The power of promises, from inaugural oaths to marriage vows

By Lily Tyson

Published January 9, 2025 at 1:07 PM EST

Representatives of the 119th Congress are sworn-in during the first day of session in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on January 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) retained his Speakership in the face of opposition within his own party as the 119th Congress held its first session to vote for a new Speaker of the House. — Representatives of the 119th Congress are sworn-in during the first day of session in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on January 03, 2025 in Washington, DC.

During the Inauguration in a few weeks, President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office. It's a practice that elected officials are taking part in across the country following the 2024 election. So what is the significance of this oath? This hour, we take a look at oaths, vows, and pledges. We'll discuss their history and their meaning, and explore the examples of marriage vows and the Pledge of Allegiance.

GUESTS:

Joanne Pierce: Professor Emerita in the Department of Religious Studies at the College of The Holy Cross, who specializes in medieval Christianity, particularly liturgy and worship
Cheryl Mendelson: Author of Vows: The Modern Genius of an Ancient Rite
Charles Dorn: Professor of Education at Bowdoin College, and co-author of Patriotic Education in a Global Age

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.