Why do people swear on the Bible in court but yet the court turns around and disobey the Bible by killing people when they are put on death row?

Answer 1

The Bible is considered to be a holy book by many. A testifier in court is (often) required to pledge that his testimony is honest by 'swearing an oath' on the bible.

Governments make laws to protect good people from bad people. (See Romans ch 13)

If someone is a murderer, parts of the bible say that a murderer should be put to death.

This is not something that an ordinary citizen should do himself, by taking the law into his own hands. So, in many countries, but not all, the government takes upon themselves this weighty responsibilty.

The bible is a very comprehensive book, covering many subjects. It also contains laws and principles for many situations.

There is no law anywhere in the USA (neither on the state,federal or local level) that requires you to swear an oath on the bible or on any other religious book what so ever...Nor are you required by law to swear any oath that makes reference to a religious deity...

Hence why all courts now have a general oath that excludes "so help you god" and the use of the bible is completely optional...