Sir, – I was recently called to sit on a jury in our courts system. While in the lift on the way to the courtroom, I dwelled briefly on the dilemma of the wording of the oath. As a non-believer would it make me a hypocrite or a liar to swear to Almighty God?
However when the time came for me step up and to pledge to carry out my civic duty to the best of my ability, I found it useful to have unambiguous words to use to represent the seriousness of the undertaking.
What is conveyed in the words “Almighty God”? The highest power? All that is good? The totality of the universe? The Creator? Lord God? Jesus? Allah? Vishnu? The list goes on.
May I respectfully suggest that everyone, including a declared atheist or agnostic is entitled to make their own decision whether using such words is compatible with their own views on religion and the existence of God. – Yours, etc,
ASHLING DALY
BOUKTILA,
Morans Cottages,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.