Bible and court

Howlin · 31-03-2011 5:42pm #1

In court you normaly say i promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth and you have to put your hand on a bible or a holy thing

Why do you have to put one hand on it and not the other one, or both of them

also what about the people who dont beielve in a religion, what do they have to put there hand on and sware to?

Coriolanus · 31-03-2011 5:44pm

I think they say somehting else in Ireland. One of the riff raff will be along soon to tell us from personal experience.

Biggins · 31-03-2011 5:44pm

Wha!

Seriously though - what if the Bible means as much to you as an ashtray!

Saila · 31-03-2011 5:49pm

then how will you cross your fingers?

31-03-2011 5:50pm

Sware?

Really?

OK then.

No, you don't have to swear on the bible at all. They won't force you to if you don't want to, I don't think.

Aldebaran · 31-03-2011 5:52pm

I think you can chose to affirm that you will tell the truth, rather than swearing on a Bible.

Celly Smunt · 31-03-2011 5:52pm

here

faw1tytowers · 31-03-2011 5:53pm

You can make an arrangement with the judge before hand if you are atheist or do not want to swear on bible, in which case you simply affirm to him you will tell the truth.

The left hand is placed on the Bible and the right hand is raised.

mikemac · 31-03-2011 5:54pm

For the godless heathens you make an affirmation in court but you do not have to swear on the bible

Fremen · 31-03-2011 5:55pm

Howlin wrote: »

In court you normaly say i promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth and you have to put your hand on a bible or a holy thing

Why do you have to put one hand on it and not the other one, or both of them

also what about the people who dont beielve in a religion, what do they have to put there hand on and sware to?

Vampires are not allowed to testify in court. So sayeth the thirteenth amendment.

RichieC · 31-03-2011 5:56pm

Obviously we swear on the god delusion or the book of Satan.

faw1tytowers · 31-03-2011 5:57pm

pmcmahon wrote: »

here

lol but just to remind you this is a discussion forum not google. :P

Sergeant · 31-03-2011 5:57pm

It doesn't matter as judgement has been passed, and they have been sentenced to an eternity in HELL.

Cookie_Monster · 31-03-2011 5:57pm

Just wear scruffy jeans and a tshirt that says "God Hates Fags" and you shouldn't come across that issue.

Celly Smunt · 31-03-2011 5:58pm

faw1tytowers wrote: »

lol but just to remind you this is a discussion forum not google. :P

touché

Savage Tyrant · 31-03-2011 5:59pm

I swear on this cheese and ham jambon.....

UglyBolloxFace · 31-03-2011 6:02pm

Howlin wrote: »

In court you normaly say i promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth and you have to put your hand on a bible or a holy thing

Why do you have to put one hand on it and not the other one, or both of them

also what about the people who dont beielve in a religion, what do they have to put there hand on and sware to?

As part of my University course we have mock court trials. When we are presenting evidence we can either swear on the bible or affirm.

So, if a person is not religious they affirm, and if they are they swear.

It was very interesting actually - the muslims in my class all swore to 'Almighty God' and not to 'Allah'; I didn't expect it.

Pompey Magnus · 31-03-2011 6:02pm

I read somewhere that back in ancient Rome a witness had to swear an oath by holding his testicles and that is where the word testimony comes from. I'm not sure if its true though, it might be a load of bollocks.

Savage Tyrant · 31-03-2011 6:04pm

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

I read somewhere that back in ancient Rome a witness had to swear an oath by holding his testicles and that is where the word testimony comes from. I'm not sure if its true though, it might be a load of bollocks.

I heard this too....sounds plausible.

Savage Tyrant · 31-03-2011 6:05pm

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

I read somewhere that back in ancient Rome a witness had to swear an oath by holding his testicles and that is where the word testimony comes from. I'm not sure if its true though, it might be a load of bollocks.

Oh yeah, I see what you did there!

UglyBolloxFace · 31-03-2011 6:07pm

Savage Tyrant wrote: »

Oh yeah, I see what you did there!

I, too, see what you did there.

Buceph · 31-03-2011 6:08pm

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

I read somewhere that back in ancient Rome a witness had to swear an oath by holding his testicles and that is where the word testimony comes from. I'm not sure if its true though, it might be a load of bollocks.

It's a combination of two words. The latin, testiles, for testicles which were held when "testifying" but not by the person giving the oath, but by someone who would squeeze them if the person lied. Hence the mony suffix.

Dave! · 31-03-2011 6:13pm

As mentioned, you can make an affirmation instead

However you do have to take a religious oath if you want to be a judge in this country. Possibly true of President also, although I'm not sure about that.

KeithAFC · 31-03-2011 6:15pm

Howlin wrote: »

In court you normaly say i promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth and you have to put your hand on a bible or a holy thing

Why do you have to put one hand on it and not the other one, or both of them

also what about the people who dont beielve in a religion, what do they have to put there hand on and sware to?

I asked if i could put my hand on the Ulster banner flag a few years ago in a case when i was giving evidence.

Savage Tyrant · 31-03-2011 6:35pm

KeithAFC wrote: »

I asked if i could put my hand on the Ulster banner flag a few years ago in a case when i was giving evidence.

No. No you didn't.

Agus · 31-03-2011 6:44pm

Buceph wrote: »

It's a combination of two words. The latin, testiles, for testicles which were held when "testifying" but not by the person giving the oath, but by someone who would squeeze them if the person lied. Hence the mony suffix.

Actually according to the Online Etymology Dictionary "testimony" comes from the Latin "testis" which means witness, from "*Proto-Indo-European tris- "three," on the notion of "third person, disinterested witness."" and " -monium, suffix signifying "action, state, condition.".

However it's true that the English testis may come from the Latin "witness"

"usually regarded as a special application of testis "witness" (see testament), presumably because it "bears witness" to virility (cf. Gk. parastates, lit. "one that stands by;" and Fr. slang témoins, lit. "witnesses"). But Buck thinks Gk. parastatai "testicles" has been wrongly associated with the legal sense of parastates "supporter, defender" and suggests instead parastatai in the sense of twin "supporting pillars, props of a mast," etc. Walde, meanwhile, suggests a connection between testis and testa "pot, shell, etc."

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=testis&searchmode=none

KeithAFC · 31-03-2011 6:45pm

Savage Tyrant wrote: »

No. No you didn't.

Its true.

Savage Tyrant · 31-03-2011 6:48pm

KeithAFC wrote: »

Its true.

Ehhh, no. It isn't.

RichieC · 31-03-2011 6:48pm

pmcmahon wrote: »

here

What kinda sh*t google is that?

KeithAFC · 31-03-2011 6:51pm

Savage Tyrant wrote: »

Ehhh, no. It isn't.

I didn't say i got it did i?

NoDice · 31-03-2011 6:58pm

pmcmahon wrote: »

here

Ha ha, I usually love the LMGTFY link but dude you spelled "believe" wrong.. Anti-high-five.

Sheeps · 31-03-2011 7:08pm

When I was selected for a jury I affirmed instead of swearing on a bible. You are also given the option of being sworn in in Irish.

im invisible · 31-03-2011 7:11pm

Sheeps wrote: »

You are also given the option of being sworn at in Irish.

póg mo thoin

Buceph · 31-03-2011 7:12pm

Agus wrote: »

Actually according to the Online Etymology Dictionary "testimony" comes from the Latin "testis" which means witness, from "*Proto-Indo-European tris- "three," on the notion of "third person, disinterested witness."" and " -monium, suffix signifying "action, state, condition.".

However it's true that the English testis may come from the Latin "witness"

"usually regarded as a special application of testis "witness" (see testament), presumably because it "bears witness" to virility (cf. Gk. parastates, lit. "one that stands by;" and Fr. slang témoins, lit. "witnesses"). But Buck thinks Gk. parastatai "testicles" has been wrongly associated with the legal sense of parastates "supporter, defender" and suggests instead parastatai in the sense of twin "supporting pillars, props of a mast," etc. Walde, meanwhile, suggests a connection between testis and testa "pot, shell, etc."

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=testis&searchmode=none

Next you'll be telling me vomitoriums weren't for vomiting in.

Howlin · 31-03-2011 7:13pm

faw1tytowers wrote: »

Y
The left hand is placed on the Bible and the right hand is raised.

Why is the left hand placed on the bible and and the right hand raised? Why isnt it the other way around or one hand on the bible and the other side down by your side?

HellFireClub · 31-03-2011 7:14pm

Aldebaran wrote: »

I think you can chose to affirm that you will tell the truth, rather than swearing on a Bible.

If you were a satanist, could you argue that you want a satanic bible brought into court for you to swear on lol?!?

Sheeps · 31-03-2011 9:47pm

HellFireClub wrote: »

If you were a satanist, could you argue that you want a satanic bible brought into court for you to swear on lol?!?

Yeah, well they allow you to swear with regards to your conviction so I'd say it would be allowed.

Standman · 31-03-2011 9:58pm

Well you have to put one hand on the Bible and one hand on your heart, thus connecting your soul to the truthwaves emitted by the holy book. If you're not religious then you are thrown to the lions.

Bible and court

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