Are there any exceptions to "Thou Shalt Not Kill"?

Question

Bible or otherwise -- do you personally believe that it is ok to kill in certain circumstances? Is it ok for someone to kill you? What if you could be used for food?

Answer 1

It is better translated as "Thou shalt do no murder.
Wartime is obviously exempt. So is self-defense.

But cannabalism? It happened frequently during WWII.
And don't forget Alfred Packer!

The idea of being turned into Soylent green does not appeal to me.

Answer 2

I am certain there are exceptions to everything. The states that have the death penalty do this as a part of their law. Self-defense, of course, makes it "OK" to kill. I would also attempt to stop anyone who was hurting a family member. I would not want to kill the attacker, but I would if I had to in order to save a family member.

As for the other parts of your question: No, I can't think of any circumstance in which it would OK for someone to kill me. I do not think I should be killed for food either.

Answer 3

In the actual translation of that, the original text has many meanings for the word. Kill was the only one that fit into English translation.

The meaning of the original was in essence, to take a persons life when they haven't done anything to anything or anyone. It's hard to translate, but that's the most simple idea of it.

So, under that law (commandment) it is okay to kill in certain circumstances.

I haven't done anything to put me into the "okay to kill" category and if I ever do, I'd prefer that that I wasn't eaten though.

I kinda like "Sandys" answer though.

Answer 4

I am a Christian and served in the military (USAF) for 28 years. I had no problem with the idea of having to kill during combat. Catholics don't either.

But the proviso is that the war has to be "justified". This was a concept advanced by Martin Luther during the Reformation and more or less has origins in the writing of the Church Fathers, I forget which at the moment.

My reliance on that dogma, however, was predicated on America being just in her dealings with the world. This Bush Administration's actions, however, would give me considerable concern were I still in uniform. I see NO justification for the Iraq War. In fact, it is the most grave error our government has ever done.

Answer 5

If someone puts me or someone I'm responsible for in mortal danger, then I have every right to remove that threat. As for the food question-- if I am dead, I am unlikely to be worried about what happens to what is left. As long as they don't try it while I'm alive--in that case, the exception to "Thou Shalt Not Kill" is in full effect!

Answer 6

I know someone had wrote this already but I also feel that anyone who rapes kids or just rapes period should be killed or very badly injured. I don't really believe in capitol punishment only because I feel if your crime was that serious you should suffer the rest of your life behind bars and not get off so easily. I don't know but, I do like this question I wanted to ask a similar one.

Answer 7

I use mass murder on mosquitoes every summer and I think, if God took mortal form, he would probably do the same!

War, even in the Bible, is - in my opinion - the only sanctified reason to kill besides the death penalty for crimes.

Someone kills me, I'm gonna haunt 'em 'til I drive 'em insane, unless they are already insane, then I'll drive 'em over the edge and back to sanity and start all over again!
Unless, of course, I become insane and try to hurt someone. Then I would expect the death penalty or someone to kill me in self defense.

As for cannibalism, absolutely not, for any reason. God didn't put us on earth to be someones or some animals main entree. We are to eat animals, not humans - not even male human animals!

Answer 8

Yes. God orders genocide to be commited by the israelites:

1 Samuel 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember [that] which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid [wait] for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ***.

Even murder the babies, down to the last ox, sheep, camel and donkey. So much for forgiveness, mercy and grace.

The christian god is an evil, bloodthirsty murderer... dont believe the bible.

Here's another one:

Numbers 31:15 And Moses said to them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD, in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. 31:17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. 31:18 But all the female children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

So god ordered all the male babies and married females to be murdered. Why? Because "god" is "merciful"?

Answer 9

i think self defense is fine, or a situation where you THOUGHT you were going to either kill or be killed, it's fine. i also think if you came up on a situation where you killed someone in another person's defense, that woudl be OK. finally, not to say THIS war is worth it or not (im remaining neutral here) but there are SOME wars that are worth killing AND dying for. those are the exceptions in my book at least!

Answer 10

I do. I think child molesters should be killed. I know the bible says something along the lines that if a man kills another, the authorities can then kill THAT man, capital punishment. I think Dr. Kavorkian was doing a good thing.