screening of members of Congress and that the actual swearing in of those lawmakers occurs without any religious texts. The use of the Bible or Koran occurs only in private ceremonial events that take place after lawmakers have officially sworn to uphold the Constitution. End of quote ***Shiver*** Quote from the article:

“I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped,” said Mr. Goode, who vowed to use the Bible when taking his own oath of office.”

End of quote

I find it frightening that Goode is playing on xenophobic fears. His statement ties Ellison together with the immigration issue, although Ellison is a citizen, was born in the U.S. and theoretically, we hope, entitled to all the religious freedoms that represent American values in the minds of many (including myself.)

Another quote from the article:
“They noted that the Constitution specifically bars any religious screening of members of Congress and that the actual swearing in of those lawmakers occurs without any religious texts. The use of the Bible or Koran occurs only in private ceremonial events that take place after lawmakers have officially sworn to uphold the Constitution.
End of quote

***Shiver***

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