Texas man faces execution after jurors consult Bible to decide fate

[G1eet]

Oh, apparently some of the jurors happen to be faithful in a god that happens to look a lot like Zeus. Guess I better condemn the actions of the whole court proceedings, regardless of the crime.

Outside of religious context, the Bible is a good book to read, just like any other "holy" book, that present an occasional valid philosophical argument. If you're a bibliophile, it's just another drop in the bucket of literature.

Let him fry; but let's keep this in mind when we have the next case of violence that ends in homicide. Live and learn, folks.

And don't blame the Bible for the jurors' course of action. The highlighted passage is valid. If one of you fellas broke into someone's home with the intent to steal, then proceeded to brutally murder the occupant for defending his home, I wouldn't grant any special pardon. If no Bibles were present in the proceedings at all, but the jurors came to the same conclusion, none of us would be having this discussion.

Edit:

Great job Texas, you just released a killer because you have a hard-on for the Bible.

Please try to read the linked article next time.

 

[steroidaided]

He deserves the sentence, capital punishment can be a good thing...but then it would depend on what crimes were committed. That is why...religion and government won't work well (Taliban).

 

[elitemonkeh]

religion or no, he deserves what he got. two wrongs don't make a right, but a dead man doesn't make murder.

Neither does a man in jail.

If the only reason of putting him to death is to keep him from murdering than putting him in jail is just as effective.

 

[yaik7a]

America is a judeo-christian based society

He's true but still

 

[elitemonkeh]

This thread is certainly informative. It has brought to light five particular thoughts.

1. A lot of anti-theist whack jobs posting here are really struggling to come to terms with the fact the Bible was used to make a decision they actually agree with (take a shower if it makes you feel better lads).

2. Those same whack jobs won't put their money where their mouth is by getting out of these loony theocracies and finding somewhere better [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1131421.stm#facts] to live [http://www.korea-dpr.com/].

3. Jurors shouldn't be referring religious documents such the Bible except where they are important as evidence, as this does weaken the position of the law which should be based purely on what can be seen and used in a court, not what people think or believe (justice is supposed to be blind for a reason).

4. This is yet another reason I dislike the death penalty being employed in anything other than cases where the defendant is found guilty of being Michael Bay.

5. Further irrefutable proof that The Escapist just can't leave the topic of religion well alone inspite of (or perhaps because of) the fact that very few people here willing to post about it actually know anything about it.

1. Yes thank heavens for the Bible, without it we never would have known murdering people was wrong.

2. Ah yes, the loony theocracy of not needing a religious book written 2000 years ago by humble scholars* to tell me how to live my life. That does make me a communist. How dare I live in America, which is not a nation of free religion but clearly one of Christianity.

3. You got one!

4. And you're a comedian!

5. All this coming from the man who calls all those who are against using the Bible "anti-theists". Because if your not Christian, you must be atheist.

*whack jobs

 

[ShakyFiend]

I just find the death penalty barbaric and an insult to civilization. Cant you just drop it? Europe has and its doing ok, and dont pick me up on this cos I cant remember were I read it (probably the Guardian) but I think there pretty sure they executed at least one innocent man a couple of years back, conincidently enough in Texas, surely the idea of innocent people being executed is horrifying enough? And to be honest (i hate acronyms) the idea that they had the bible there and consulted it isnt that surprising, considering that the vast majority of Texas is Christian the jurors would of given the verdict based on Christian morals with or without the bible, although the fact that it is so specific is slightly worrying, does any1 know where that particular passage is from? Wouldent be Leviticus by any chance would it?

 

[Cliff_m85]

Oh, apparently some of the jurors happen to be faithful in a god that happens to look a lot like Zeus. Guess I better condemn the actions of the whole court proceedings, regardless of the crime.

Outside of religious context, the Bible is a good book to read, just like any other "holy" book, that present an occasional valid philosophical argument. If you're a bibliophile, it's just another drop in the bucket of literature.

Let him fry; but let's keep this in mind when we have the next case of violence that ends in homicide. Live and learn, folks.

And don't blame the Bible for the jurors' course of action. The highlighted passage is valid. If one of you fellas broke into someone's home with the intent to steal, then proceeded to brutally murder the occupant for defending his home, I wouldn't grant any special pardon. If no Bibles were present in the proceedings at all, but the jurors came to the same conclusion, none of us would be having this discussion.

Edit:

Great job Texas, you just released a killer because you have a hard-on for the Bible.

Please try to read the linked article next time.

Oh, I did. You see, as someone who thought after reading it about 'mistrials' and 'double jeopardy' I thought "Wow, this guy has a chance to get off the hook". But hey, that's just be thinking.

 

[Cliff_m85]

Great job Texas, you just released a killer because you have a hard-on for the Bible.

Great job Cliff_m85 on not reading the thread.

Anyway, the bible verse basically just describes what murder is, no harm done, it's just a different way of looking at things, he was a murderer under the United States' legal definition of murder anyway.

Great job on not reading following posts. Hint: Mistrial, double jeopardy.

Both are possible.

 

[T5seconds]

The link to the source I got this from is here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6338320/Texas-man-faces-execution-after-jurors-consult-Bible-to-decide-fate.html

Sniping this...using the bible as evidence sort of illegal?
It's like if I looked upon Harry Potter books when deciding if someone should die...

Im just going to say this right now ... You put this wrong ...

It doesnt matter that they used the bible as long as that monster was put to death...
.

 

[Cakes]

Elitemonkeh, there are quite a few things wrong with your response, and they are as follows:

1. Yes thank heavens for the Bible, without it we never would have known murdering people was wrong.

Hey, did he actually say the bible was the source of morality? No? Then what the fuck are you on about?

2. Ah yes, the loony theocracy of not needing a religious book written 2000 years ago by humble scholars* to tell me how to live my life. That does make me a communist. How dare I live in America, which is not a nation of free religion but clearly one of Christianity.

He was calling this place, as in the place in the story, a "loony theocracy", and is essentially saying it's so fucked up you should get out. What the shit were you reading?
(Though, linking to a page on North Korea was kind of stupid as fuck, but...eh.)

5. All this coming from the man who calls all those who are against using the Bible "anti-theists". Because if your not Christian, you must be atheist.

Jesus Christ (hurr hurr), you have possibly the worst reading comprehension I have ever seen. He's remarking that this place is full of anti-theists, which it is. He never said that "if you're not christian you're an atheist", as you put it. I seriously have no clue what the fuck you were reading, but it obviously wasn't the same post I was.

There's quite a difference between anti-theist and regular atheist, by the way, which you seem to have missed.

 

[DarkRyter]

I disagree with the death penalty in general, so down with this sort of thing.

 

[Cakes]

Oh, I did. You see, as someone who thought after reading it about 'mistrials' and 'double jeopardy' I thought "Wow, this guy has a chance to get off the hook". But hey, that's just be thinking.

"Released a killer" and "this guy might maybe possibly have a chance to get off the hook" are two pretty different things...you made it seem as if you hadn't actually read the article in question and just thought they let him go, so you worded it pretty poorly initially. But hey, nobody's perfect.

 

[firedfns13]

I expected to be surprised but since he murdered a guy, he should be put on death row.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

This thread is certainly informative. It has brought to light five particular thoughts.

1. A lot of anti-theist whack jobs posting here are really struggling to come to terms with the fact the Bible was used to make a decision they actually agree with (take a shower if it makes you feel better lads).

2. Those same whack jobs won't put their money where their mouth is by getting out of these loony theocracies and finding somewhere better [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1131421.stm#facts] to live [http://www.korea-dpr.com/].

3. Jurors shouldn't be referring religious documents such the Bible except where they are important as evidence, as this does weaken the position of the law which should be based purely on what can be seen and used in a court, not what people think or believe (justice is supposed to be blind for a reason).

4. This is yet another reason I dislike the death penalty being employed in anything other than cases where the defendant is found guilty of being Michael Bay.

5. Further irrefutable proof that The Escapist just can't leave the topic of religion well alone inspite of (or perhaps because of) the fact that very few people here willing to post about it actually know anything about it.

1. Yes thank heavens for the Bible, without it we never would have known murdering people was wrong.

2. Ah yes, the loony theocracy of not needing a religious book written 2000 years ago by humble scholars* to tell me how to live my life. That does make me a communist. How dare I live in America, which is not a nation of free religion but clearly one of Christianity.

3. You got one!

4. And your a comedian!

5. All this coming from the man who calls all those who are against using the Bible "anti-theists". Because if your not Christian, you must be atheist.

1. What does that have to do with anything? I'll answer - nothing. The fact is a few people here are saying that this is all so wrong that a right decision has been reached. I personally don't agree with the decision or the method that was used to reach it, but at least I am not damning someone because I thought they got something right. That is just hypocritical.

2. Nobody said anything like that. I merely said that if anyone hates religion so much and feels it does nothing but harm there is a place on earth you can go and live where religion is outlawed.

3. I am nothing more than a gardener with a very very large garden. Odd that a gardener appears to know more about matters of theology and philosophy than a great many of the people who post here, many of whom are university students or have similar scholorary roles in life.

I am going to level with you on this one seriously - it isn't intelligence that will help you see the truth on this but tolerance and humility. This man was judged because he murdered someone. But nobody has the right to judge another because his beliefs are different.

4. Comedian? Are you going to admit to liking Michael Bay films? If so my next question would be "What the hell is wrong with you?" Have you seen Transformers 2?

5. Refer to 3. Or was the space inbetween 3 and 5 (ie: the time it took for you to type a response to 4 "4. And your a comedian!") too large a time gap for your memory to handle?

I am against using the Bible in a court of law where it is not either being used as evidence or being used for the purposes of making an oath. That is the extent of it. I am all for the Bible being used by Christians in the persuit of their own spiritual beliefs and practices. Anyone who deviates from this (ie: people who think the Bible shouldn't be used for anythin except a "door stop") isn't an atheist but an anti-theist.

(Though, linking to a page on North Korea was kind of stupid as fuck, but...eh.)

That, my dear Cakes, is because I am stupid as fuck. There was this time I was on the train coming back from shopping at Liverpool city centre. The carriage I was on had nobody except for me and 4 attractive girls. When my station got off my masculinity dictated I stand up and draw my body up to my impressive 6'1" height, and in doing so I banged my head hard on the luggage rail thingy overheard, causing me to go "OWW" and shrink back down, right in front of all those girls who broke out into uncontrollable laughter.

No intelligent person would have done that.

 

[elitemonkeh]

Elitemonkeh, there are quite a few things wrong with your response, and they are as follows:

1. Yes thank heavens for the Bible, without it we never would have known murdering people was wrong.

Hey, did he actually say the bible was the source of morality? No? Then what the fuck are you on about?

2. Ah yes, the loony theocracy of not needing a religious book written 2000 years ago by humble scholars* to tell me how to live my life. That does make me a communist. How dare I live in America, which is not a nation of free religion but clearly one of Christianity.

Dolt. He was calling this place, as in the place in the story, a "loony theocracy", and is essentially saying it's so fucked up you should get out. What the shit were you reading?

5. All this coming from the man who calls all those who are against using the Bible "anti-theists". Because if your not Christian, you must be atheist.

Jesus Christ (hurr hurr), you have possibly the worst reading comprehension I have ever seen. He's remarking that this place is full of anti-theists, which it is. He never said that "if you're not christian you're an atheist", as you put it. I seriously have no clue what the fuck you were reading, but it obviously wasn't the same post I was.

There's quite a difference between anti-theist and regular atheist, by the way, which you seem to have missed.

His remark was talking about people clearly having no idea what religion is. I was stating that was ironic because he was saying this thread was full of anti-theists. He was implying that because these people didn't agree with using the Bible as a moral guide in court they were against religion.

And he said those same whack-jobs should get out of this place and find somewhere better to live. You're saying they should get out of the story and more to Korea? What?

 

[Gigaguy64]

Should be put to death anyway.

And Texas and Montana have always thought of themselves as their own nations.

Yea we have!(just kidding.)
Dose it really matter, i mean i do believe that the bible is still important in this day and age, but come on.
If the evedence proved that he murdered the guy by beating him to death with his own gun, then i wouldent care if "In God WE Trust" was tattooed on half of the jury's foreheads.

 

[Shynobee]

Hey, peoples of the Escapist, Juries do NOT decide the sentence, they only decide guilt or innocence. THE JUDGE DECIDES THE SENTENCE.

So, if the judge was quoting scripture as he dealt out the sentence, then yea, we have a problem, but other wise, give it a rest and learn how the American legal system works.

 

[G1eet]

Oh, apparently some of the jurors happen to be faithful in a god that happens to look a lot like Zeus. Guess I better condemn the actions of the whole court proceedings, regardless of the crime.

Outside of religious context, the Bible is a good book to read, just like any other "holy" book, that present an occasional valid philosophical argument. If you're a bibliophile, it's just another drop in the bucket of literature.

Let him fry; but let's keep this in mind when we have the next case of violence that ends in homicide. Live and learn, folks.

And don't blame the Bible for the jurors' course of action. The highlighted passage is valid. If one of you fellas broke into someone's home with the intent to steal, then proceeded to brutally murder the occupant for defending his home, I wouldn't grant any special pardon. If no Bibles were present in the proceedings at all, but the jurors came to the same conclusion, none of us would be having this discussion.

Edit:

Great job Texas, you just released a killer because you have a hard-on for the Bible.

Please try to read the linked article next time.

Oh, I did. You see, as someone who thought after reading it about 'mistrials' and 'double jeopardy' I thought "Wow, this guy has a chance to get off the hook". But hey, that's just be thinking.

You know what happens when you assume....

It's Texas; and I honestly am surprised by some of the stuff they can get away with compared to the rest of the union. I wouldn't doubt that they could slide under the radar, what with Roman Polanski taking up most of the judicial system's mind right now.

 

[Stillve]

I'm opposed to the death penalty. And christianity.
So combining the two just pisses me off.

 

[Lift]

Would you have been just as mad if they had quoted the ending of Boondock saints...... actually that would have been cool... But its not my point. Those who kill should die, and I don't care what book you quote.