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Non Gaming Discussions => Off-Topic => Topic started by: kopking on April 30, 2002, 11:42:20 AM

Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: kopking on April 30, 2002, 11:42:20 AM
i saw this on a film the other night and it made me think...



when in court , when they ask you to swear to god to tell the truth etc, you said no i do not swear to god to tell the truth!!!
Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: mm on April 30, 2002, 11:47:57 AM
contempt of court

would go straight to jail
Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: Coredweller on April 30, 2002, 11:50:55 AM
I believe US courts permit you to swear a different sort of oath if you\'re an atheist.  I\'m pretty sure I witnessed this when I was on jury duty here in Los Angeles last year.  I don\'t remember the exact wording, but the judge offered the option.
Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: kopking on April 30, 2002, 11:56:50 AM
what about if you say, i you wont tell the truth butyoull say what you saw....but not sure if its the truth
Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: Luke on April 30, 2002, 12:14:45 PM
Quote
Originally posted by kopking
what about if you say, i you wont tell the truth butyoull say what you saw....but not sure if its the truth


in that case they wouldnt even have you testify.
Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: Coredweller on April 30, 2002, 12:28:57 PM
You\'re talking about two different kinds of "truth."  The oath is intended to allow legal retaliation in the event that you knowingly lie while giving evidence.  When they make you swear "to tell the truth" they\'re just making sure you don\'t lie.

The way you used the word "truth" was in an abstract form.  The "truth" about what actually happened at a certain time and place is for the jury to decide, based on the evidence.  It\'s not relevant for a witness to state that "they won\'t tell the truth because they don\'t know what the real truth is."  A witness is sworn to report what they saw if they\'re a witness, or what they know to be true based on experience if they\'re an expert witness.

If you tried to say what you wrote, the judge would straighten you out quickly.  Judges are used to dealing with dumb laymen.  :laughing:
Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: luckee on April 30, 2002, 03:29:55 PM
As with other questions during the proceedings, that is also one that you do not have to answer if you believe in buddah..allah..or no god.

BTW mm..it isnt contempt and usually when some says something worthy of contempt, they usually get a warning first, unless what they said/did was too outrageous.
Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: FatalXception on April 30, 2002, 08:51:38 PM
Actually, luckee, contempt covers a lot of areas.  It just means you don\'t recognize the authority or position of the court.

Show up in tattered jeans and a ripped t-shirt, you could be cited for contempt.
Ignore a direct directive from a judge, contempt (don\'t ask that again, answer the question, etc).
Refuse the due process of law (refuse to swear - that\'s what the non-religious \'I swear that I\'m telling the truth\' one is for, refuse to co-operate with your lawyer, refuse to participate in jury pooling).

Just to further the choice point, when you work for the federal government in Canada, you have to give an oral oath of loyalty to Canada, under the ruling Queen Mother, and God.  They do, however, have a non-religious version (which I took).  It\'s really just a formality.
Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: luckee on April 30, 2002, 08:53:38 PM
Quote
Originally posted by FatalXception
Actually, luckee, contempt covers a lot of areas.  It just means you don\'t recognize the authority or position of the court.

Show up in tattered jeans and a ripped t-shirt, you could be cited for contempt.
Ignore a direct directive from a judge, contempt (don\'t ask that again, answer the question, etc).
Refuse the due process of law (refuse to swear - that\'s what the non-religious \'I swear that I\'m telling the truth\' one is for, refuse to co-operate with your lawyer, refuse to participate in jury pooling).

Just to further the choice point, when you work for the federal government in Canada, you have to give an oral oath of loyalty to Canada, under the ruling Queen Mother, and God.  They do, however, have a non-religious version (which I took).  It\'s really just a formality.


which was my point..one doesnt have to swear to god. like I said :)
Title: what would happen if.........
Post by: FatalXception on May 01, 2002, 04:06:42 AM
Damn!  That\'s true..... my bad :D :shy: :D
Title: Re: what would happen if.........
Post by: project86 on May 01, 2002, 05:32:20 AM
Quote
Originally posted by kopking
i saw this on a film the other night and it made me think...



when in court , when they ask you to swear to god to tell the truth etc, you said no i do not swear to god to tell the truth!!!



By all that is holy man, what persuaded you to post this thread?

It’s obvious that if you decline to swear by God or the Bible due to religious beliefs you will be permitted to simply say I will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

If any one wonders why anybody might decline from this, here is a verse from the Bible:

Matthew 5:34
But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God\'s throne;

So as you can see, any one of religious beliefs may decline to swear by anything.