Why oath is important

Chin, Gabriel J. Gallancy, Laurie Allen. Hyman, Harold M. Berkeley: University of California Press, Judith Haydel. Loyalty Oaths [electronic resource]. Want to support the Free Speech Center? Donate Now. Bullitt Civil War, U. Clear and Present Danger Test Cole v. Richardson Communist Party of Indiana v.

While oaths and vows are essential and important, they are often fraught with uncertainty, ambiguity, and danger. Here I argue that these frightening features are a necessary element of all serious promises. Consider how oaths differ from ordinary promises. In many cases, the breach of an ordinary promise is forgivable. Say Hank has promised his spouse that he will clean the kitchen, yet forgets. His spouse will be upset with him, but will also likely forgive him if he sincerely apologizes.

On the other hand, if Hank breaks his wedding vows, his spouse will not forgive him as easily. Likewise, there are conditions under which we would forgive a political leader for failing to deliver on a campaign promise. But we are unlikely to forgive that same leader for an overt act of treason.

An act of treason would be a direct violation of their oath of office. Additionally, persons tend to identify with oaths in ways that they do not identify with ordinary promises. There is a sense in which taking an oath creates a new identity. In taking an oath of office, a person becomes a mayor, governor, or president. In assenting to wedding vows, one becomes a spouse. To breach an oath, then, is to act contrary to the identity that one has chosen for oneself.

The breach is a serious matter. These two features of oaths highlight why oaths are essential and important. First, there are some social statuses that we take to have great significance. The positions of president, soldier, or attorney are essential to a well-functioning nation. We want assurance that persons who occupy these positions will do so faithfully and consistently. The oath serves as a guarantee that the person taking the oath will not violate our trust.

Thus, an actual violation is a serious matter. Second, oaths are personally significant because they allow us to express our deep commitment to a cause, office, or person. Wedding vows, for example, allow romantic partners to commit to one another in ways that cannot be captured by ordinary promises.

While essential and important, oaths can give rise to moral and personal tension. An oath may obligate persons to undertake actions that they would otherwise avoid or actions that they find morally compromising. In this way, oaths are dangerous. Ask the CIO. Big Data. CIO News. Cloud Computing. IT Modernization. On DoD. Defense Industry. Agency Oversight.

Open Season. Mike Causey. Tom Temin. Accelerating Government. Ask the CIO Podcasts. Business of Government Hour. Every Side of Cyber. Federal Drive. Federal Executive Forum. Federal Newscast. Federal Tech Talk. For Your Benefit. Innovation in Government. The confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett have drawn much notice for her religious worldview. This covenant is a formal pledge to remain a member for life, following its authority structures, religious beliefs and expectations for service or charitable activities.

Barrett must take an oath — both governmental and judicial — swearing impartiality if she is approved for the post of a Supreme Court justice.

As a scholar of medieval Christian liturgy and ritual , I believe this is a moment to understand why oaths are so important, as well as how they came to be such an important tradition.

An oath is one kind of speech act. Oath-taking is also about the intention in the future to commit to act in a certain way. One example is the vows taken by couples during their wedding in front of witnesses. British philosopher John L. They make a deliberate choice of their own free will. In antiquity, oaths were often demanded of religious and governmental leaders, as well as those in certain professions. In ancient Rome, oaths were also demanded of soldiers.