Comments on: Atheists and the legal system

By: TGGP

TGGP — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:29:54 +0000

“Yes. We are human”
Speak for yourself, man-thing. We otters of the Allied Atheist Alliance take offense!

By: Bayes

Bayes — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:49:07 +0000

I was just highlighting the difference between the overt displays of belief in America when compared with the generally more reserved nature of us British. That’s why my religious friends would probably find such a scenario amusing. I’ll run it by them next time we’re down the pub :-)

By: Gene Berman

Gene Berman — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:22:15 +0000

Bayes:

Even we atheists ought to appreciate the mindset of believers (with due allowance for hypocrisy) engaging in prayer (presumably for divine guidance) before deliberating as a jury.

By: bioIgnoramus

bioIgnoramus — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:58:31 +0000

“the intense bias atheism arouses in most Americans”: but on the other hand, an atheist friend of mine dismisses Americans as “the people who believe in the Munchkins”.

By: Bayes

Bayes — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:55:50 +0000

Haha, I’m glad some have finally reached the realisation that we’re human.

I was particularly surprised by this: “…where juries–and even focus groups–have begun their deliberations with a group prayer.” I think this highlights the different approaches to religion in America and the UK. Over here, my religious friends would laugh at the prospect at praying before deliberations (or at the very least, they’d be quite surprised if someone suggested such an option).