I know, I know -- I am on Thomas Jefferson kick right now...but I just think Thomas Jefferson was a pretty cool and interesting dude (although not perfect like the rest of us).
The OFFICIAL swearing in does not use any sacred book for it. In fact the US constitution explicitly prevents it.
The Bushistas who were spewing venom over this were whining like little momma's boys about secondary ceremonies the Congresscrittters do for PR purposes where the may use a Bible/Torah/Koran or other book of myths.
The swearing in is about the document which is much more important that all sacred txts.....The US Constitution. Something the paleocons and right wing creeepazoids don't like.
But it doesn't mean I get any moral instruction from them, or put any trust in their scripted-principles...
Likewise, just because Thomas Jefferson "owned" a Q'ran, dosen't mean he view d it's contents to be "wise" or "instructive"... But he did value much of what he found in the New Testament enough to sift the "wisdom" of the book out and write it down in his own version!
I am working on answers to your and Dr.Gonzo's previous questions, but I won't bring them to the table until I can site historic-references...
Otherwise, I'd just be making a "zin-argument", which is: "It's true because I said it's true! And my believing it's true makes it an undeniable fact"!
(And zin had the nerve to call me "pompus"... What an ass!)
I mean, it would be such a zen (I always forget, is that with a capital Z and an I or a littel z with an e... or is it I after Z except is there is a C...????) argument.
As to books and stuff... I just wish these wise acres would take the oath itself seriously... cause know what? they don't!
I personally do not own any religious books as I find them all to promote a tunnel vision view of everything...In other words they all seem to end up promoting a view that says "my religion is right and yours is wrong and therefore I can almost justify anything in the name of my religion" (which can't be proven either way).
Regarding Ellison, I just think anyone who is elected lawfully should be able to use whatever they want (or nothing at all) when they give their "oath or afformataion" (which is what the constitutions says is required). That does not make him a bad person or evil or whatever.
Moreover, I found what Ellsion did to be pollitically brilliant. That's all. Does if have to be anything more than that?
Reading a book and using it as a political gimmick are two different things. Ellison merely confirms the worst fears about him. He is a piece of cheap political trash.
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