What if an incoming President wanted to use the Jefferson Bible for his inauguration?

[brentspeak]

Now that would cause some controversy; many Americans likely aren't aware of just how deist or deist-like many of the Founders were.

[Captain Hilts]

1. NO ONE knows that our 'founding fathers' were deists and have never heard of TJ's Bible.

That would be a riot.

It's a wonder FDR didn't edit his own version.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. A number of presidents have eschewed using any Bible

And I believe Nixon, who was a member of the Society of Friends, affirmed rather than swore.

If I were ever in such a position, I would use the Constitution and be quite obvious in leaving out the unconstitutional "so help me God."

[TheWraith]

6. Actually, only two have not been sworn in on a bible.

John Quincy Adams, who used a book of US law, and Teddy Roosevelt, who simply held up his hand.

The only one known to have affirmed rather than sworn is Franklin Pierce, but there's conflicting reports about Herbert Hoover.

[Love Bug]

3. Rep. Keith Ellison of MN used Jefferson's Koran

for his swearing in two years ago.

[brentspeak]

4. That's right. I forgot about that.

Good catch.

[wryter2000]

7. That was ultra cool

Rubbed the idjits noses in the fact that TJ owned a Koran.

[TheWraith]

8. Seriously? I'd never heard that. nt

[wryter2000]

5. I'll bet the fundies wouldn't know what it was

They'd just figure it was Jefferson's personal bible with the forward by Jerry Falwell.

[boppers]

9. Heck, the anti-masons would freak...

... if they knew how often "Washington's Bible" was used.

Wasn't there some guy who used a whole stack of bibles?

[Uncle Joe]

10. What if an incoming President wanted to use Webster's Dictionary for his/her inauguration,

Bush couldn't have done have it without bursting in to flames.

[TheKentuckian]

11. That...that's a good one

I'm thinking the Bible had to be fake too. Anything with more than a 1000 words would be repelled by Dubya.

[CTyankee]

13. Noah Webster of dictionary fame lived here in New Haven and gave fiery speeches.

I don't know if he was a free thinker or not. My guess is that he was. I think of him as a kind of kook.

He is the reason that we spell words so differently, such as, "Honor instead of honour, humor instead of humour, etc.

[trayfoot]

12. I've read Jefferson's Version of the Bible! It WOULD be interesting!

[Clio the Leo]

14. I'm perfectly content with the President ....

... using whatever Bible he wants to use .... or NOT using it for that matter.

It's a personal decision IMO and not something he needs our input on.

I'd prefer Barack was using his own Bible THAT HE READ ALL THE TIME HINT HINT .... but he's more than earned the right to lay his hand on whatever he wants to.