A New York state judge was recently sworn in with his hand placed on a dictionary because no one could find a Bible for the ceremony, reports said.
The incident occurred in packed courtroom of the Ulster County Courthouse in Kingston, New York. According to witness reports, the ceremony experienced a humorous moment as Donald A. Williams was sworn in as Ulster County judge. The use of a dictionary did not matter because it was more of a ceremonial than legal.
Williams became a state judge on Friday, but he was “sworn in” on Saturday, according to reports. Swearing in ceremonies are done mostly for show, according reports.
Want to know where I found the article? The lack of bible usage was enough to get it listed on ChristianHeadlines.com, my usual source for blog fodder.
Hansen Sinclair was so careful to make sure we knew he was reporting on reports, he mentioned it four times. Ah well, the part I bold is the interesting bit. It’s a ceremony. A little showmanship to make it look good.
The book being used doesn’t matter. That’s good to hear. So why, by everything nonsensical, are bibles the preferred hand rest? Is there some archaic and silly superstition in play that the hand will catch fire if God catches the oath-taker not being truthful when his stuff is touched? That God has anything at all to do with the ability to do one’s job when holding people accountable for their wrong doing? I’d like to see everything related to religion pulled out of oaths when the jobs and duties under those oaths are not religious duties. God references don’t need to be in them at all to make the oaths legal and the takers duty-bound to follow them. No need at all.
One Minion's Opinion 