If atheists don't believe in the devil ...?

Question

Why do they believe in the death penalty? Are some people really beyond hope?

You're right music_girl, not all atheists believe in the death penalty.

Interpret away music_girl. Listen to what you want to hear. You aren't a fundamentalist Christian by any chance?

Answer 1

I'm an atheist and actively oppose the death penalty. It has nothing to do with religion.

The death penalty is unevenly applied, costs more to administer than it would to warehouse a person for life, dehumanizes all involved, cheapens life, and is ineffective towards its stated goal of reducing violent crime.

No reason to support the death penalty except if a person believes in hell. In which case, it's still ineffective since the person who accepts Jesus will go to heaven while his victim will go to hell. (assuming criminal accepts Jesus & victim did not)

Death penalty is totally useless & counter productive for all purposes.

Answer 2

Atheism is a lack of god belief. I don't see anything in that definition having to do with the death penalty. Some atheists believe in the death penalty and some don't. I am against the death penalty simply because I never met a human capable of making such a final judgement without making errors. I feel occasionally people might deserve the death penalty but I am willing to let those people live rather than have someone else wrongly executed. But I can't imagine what any of this has to do with the fact I am an atheist.

Answer 3

This question makes no sense. You are saying "believe in" the devil as in - does he exist or not. You are using the same words for the death penalty but as in - support or oppose.

Just because one is an atheist doesn't mean they have no moral issues to wrestle with considering the death penalty... if that's even what you're asking.

Answer 4

Who said that atheists believe in the death penalty? That would be a blanket statement. And what in the world does the devil have to do with it? Oh... I see. Do you think that the devil is what makes people child rapists or serial killers? Right. Well, I happen to believe in taking responsibility for your own actions, though I'm not a huge fan of the death penalty.

Hardly. Make sense, and I wouldn't have to interpret.

Answer 5

The death penalty is simply a reason to rid the world of someone who has been convicted of a serious crime. As someone above said, you are taking away the most important thing they have, their life. I think the reason it's so expensive to administer is they're doing it wrong. What happened to good old firing squad?

Just because you support the death penalty does not mean you believe in hell. They are not the same.

Answer 6

I used to support the death penalty, but not so much any more, since I learned it costs more to kill someone (with the appeals process we currently have) than to keep them in jail for life. Plus, it makes us a better society if we don't kill killers. But yes, some people are beyond hope. Of course. There is every kind of person in the world.

Answer 7

I'm and Atheist and don't believe in the death penalty.

Answer 8

I'm pro-death penalty and an atheist/Humanist.

I find that most atheists who describe themselves as Humanists are anti-death penalty.

I know plenty of Christians on both sides of the debate, so it's not indication of either.

Answer 9

The death penalty eliminates a ruthless murderer from society. We will never have to worry about that person killing, raping or assaulting again. Why house unrepentant murderers for 40 years at significant expense? Let them know the penalty, be fairly tried and humanely executed.

Answer 10

Well it makes perfect sense to me and i'm atheist. Being that atheists beleive in no afterlife and everything you will ever have everthing you will ever feel will be before your death. i believe in the death penalty because i beleive that when these people die they lose the only thing they have left. LIFE. I don't think these people should get to sit in a cell and eat three good meals a day get to workout stay in shape and live out the rest of thier life. They took anothers life they don't deserve thiers. When they die they are gone no heaven no hell they have truly lost everything.