Reply #20: America was once a nation where the majority [View All]

of people were to one degree or another Christian. The use of the Bible to swear on was a cultural custome meant to insure "honesty" in public functions, as when testifying in court. (Even though the New Testament admonishes believers to let your no be no and your yes be yes without swearing by anything.

The hedgemony of Christian beliefs as a social given has passed, and we can no longer assume that it is an assumption that should be recognized by all citizens. Christians should recognize this and adjust to living in a society that they feel does not reflect the way they would prefer it to be. They are still free to practice their religion, and even propagate its message, and to be an example of exemplary citizenship to all others. The early church suffered persecution by Rome because their allegience to the emperor was suspect. All religions must recognize the rights of others to follow their conciences.
The Christian message has suffered greatly from the excesses and wrong doings of its most publicly visible protagonists. It is up to individual Christians to repair the damage without expecting the society at large to endorse it unquestioningly.