The Death Penalty?

Question

Just wondering about whether your religious affiliation colors your views on the death penalty. I, an atheist am totally against it in any circumstance viewing it as state sponsored murder (cold blooded vengance), how about you?

Not just your views on the death penalty but how your religion influences your view.

Answer 1

I used to have a pin from a Protestant group (Fellowship of Reconcilliation?) that said "Why do we kill people to prove that killing people is wrong?"

Judaism sees all life as so special that to kill just one person is to destroy a universe. Yes, I know all that about an eye for an eye. That was actually about limiting the amount of revenge a person could take. Only an eye, and not their life. There was a death penalty, but a Hebrew court that used it once in seven years was considered a bloody court.

My affiliation has changed, but my views on state sanctioned murder hasn't. It's wrong, it's not a deterrent, it's the most expensive option, it's discrimnatory (hey the Supreme Court agrees, but then they decided that they just don't care), and way too often they make a mistake and kill someone later found innocent. But the most important reason why we need to get rid of it is what it does to us as a people -- it tells us over and over again that the solution to a problem is eliminate it forever. Now isn't that exactly what we're trying to prevent?

Answer 2

I am Catholic and I have to go along with what Pope John Paul II said. He said that there were very few if any cases that required the death penalty in today's world where money was not really an obstacle in keeping them for the rest of their life. I think the only time where it would be feasible is if a person was a stone killer and did not show any remorse and promised that if they were ever released they would kill again and they have attempted escape, at that point I think then you are doing everybody else an injustice by not putting them to death because you are endangering an innocent person.

Answer 3

I'm spiritual, I believe in God, but this doesn't have much to do with my views on the death penalty, which are kind of middle of the road.

When I hear about a convicted murderer who has a jury deciding whether or not he or she should be put to death or spend the rest of his or her life in prison, I usually find myself half-heartedly rooting for life in prison. But, if death is what the ultimate decision is, then I usually don't have much sympathy. The only time I would have any sympathy would be a situation in which I doubted the convict's guilt.

I guess you could say that I kind of go both ways on this issue. Though, I will admit, when I hear about some murderer taking his or her last breath in the death chamber, I DO feel a slight sense of relief and justice.

Answer 4

Everybody has a different opinion no matter what religion you are. I know of some people in my religion that do not support the death penalty. I do support the death penalty, but it is not because my religion supports or does not support the death penalty. If you murder, you should be murdered, plain and simple. Look at what will happen to Saddam Hussein. He deserves exactly what he is getting.

Answer 5

I am a Cristian and do not object to it when the crime is hideous. In my younger years I always felt that it was on the unmoral side. But as a grew older I can see the point of it. Some people who commit these crimes are so far away from a social conscious that they are to much of a danger to society and also it brings the feeling of justice to the community and victims. Look at society today, people have no regard for life or respect for others rights. How senseless is it to let a numerous convicted child molester back on the streets over and over. Or the murderers (for self gain or other trivious reasons such as gangs etc) returned to the street over and over. All this brings is kaos and fear to communities and the eventual breakdown of a society. If you had a rotten apple in a basket, would you eliminate it from the rest at the beginning or would you let it rot the rest of them? If you had a mad dog would you not shoot it for the safety of the neighborhood or would you let it wonder out in the streets and let it have the opportunity to bite and infect with rabies? It is pretty much the same aspect. Really think about this

Answer 6

I'm not from any religion, I'm colored by my own hand.

The death penalty is part of humanities evolution on this planet and it is acceptable as long as you have death the way you see it.

life takes no prisoners.

Answer 7

I consider myself a Christian...yet I am for the death penalty. The Bible also states an eye for an eye.

Answer 8

I'm so confused about that issue. On 1 hand I don't think that anyone has a right to take a life,but on the other hand, If it was a child killer we would be sure that no other child is hurt or killed. I'm curious what others think too. By the way I'm Lutheran but that doesn't really play a role in how I feel.

Answer 9

My religion has nothing to do with my opinion. My personal morals and ethics dictate my opinions. I am completely against the death penalty. It is hypocritical and has not proven to be a deterrent.

Surfer: it has been proven that the death penalty is far more expensive than someone spending the rest of their lives in a cell. The legal fees (mostly paid by tax payers) to fight a death warrant can go into the millions. It costs alot less to have someone rot in jail.

Answer 10

This is a very hard one for me. I am christian and yet I am for the death penalty.I struggle with allowing some murderous criminals live when they clearly would kill again and again, especially horrific violence against a child. I am still working through this dilemma with my faith and my caring for innocent lives. Maybe one day I will see it clearly.