The typical procedure for taking an oath of office, or for swearing testimony in a legal setting in the United States, involves raising one’s right hand and often placing the other hand on a religious text, most commonly the Bible. This act is intended to signify sincerity and invoke divine witness to the truthfulness of the statement being made. However, there have been instances where individuals have deviated from this customary practice.
Departures from established oath-taking conventions can stem from a variety of factors. Personal beliefs, such as not adhering to any religion or holding specific religious objections to oaths, may prompt an individual to forgo the use of a religious text. Concerns regarding the symbolic implications of using a particular book, or a desire to project a specific image, could also contribute to the decision. Historical context reveals that while the use of a Bible has become widely accepted, it is not legally mandated for swearing an oath in the United States.