THE National Secular Society has described as “beyond absurd” a Bibles-for-Beaks campaign headed by former Conservative Cabinet member Lord Mackay of Clashfern.
Mackay, 83, acts as Honorary President of the Scottish Bible Society (SBS), and has invited sheriffs and judges to refamiliarise themselves with biblical principles, and act accordingly when presiding over court cases.
Lord Mackay of Clashfern
Critics have labelled the campaign, which involves dumping copies of the Bible on every court in Scotland, as an attempt to drag the legal system back to the “dark ages” – and likened it to a plea for a fundamentalist Christian version of Middle Eastern Sharia law.
The NSS claimed that inviting Scotland’s justiciary to implement literal biblical values in the 21st century was “beyond absurd”. NSS President Terry Sanderson said:
What Lord Mackay is proposing could put the Sharia laws of the Middle East to shame. He and the SBS make absolutely no concessions to the progress of legal thought over the past two millenia. Killing witches and homosexuals and stoning adulterers are all clearly stated legal requirements in the Christian holy book. Are they seriously suggesting that Scottish sheriffs and judges should follow the Bible to the letter?
Sanderson acknowledged the historical influence of Christianity in shaping Scots law, but argued that modern justice could not be served by following biblical pronouncements.
How would the Scottish seafood industry fare if the biblical ban on shellfish were to be enforced? Â Would Shetland’s knitwear industry flourish if there was a ban on garments made from two kinds of material, as required in the Bible?
He added:
Thankfully, I’m sure the Scottish legal establishment is aware that the Enlightenment has occurred and will continue to dispense justice with mercy unconstrained.
The Bibles that are being sent to the courts are are accompanied by a booklet entitled The Bible in Scots Law: A Guide for Legal Practitioners, which features an introduction from Mackay, who lets it be known:
I believe the teaching of the Bible is vitally important for guidance in daily living for all of us. The words and phrases of the 1611 King James version have permeated modern English and this makes it a valuable book of reference, but the modern version is especially useful in dealing with our day-to-day challenges … I have found it immensely important in my life and I trust it will be the same with many who have access to it through this initiative now.
The booklet continues:
The Bible is a unique resource as the foundational source book for Scotland’s legal system. The SBS is pleased to have the opportunity to donate a Bible to courts so that it is readily available for reference in any case which may arise in future.
Hat tip: Stuart
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
August 16th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Hmm… Lord Mackay…someone else whoobviously hasn’t actually read the fucking bible…
August 16th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
The Bible Societies have been up to this sort of thing since their inception. This is just a lot of hot air and posturing for the sake of some free publicity and a bit of “feel good”. Terry Sanderson beat me to it there, though – I was going to say that that Andrea Minichiello Williams looks like a witch to me!
August 16th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
It seems this Lord twat has had a dram too many and hasn’t thought this through, does he suggest the xtian book of fairy tales be used to judge muslims, jews……And of course us atheists don’t count his opinion.
August 16th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
From “The Witches”:
http://cdn.mos.totalfilm.com/i.....800-75.jpg
August 16th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Barriejohn – Exactly! I loved that movie when I was little!
Good for you guys getting the bibble out of the courtroom. Here in Texas, that load of horse manure is rather ingrained, and many judges, particularly in the less densely populated areas, are proud to uphold “Biblical tradition” in the courtroom. Whatever the hell that is. Not that they do eye for an eye in the most literal sense, but I believe it’s fairly often quoted. Probably would have to amend our state constitution to stop electing judges by popular vote. Even then, with the state legislature still being elected, there would be little hope we could get rid of it. We’ll have to evangelize atheism to have a fighting chance, and that won’t go over well.
August 16th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
I’m happy to see the SBS waste their money on this. Is anyone going to read their silly books? As for MacKay, I’m sure the Scottish judiciary know he’s a religiot and will disregard his god-bollocks.
August 16th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
When it comes to killing at the drop of a hat, the bible doesn’t seem to need a court and judges. You just round up the neighbours, collect some stones and kill the culprit. The courts would be flooded with cases if this christian sharia were implemented the way this ‘Lord’ and his fellow loonies suggest. Guess they didn’t think it all through.
August 16th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
They haven’t thought it through all right! What about those passages in Matthew Chapter 5 and elsewhere where Jesus supposedly says: “Ye have heard that it hath been said…But I say unto you…”? Which Biblical Laws are going to take precedence, pray? Maybe his lordship sees rich pickings for the legal profession here!
August 16th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
It should be noted that this idiot is in his eighties and will soon be dropping off the perch. The best reason for optimism for the non-religious is the fact that the seriously religious tend to be oldies. I am in my fifties and I cannot think of anyone that I know that is both younger than I am and religious. Every single one of the religiots that I know is older than me. They are a dying breed.
As has been mentioned already, the fool has obviously not actually read the book that he is promoting. His knowledge of history must be pretty lacking as well, otherwise he would have some idea about how wonderful life was when the Bible was taken seriously.
August 16th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Barriejohn, Jesus giving lip to his dad? Isn’t that a valid reason to kill your child? I know it’s a bit complex when you and your dad are one, making it infantisuicide, but one must die by example, I guess.
August 16th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Mackay was thrown out of The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland for attending the Funeral Mass of a colleague. This led to the setting up of a rival denomination. That shows the sort of level of primitive thinking that we are dealing with here!
August 16th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland website is well worth a visit – though, as I have pointed out before, you will be disappointed if you try to access it on a Sunday, as even an internet site must needs observe God’s Sabbath of Rest. (I’m not kidding!)
Little do men consider that Sabbath-keeping is the keystone of society, because it is the keystone of the moral law and the Ten Commandments. If this is removed, the whole moral character of an individual or a community is in peril of collapse. Does the present state of society not afford a clear commentary on this?
The site will illumine your mind to other necessary truths, such as the evil of celebrating Christmas. These people really are in the vanguard of rational thought!
http://www.fpchurch.org.uk/
August 17th, 2010 at 6:53 am
Stonyground,
I’d like to agree, however,I’m not sure you’re correct,there’s some evidence that many people have a psychological need to believe,so the religiots will always be with us.
August 17th, 2010 at 7:26 am
You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God {Moses – published, B.C. somewhere in a desert}
Couldn’t we bring in biblical law, just for a couple of days, and then clobber Ratzinger with it when he visits? Please
Or doesn’t he travel with his life size carved images of Jesus nailed to wood?
August 17th, 2010 at 10:02 am
barriejohn
That link to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland website is hilarious. I saw austerity and human misery wherever I looked. Talk about dour, I imagine smiling is banned too. Their site could be made more appealing with a voice over. I suggest the voice from Evil Dead that says “join us”
http://www.houseofhorrors.com/joinus.wav
August 17th, 2010 at 10:59 am
They certainly know how to have a good time in The Isles, Broadsword. Sometimes they even have TWO spoonfuls of sugar in their tea!
August 17th, 2010 at 11:56 am
As an Atheist and a lapsed jew I am destined to ‘hell’ by the bible. So if I was judged in Court I would be sent there if he adhered to the bible. Nice eh!!!
August 17th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
It is so difficult to get these patients to take their meds – especially if it’s Lithium. In the case of “lord” MacKay, is it worth the bother?
August 17th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
This poor guy has lost the plot. Apart from that daft and utterly pretentious name -Lord Mackay of Clashfern. What half mature person would voluntarily chose to be labelled with that – immature berk. Throw is that biblical nonsense, presumbly Clashy thinks he should be treated as if he knew what he was doing because of the title. He is definitely one sandwich short of a picnic.
August 17th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Russell W, I fear that you maybe right although the trend seems to be more toward belief in magic rocks and all kinds of new age woo woo. The kind of people who like this kind of stuff seem to be fairly harmless, and easy to seperate from their cash, Organised religion seems to be in terminal decline, let’s hope so.
August 18th, 2010 at 6:54 am
Lord MacKay, I thought jeesus was the lawd. How many do they want, isn’t one dead one enough? Maybe there’s a lawds collective in a basement somewhere. I know the UK has a house of Lords, doesn’t one of the ten commandment thingy’s they allegedly follow say something about following another lord or gawd?