If you did not believe in any kind of religion, and were on trial for a crime, would you feel comfortable having religious people on the jury?
2007-02-21 00:59:16 · 9 answers · asked by chicagonightowl 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Some may think religion is irrational thus leading a juror to an irrational decision.
2007-02-21 06:05:35 · update #1
I suppose I would have to be comfortable with it.
All reasonable members of society have an interest in maintaining the orderly structure of society, regardless of religion, race, creed, or sexual orientation. As long as the jury is a fair cross-section of the local population, I think you could have a jury that is 99% religious.
2007-02-21 01:05:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. But, it is unreasonable to expect the government to select only non-theosophical people as my jury, unless my crime was against a religious entity or organization. And even then, it should be made up of an even number of non-religious and religious people. But, if I was speeding and ran over somebody, my religious belief is not gonna carry any weight on the case, nor will that of the jury.
2007-02-21 01:14:20 · answer #2 · answered by sjsosullivan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a religious person......however i would'nt be comfortable with any jury....time and time again the justice system has seen its share of failures in terms of trials with jurors......it's not my faith in the jury that causes me concern, it's my faith in the judicial system that does......however having a religious person on a jury that establishes that you are guilty cause you did certain actions because you don't have God in your life.....thats cause for real concern, that juror should not be part of any case.
2007-02-21 02:30:16 · answer #3 · answered by fox mulder 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My personal religious beliefs wouldn't come up (unless I announced it) so how would the jury know that I was not religious?
As a jury is supposed to be made from a group of my "peers", and I already know that my "peers" are few and far between, I would be screwed no matter what.
Love the American "justice" system.
2007-02-21 01:12:37 · answer #4 · answered by Gem 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, that would be saying that people with a religion have a higher ethical standard than atheists. Atheists always say that religion is not what makes a person good or bad so therefore I hardly see how an atheist could complain. If our moral code is not rooted in faith, then we are all capable of making the same judgements, right?
2007-02-21 01:09:30 · answer #5 · answered by pookiemct07 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So you are saying that a "Righteous" person has to be religious?
Bad premise!
Just because one is on trial for a crime does not mean they are guilty of having committed one!
God gave us the 10 Commandments because of the Bad people!
The Good ones didn't need them!
2007-02-21 01:26:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If that was a concern then that would be a point of interest in the jury selection. You may not get them all off, but the most fanatical would be excused.
2007-02-21 01:06:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not comfortable around religious people anywhere. The whole concept of believing in a magical man who lives in the sky is unsettling.
I would argue that a religious person was not a peer. I doubt that would get me very far, though.
2007-02-21 01:04:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
So, do a lot of people have this theophobia? (the irrational fear and loathing of religion)
2007-02-21 01:26:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋