Bible curiousity

The two Bibles had special significance, but you already knew that.

In no aspect of his second inauguration is President Obama more explicitly historic, even iconic, than in his choice of Bibles: the Lincoln Bible and – to rest underneath it, as the president takes his oath of office – the "traveling" Bible of Martin Luther King Jr.

Mr. Obama has left nothing to guesswork on this point. The choice of the Lincoln and King Bibles is “fitting,” he said in a video statement on Friday, “because their actions, the movements they represented, are the only reason that it’s possible for me to be inaugurated.”

“Me stating before the entire country that I will uphold my oath of office while at the same time letting them know that there’s a connection between me being there and the sacrifices of those of the past, I think it’s entirely fitting,” he added.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder ... eals-video

(I Googled)

But in an increasingly secular society, why bother? What makes the Bible so special. Why not the constitution or even mad magazine.

frogger wrote: But in an increasingly secular society, why bother? What makes the Bible so special. Why not the constitution or even mad magazine.

Because The Bible has become the politically correct choice. The first President that deviates from the norm will be viciously attacked. It's a shame, because laying your hand on something to swear should carry a deep, personal meaning. When I lay my hand on my Bible, I feel I am placing my hand into the hand of my God.

If, as some proclaim, government is not allowed to make any reference to God, how can we allow the use of the Bible when taking the oath of office, or in inauguration speeches?

chickaree wrote:

frogger wrote: But in an increasingly secular society, why bother? What makes the Bible so special. Why not the constitution or even mad magazine.

Because The Bible has become the politically correct choice. The first President that deviates from the norm will be viciously attacked. It's a shame, because laying your hand on something to swear should carry a deep, personal meaning. When I lay my hand on my Bible, I feel I am placing my hand into the hand of my God.

Unfortunately we tend to judge another's sincerity by what our own standards would be.......for the religious community, if you don't swear on a Bible, then you aren't making a sincere oath or pledge. Perhaps they don't think about what the beliefs of the person taking the oath are.....and what could we replace it with for those who are not Christian? or religious at all. It has become the symbol, yet for many it probably has little meaning. Maybe "I swear on my child's or my mother's life"

I think for too many, oaths are meaningless. Every politician that swears to uphold the Constitution, but instead elevates his or her donors interests instead are oath breakers. I remember watching the cigarette executives swear in front of Congress that their product wasn't dangerous. If nothing is done to hold a person to their oath, what is the point?

frogger wrote: But in an increasingly secular society, why bother? What makes the Bible so special. Why not the constitution or even mad magazine.

When you get to be President or Park County Dog Catcher, you can use whatever you want.

I am not very religious but I would have used our family bible if I had the opportunity.

I have not been following this thread but I ran across something elsewhere that seems to fit right in.


http://qz.com/#

"Chinese bloggers, seeing Obama’s Bible, ask if religion is the secret to democracy


By Lily Kuo — January 22, 2013 "
...................."
Obama’s inauguration was a top trending topic on Sina Weibo, China’s massive microblogging site, with over 25 million posts on Jan. 21. Of these, one comment by a Weibo user by the name Wugou1975 was forwarded over 2,000 times, garnering over 500 comments. The blogger posted a photo of Obama taking the presidential oath with Supreme Court Justice John Roberts:
Some Chinese find it unbelievable that this secular country’s democratically elected president was sworn in with his hand on a Bible, not the Constitution,"........