Choosing Which Bible To Take The Oath On

[hellywelly4]

I watched quite a lot of the MP's taking the oath or affirming the other day, and wondered why some people chose the King James Bible and others chose the New Testament. Does anyone know?

[wolf63]

In America you could also pick this version ...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/06/trump-bible-review

[barry1010]

Different denominations.  The King James is standard for CofE whilst others make prefer different versions.  

[davebro3]

I'm sure God & the King appreciate the difference...🙄

[hellywelly4]

Barry - I never knew there were different denominations. You learn something every day!

[barry1010]

I find that hard to believe, hellywelly, and think you are teasing me.  Catholics, Anglicans, many Orthodox,  Methodists, Baptists, Latter Day Saints, Christadelphians, Quakers, Pentecosts, Evangicals (including Salvation Army), Lutheran,  Plymouth Brethren, Jehovah Witness... many more.

 

[smurfchops]

There is a video doing the rounds of someone taking the oath on the Kuraan 

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe, since it's pointless, they just choose whichever the person before them chose.

[Sinead_O]

The ironic thing about swearing on the new testament is that it tells you in the new testament not to do it!  James 5 v 12

[barry1010]

Why does there need to be a video of that?  It's not unusual, some Jewish folk swear the oath on the Old Testament, Sikhs may hold the  Sundar Gutka or if they prefer they give an affirmation.  Everyone has the choice of swearing an oath and substituting ' Almighty God' with their preferred term, or giving an affirmation.  

[hellywelly4]

Barry - I suppose I just thought that the St James Bible was the same as the New Testament. Shows my ignorance!

[barry1010]

No reason why you should know really

[Maydup]

I wonder what the non-religious option is?

Since it's hard to come by a telephone directory I'll choose the Highway Code. 

[Electrochem]

They are not different denominations, but different translations. The King James Bible uses the older language. Some Roman Catholic Bibles have additional chapters. 

[hellywelly4]

I've just got a bible out and I wasn't being stupid - the New Testament is at the back of the Old Testament. I suppose my question perhaps should be why wouldn't people take the oath on the Old Testament? 

[andres]

^^^^Maydup--- they affirm. Apparently we now have the most non-secular Government we have ever had.

[davebro3]

The Old Testament is a Jewish concoction. Christianity proper only dates from the New.

[andres]

The Old Testament relates to God and the swearing of oaths but the New Testament is about Jesus and he didn't believe people should take oaths. 

[naomi24]

Some Pentecostals don't use the Old Testament, Protestants use both and in various forms, Catholics use both but have their own version, Jehovah's Witnesses use both but only their own translation, Mormons use The Book of Mormon - all the former are members of Christian denominations of which there are thousands.  
 

Moving on - Jews don't use the New Testament and Muslims use the Koran.  

[THECORBYLOON]

I wondered why one MP affirmed while holding a Bible.

[douglas9401]

And we wonder why governments are so hopeless at dealing with the realities of life.