Atheists urge lawmakers to reject Bible for swearing-in

Each chamber provides copies of religious texts that the lawmakers can hold for the ceremonial swearing-in, and the growing diversity has spawned new options. A lawmaker was sworn in on a Koran for the first time in 2007, and last year the Hindu Bhagavad-Gita was used for the first time, bringing the total to nine options for House lawmakers.

There is no requirement that a text be used, and many lawmakers will simply hold up their hand — particularly for the official swearing-in on the chamber floor. But most do choose to hold a text for the ceremonial swearing-in.

The Secular Coalition said the lawmakers take their oath to the Constitution, so it doesn’t follow that they should swear on a holy book instead.

A new Pew Research Center analysis released Monday found that 92 percent of members of Congress identify as Christian, about 57 percent are Protestant, and 31 percent are Catholic.