Judges Examine Use of Sacred Texts Other than Bible for Court Oath

July 20, 2005

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0720/p02s02-usju.html

On July 20, 2005 The Christian Science Monitor reported, "The recent refusal by a Guilford County, N.C. judge to allow a Muslim woman to swear upon Islam's holy text before testifying is, in part, a new First Amendment challenge. And here in the Tar Heel state, the idea of swearing on books other than the Bible has reinvigorated a debate on the relationship between faith and truth that goes back to the founding documents of both the Carolinas and the country. Certainly, some Americans, citing the nation's Judeo-Christian roots, dislike the use of the Koran in the court system. But, according to law scholars, allowing a range of holy books in oaths of justice may not only lead to a greater feeling of inclusion among religious minorities but also encourage them to tell the truth."