Two Buddhists and a Muslim in Congress

WASHINGTON (Gannett News Service) - While a new, Muslim member of Congress sparked a controversy for taking his oath of office with a Quran instead of a Bible on Thursday, another new member who is Buddhist was sworn in with no book at all.

Rep. Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat who was raised in the Buddhist tradition but doesn't actively practice the religion, said, "I don't have a book. ... But I certainly believe in the precepts of Buddhism and that of tolerance of other religions and integrity and honesty."

Members of the House for the 110th Congress were sworn in en masse then had individual swearing-in ceremonies with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. In many cases, members rest a hand on a Bible while taking the oath, but they're not required to do so.

Keith Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat and native of Detroit, took his oath on a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Prior to his taking the oath, he was criticized by Virginia Republican Virgil Goode, who warned of an influx of Muslims being elected to public office.

In an op-ed piece in USA TODAY, Goode wrote, "I believe that if we do not stop illegal immigration totally, reduce legal immigration and end diversity visas, we are leaving ourselves vulnerable to infiltration by those who want to mold the United States into the image of their religion, rather than working within the Judeo-Christian principles that have made us a beacon for freedom-loving persons around the world."

Of the controversy, Hirono said, "It's about time that we have people of other backgrounds and faiths in Congress. I think Keith Ellison really handled things well. I think that whole discussion, if you want to call it that, is good for our country. "What happened to separation of church and state and religious tolerance? I believe in those things."

Sarah Wheaton in an article in the New York Times on January 2, two days prior to the oath-taking ceremony, wrote:

With all the uproar over the decision by Representative-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to serve in Congress, to swear-in using the Koran, we've neglected the fact that another faith is making its first showing in the Capitol with not one but two freshmen.

But first, we'd like to alert you to an inaccuracy in the above sentence to underscore a point that's been lost in the din. Mr. Ellison is not swearing in on the Koran. And no incoming members of Congress swear in on the Bible.

Everyone is sworn in together during a private ceremony without any religious text. It's only during a ceremonial photo-op that a book may be brought out. Representative Bill Pascrell, a New Jersey Democrat, chided Representative Virgil Goode for perpetuating the common misunderstanding in a letter to his constituents that in turn criticized Mr. Ellison.

But anyway, two Buddhists will be sworn in on Thursday, and we asked them what they plan to use for the ceremonial event.
Representative-elect Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat who ousted Representative Cynthia McKinney in the Democratic primary, became a Buddhist decades ago, though his family does not share that faith. A spokesperson said that Mr. Johnson plans to use a Bible, citing tradition.

Besides, there is no book in Buddhism that's equivalent to the Bible or the Koran, said Representative-elect Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat. She said she probably would not use any book, but that in the past, when she was sworn in as lieutenant governor, she used a friend's family Bible.

Ms. Hirono does not practice daily, but she is influenced by Buddhist values. It is "characteristic of Buddhism that there is respect and tolerance for other religions," she said.