What does swearing on a Bible do anyway?

by DFA Posted 2012/06/20 21:34:12

Related Topics: Religion, Bible, Needle, Heart, Life, Swearing, Mother

16 votes
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	It's all nonsense	6 votes	38%
	It does this... (comment)	3 votes	19%
	Other... (comment)	7 votes	44%

What about your mother's grave?
How about swearing on your life?
What if you are a non-believer?
What if you are of a different religion?

Cross my heart, hope to die... who sticks a needle in their eye?!? Seriously?!??

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Sister Jean 2012/06/20 21:36:19

Other... (comment)

+3
a moral person knows
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More polls by DFA

Radical Ed 2012/06/21 22:06:17

Other... (comment)

+1
nothing, people are still going to lie.

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beach bum 2012/06/21 05:22:11

Other... (comment)

you are saying that you have ethics and morals

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Muskoka 2012/06/21 02:41:30

It's all nonsense

People lie in court anyway, it means absolutely nothing.

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666_Maggots~PassionForGlory... 2012/06/20 22:08:33

It does this... (comment)

It apparently gives your swear "depth" so the person will think you'll keep it.

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sockpuppet 2012/06/20 21:50:58

It does this... (comment)

It lends an air of authenticity to TV courtroom proceedings.
In reality, it's not required, though. :O)

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Inquisitve Kat 2012/06/20 21:50:30

It's all nonsense

+1
In these days, swearing on anything is generally a hollow gesture.

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The Elitist Libtard SodaJerk 2012/06/20 21:48:05

It does this... (comment)

+1
It keeps some people from Purgery. But since we have purgery laws on the books, it's obvious many aren't that fearful of God's Wrath.

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Jackie G - Poker Playing Pa... 2012/06/20 21:47:16

Other... (comment)

Traditionally, it means you are giving your solemn word to those present and God.

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HarleyCharley 2012/06/20 21:44:20

Other... (comment)

+1
some people won't lie...

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Jester M.S. 2012/06/20 21:41:24 (edited)

Other... (comment)

Look at the positive aspects it could have though. If you have no faith in it whatsoever, wouldn't it make it that much easier for you to lie or commit perjury under oath without any guilt?

Besides, from what I have seen of depositions, witness testimony, and affidavits filed by the district attorney's office, swearing on the bible does not seem to do much to dissuade people from deception.

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sockpuppet to Jester ... 2012/06/20 21:53:32

It's not required by law. They can hit you with something like perjury for lying to someone if they hold the right job-- law enforcement officers, agents, etc. There's a pile of crap that needs to be addressed! No idea how they sneak this stuff past us.

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Jester ... to sockpuppet 2012/06/20 21:58:49

That is at least partially true. My most recent job was working for the DA, and perjury or "making false statements" are not highly prosecuted offenses. If they have a manilla envelope a mile long on a perp, they may throw in into the mix just to stack the deck or to give them more leverage when meeting with a defense attorney, but that is about it. In my 6 months there I NEVER saw a case cross our desk where the sole crime being prosecuted was perjury.

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sockpuppet to Jester ... 2012/06/20 22:37:49

+1
Must be tough to prove, then? Or, not worth pursuing, maybe. Interesting article here: http://www.economist.com/node...

That's what made me think they were stacking the deck a bit. ,':O\

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Muskoka to Jester ... 2012/06/21 02:43:23

+1
Faith does not seem to make any difference in whether or not people lie under oath.

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Jester ... to Muskoka 2012/06/21 02:44:36

My point exactly. See above.

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Sister Jean 2012/06/20 21:36:19

Other... (comment)

+3
a moral person knows

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DFA to Sister ... 2012/06/20 21:53:53

What does that even mean?

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Muskoka to DFA 2012/06/21 02:43:56

+1
My question exactly.

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