Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)
Sat Aug 9, 2014, 11:48 AM Aug 2014

Unbelievable: Brazilian courts allow "testimony" from the dead

I was just listening with rising level of disbelief and irritation to this NPR story:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/08/09/338935865/letter-from-beyond-the-grave-a-tale-of-love-murder-and-brazilian-law

In the letter, channeled by this medium, the deceased confesses. He says his jealousy was the reason for his death. The letter includes details that only people close to him could have known.
- Defense lawyer Rondon de Lima

This letter is then submitted by the defense to the court to exonerate the accused.

Judge Hertha Helena Rollemberg Padilha de Oliveira (no relation to Lenira) says there are many cases involving spirits in Brazil.

"If the proof is not illegal, it is lawful — you have to accept it in the process," she says.


Rather than presenting this nonsense as anything but a risable aspect of the Brazilian court system and an indictment of Brazilian culture, NPR chose to present this story with unwarranted respect and not a single sceptical voice is heard throughout. An embarrassment for everyone involved.

Our local NPR station (KUOW Seattle) is barely worth listening to anymore anyway, but if NPR itself continues its race to the bottom, we'll stop contributing altogether.
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Unbelievable: Brazilian courts allow "testimony" from the dead (Original Post) Ron Obvious Aug 2014 OP
Another poor excuse to slam NPR... TreasonousBastard Aug 2014 #1
Seriously? Ron Obvious Aug 2014 #2

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
1. Another poor excuse to slam NPR...
Sat Aug 9, 2014, 12:37 PM
Aug 2014

It's a news story about a strange custom. Why is PR required to debunk these odd beliefs any more than it should debunk Judaism when doing a story about a prayer ritual at a local synagogue?

Some of us are not overly apopleptic that NPR doesn't use Alternet and Patch for its primary sources.

 

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)
2. Seriously?
Sat Aug 9, 2014, 12:58 PM
Aug 2014

You think allowing mediums to testify is merely "a strange custom"? If I don't expect NPR to debunk these odd beliefs, I would at least expect them to not show it unwarranted respect and perhaps to interview a Brazilian sceptic to find out what's being done to change the laws in that country to disallow it.

This is in an official court, so your comparison to Judaic prayer rituals is fatuous.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Skepticism, Science & Pseudoscience»Unbelievable: Brazilian c...