Accepting a religion means approving of how it punishes rule-breakers. Is religion then rationally immoral?

Question

Accepting a religion means approving of the manner with which it deals with rule-breakers, be it estrangement, decapitation, or hell. The punishment rarely fits the crime. Adulterers in Islam are stoned. Homosexuals suffer lasting torment in Christianity.

Does this make the morals of religion rationally immoral? Why doesn't accepting these faiths make believers complicit in murder or torture?

Answer 1

I'm an atheist, first of all.
I have a couple of problems with your question:
-By what standard does the punishment fit or not fit a crime? How can you sum up the cost of adultery, homosexuality, and other sins, since their cost(loss) to society differs based on the culture.
-You cannot compare stoning with a "possibly future punishment" of lasting torment.

Answer 2

I believe homosexuality is not that much of a taboo any more. I for one believe that it's not much of a sin as compared to some of the other stuff that actually hurts others significantly (not in an "I hate to see someone sin" manner but really). I do not believe in religious conversions either. In all religions, it's written that you need to accept God "in your heart". I don't see why the show's required. I mean you don't like Islam and want to be a Christian -- fine by me. That's your personal choice -- I don't even need to know about it. It's between you and God; I have no right to judge anyone anyway, right?

I wouldn't bother about all this punishment stuff if I were you. it's not right to not punish the murderers and the rapists and some of this punishment stuff might sound a little too harsh to someone who believes in forgiveness (like you).
What is the best way to deal with crime? Too much leniency and the criminals would think you are a wimp and too much of violence and the good people will cry out. Just look at it as a social balance that will look after itself on it's own. I think it more social than religious.

I may be completely wrong though.

Answer 3

your logic is faulty
for a christian if a homosexual is condemned to hell it is gods will and the belief of the christian is irrelevant as the punishment will happen anyway, nor is there is reason to suspect that should god's worshipers disapprove of his actions he will change. hence Christians are not complicit in torture
in the case of Muslims they belong to a cruel blood thirsty religion and consequently they are immoral
you have presented as an axiom that the punishments dont fit the crime, this you have not backed with any logical reason. you belief tha that punishment dont match the crime is a cultural one derived from you belonging to this particular culture
to may a morally pronounce meant on a particular action being morally sound can only be done as an absolute if you have a belief system that includes a Divine being

Answer 4

First, however adulterers in Islam are treated has nothing to do with Christianity. The fact that both are religions does not imply agreement on the part of Christians that stoning adulterers is okay.

Second, homosexuals do not "suffer lasting torment" in Christianity -- at least in my brand of Christianity, Roman Catholicism.

Catholic teaching is clear in that while homosexual ACTS are immoral, homosexual PEOPLE are human beings who are to be shown love, dignity, and respect.

In fact, it's the fact that we love them that makes us want to leave that lifestyle -- nobody would enable and encourage people to stay in a lifestyle that cuts their lifestyle down to 41 years old, if they really loved them.

Christianity has nothing to do with murder and torture -- and I think you're way off base in lumping ALL religions together just because ONE of them (Islam) does things like stone adulterers.

Painting all of your ideological opponents with a wide, sweeping, stereotypical brush will get you nowhere.

.

Answer 5

becuase the punishment does fit the crime. Christianity doesnt endorse murder or anything like that. The rule-breakers(which is really everybody) reap the reward of their harvest eventually.

In christianity morals don go down, in others, including athiesm moral go down becuase they have not respect for God.

Leviticus 19:18-Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Answer 6

If you're talking about eternal consequences, homosexuals do not suffer lasting torment in Christianity any more than any other sinner does. All sins are equal because Jesus Christ died to save us from our sins. Those who accept his gift of salvation get it freely and desire to serve him. So, no, it's not immoral. It's just the rules. Anyone can avoid eternal suffering if they want to.

Answer 7

Then rule breaking should not be punished. This sounds like your statement rather than a question.

Answer 8

It is all about RIGHTS:
Rights of CREATOR
Rights of creatutes.


The Law

[4:123] It is not in accordance with your wishes, or the wishes of the people of the scripture: anyone who commits evil pays for it, and will have no helper or supporter against GOD.

[4:124] As for those who lead a righteous life, male or female, while believing, they enter Paradise; without the slightest injustice.

http://www.submission.org/suras/sura4.htm

Answer 9

I guess if you're religious than your view of what is moral changes. But i don't think the punishments you listed are as simple as that.

Answer 10

It does?