2006-09-05 06:59:03 · 34 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If i had foreknowledge of what they were gonna do? Of course I would have. Heh! Well that would make me nicer than God wouldn't it!
2006-09-05 07:01:37 · answer #1 · answered by AiW 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Murder is not always wrong, but may have serious unintended consequences. For example, if Stalin had not been such a charismatic personality capable of martialing millions of Russian soldiers into a coherent force, and fearsome enough to keep them from deserting, Hitler would have won the Battle of Stalingrad and the larger campaign on the Russian front. Without the need to fight on two fronts, Germany could have done much greater damage throughout the rest of Europe. The war would have dragged on, the extermination camps would have stayed open, and Germany may well have won the war.
2006-09-05 07:08:12 · answer #2 · answered by lcraesharbor 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
See that's a sticky situation...
If you had the premonition to be able to see what Hitler and/or Stalin did, you'd be viewed as a crazy person with a sniper rifle, not as a hero who saved +6,000,000 ( I think that's Hitler's numbers, if not more...I didn't really pay attention to how many were murdered, it upset me).
It's so much easier after the fact though, when everyone wants them dead for doing what they did.
To compare with recent events, it's my understanding that we used to support Osama bin Laden because he fought the Russians in Afghanistan, now we hate him for what he did on 9/11
I know this isn't the answer you wanted, but I can't answer the question in a religious way, because I'm not religious :)
2006-09-05 07:06:23 · answer #3 · answered by Southpaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Murder is wrong. The killing by an individual is wrong in every culture.
However, nations can wage war or execute an individual for a capital offence. This is NOT murder.
To answer your second question, as a soldier or official representative of your government sent to kill Hitler, it would not be murder. You would be a soldier.
2006-09-05 07:03:33 · answer #4 · answered by TubeDude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Murder is more clearly defined as "unjustified" taking of life. If the act is justified, and perhaps it would be in the context you cite, it would okay, even virtuous.
In the Ten Commandments, "do not kill" is actually "do not murder."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, by the way, was a Christian theologian who was hanged for being identified with a plot to assassinate Hitler. His writings are deeply pious and still widely read.
2006-09-05 07:06:16 · answer #5 · answered by Easy B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
OK by this rationale, would an Iraqi person be justified in wishing to murder Bush because of his invasion costing the Iraqi people so many lives?
Just a different viewpoint on the same Q
2006-09-05 10:00:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only problem with that is that something even worse could happen as a result of you killing them. At least we know that both Hitler and Stalin were eventually defeated. Killing one of them might have led to producing someone or some situation even worse than what actually happened.
2006-09-05 07:06:53 · answer #7 · answered by ItsJustMe 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Definately a controversial Question, thank you for asking it.
Personally, I beleive, the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' is absolute and not open to misinterpretation and no exceptions are mentioned :)
None of us could know the effects on history that killing Hitler or Stalin would have had, would more lives have been saved or less? Would another more efficient killer stepped into thier shoes and committed even viler travasties?
These evil men and others commited viles crimes against God and humanity, but beware your own soul when considering appointing yourself or others as Judge, Jury and Executioner.
2006-09-05 07:09:00 · answer #8 · answered by Rysiek 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Neither of these men acted alone. They relied on the loyalty of countless others to carry out their plans. It is more important for each person to carefully evaluate what their leaders are telling them, to be sure the innocent are not targeted. To murder someone is to put yourself above the law, and without laws we would have chaos.
2006-09-05 07:07:37 · answer #9 · answered by Nefertiti 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legally, yes. Morally, no. Hitler and Stalin deserved to die, because they only diminished the quality of everyone's lives. When you take and don't give back, your life has no purpose. Lives without purpose are wastes of precious resources.
2006-09-05 07:02:19 · answer #10 · answered by georgia b 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i've thought a bit about that myself - i dont think theres anything that definitely says that the world has to come under the anti-christ's rule for awhile.. could be 100 yrs from now.. highly doubt it.. but could be.
if things are set in motion to a certain degree, i'm not sure they can be stopped completely. one's interest should be in minimizing damage - and defending those who need it.
diplomacy man. diplomacy.
-- and it's not murder if it's protecting others. (unless you could've some other way)
2006-09-05 07:04:58 · answer #11 · answered by honorablepassion 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋