Taking an oath

[Photini]

Good morning all.

It seems that soon I will be facing court over some issues. I have read in Scripture where our Lord warns against taking an oath. Does the oath our Lord warns about also apply to the oaths taken in court? If so, is there an alternative in our court system to taking the oath? I was just wondering.

Thanks for any imput.

photini, who humbly requests your prayers for strength to stand during this time

[Fr Averky]

Dear Photini,

St. Paul tells us to obey those whom God has put over us. We are required to make oaths now and again, and as long as we are not required to take any oath against our
government or one which is evil, then we must. simply obey the law of the land, so do as you must.

In court we "Swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," and that would be expected of us as Christians-it is not an oath per se, but swearing in.

Fr. A.

[Owen Jones]

However, for much of America's early history, judges did not require Christians to take oaths in court, if they objected.

[Herman Blaydoe]

Many, if not most, courts ask those who are about to testify, "Do you swear or affirm that the....

So, technically, you can merely affirm (I assume earnestly) rather than swear. FWIW

Herman the simple