The death penalty, or some prefer to call it capital punishment, has existed since 1608. At the founding of our country, there were twelve eligible fatal crimes in the colony of Massachusetts Bay and they were as follows: idolatry, witchcraft, blasphemy, murder, manslaughter, poisoning, bestiality, sodomy, adultery, man-stealing, perjury in capital cases, and conspiracy and rebellion. Even though some are absolutely for it and some are absolutely against it, there is one factor that comes into play on both sides of the debate: that factor is religion. Many people will argue that there is or should be a dividing line between church and state, but religion has and will always play a major role in conceptual thinking about what is right and what is wrong. not, what is moral and what is immoral. Although people prefer to think or rationalize without involving religion, it is almost impossible. “Whatever the definition, religion involves a central concern: giving meaning to life and death. The American legal system, rooted in Judeo-Christian ethics, regularly confronts questions that test our fundamental assumptions about the meaning and sanctity of life and the role of the state in shaping and the maintenance of these meanings” (Young, 1992). In Miller and Bornstein's 2006 study regarding the use of religion and religious appeals in a death penalty case, researchers investigated whether these "religious appeals influenced thinking." It is said that defense attorneys are hired to defend their client and present an argument that will benefit them the most. There are several cases that have occurred regarding the religious appeal argument that lawyers have used to persuade jurors in the middle of a paper......one does it and one believes as one believes. From devout Christians to confirmed agnostics and religious atheists, religion shapes the way everyone thinks, acts, and conducts themselves. Furthermore, those who are most affected by the death penalty are generally the most against it. The results of the Eisenburg, Garvey and Wells researchers overlap with the study done by Young 9 years earlier. These results are that black jurors are significantly more likely than white jurors to vote for life in the first round, but not in the final round. All jurors ultimately tend to vote with the initial majority. Jurors who identify as Southern Baptist (who are almost all white) are likely to vote first for death. Support for death penalty issues. Capital juries often include members whose support of the death penalty compromises their impartiality and makes them legally ineligible for jury duty..