TELLING THE TRUTH

With regard to recent reporting in the Gazette regarding the continuation of the practice of swearing oaths in court, 1 would like to draw your readers' attention to the 'Epistle of James' chapter 5, verse 12:'But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yeabe yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.'This is not the only text from The Bible, which expressly teaches against the swearing of oaths.

It has always struck me as ironic that the book on which the oath is sworn expressly forbids the swearing of that oath.I read that an overwhelming majority of lawyers wish to retain the use of the oath and that its retention is further supported by the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.

What they fail to realise is that the pressure for the introduction of the affirmation came predominantly from Christians, who regarded the swearing of oaths as blasphemous.

It should also be pointed out that the swearing of oaths is also frowned on by the other major faiths.It is time for those who wish to indicate their promise to tell the truth to be allowed to do so in simple words which confirm their understanding that deceit can result in prosecution.Christopher Haddock, Reeves Haddock & Company, Halifax, west Yorkshire