Should judges take faith into account when sentencing? Not so much, says Andrew Copson
As part of a head-to-head answer to this question, Andrew Copson gives the “No” answer for the Independent.
Cherie Booth’s remarks betray an assumption still made by too many in society that you are a good person if you are religious – that religiousness is proof of good character and not being religious is a negation of morality. Even if few people would buy into that statement put so bluntly, some people would, and a lot of people come close to it.
The claim is nonsense and the logical inconsistencies of thinking that morality depends on god or religion are well known. Socrates asked 2,500 years ago whether (a) the gods say to do something because it is good or (b) something is good because the gods say to do it. Ever since then, the theist who answers (b) has had to explain why they would not rape and murder if god told them to and the theist who answers (a) has had to explain what the ultimate moral arbiter beyond god is, and what sense it makes to say that morality comes from god if even god is constrained by some other moral source one step back again. Neither theist has ever had much luck in doing so.
As always andrew makes his case clearly and intelligently.
Religion should definitely be taken into account, as it must be that the person on trial is not able to clearly distinguish fact from fiction, or draw lines between what is real and what is imaginary. The treatment of such unfortunate victims of religious brainwashing, should be the same as for all logical thinkers, but with re-hab facilities for the removal of such damaging mental imagery, as are included in all ‘god’ beliefs.
I think it’s high time that swearing an oath on the bible was banned and everyone should have to swear a the secular version when in court. This would prevent bigoted assumptions from being made by jury and bench alike and ensure that more weight was given to evidence alone.
Swearing an oath on the Bible is not mandatory. I was a witness in a court case some years ago and I was the only witness, on either “side”, who did not swear on the Bible – instead just promising to tell the truth. What made me smile was that I was (allegedly!) the only person, on either side, who did not lie.