Is the American constitution based on the bible? Can somebody let me whether capital punishment is ok.?

Answer 1

When the Framers originally drafted the U.S. Constitution, they made a conscious decision not to mention God or the Bible. They were not hostile to religion, but they didn't think religion was a good foundation for government. They wanted government to be separate from religion.

The Constitution forbids "cruel and unusual punishment," which is a standard that is interpreted differently in different times. It used to be considered okay to execute convicts who had mental retardation; but the Supreme Court recently ruled that is cruel and unusual, so it has been outlawed.

It is possible that someday the Court will view all capital punishment as cruel and unusual. For now, it is legal in the U.S.

Answer 2

No, the Constitution has nothing to do with the bible. Its roots are in English Common Law and Greek/Roman governmental structures and extend all the way back to concepts in Mesopotamian law, which pre-dates the bible. While some elements may be common to concepts presented in the bible, those concepts are also common to most civilized cultures.

If the Constitution was based on the bible, there would be virtually no difference between living in the United States and living in Iran.

As for capital punishment, the Constitution prescribes it as the punishment for treason.

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Answer 3

I think that people should make up their minds about capital punishment after learning the facts about it.

Here are some of them-

It is not a deterrent- states with the death penalty have higher homicide rates than states that do not. People who commit murder do not think they will be caught, let alone punished, that is, if they think at all.

The death penalty costs much more than life sentences. Much of the extra cost comes before conviction, in fact even before trial. (In my opinion, we should spend the extra money for victims services where it is really needed.)

Life without parole is on the books in more and more states. It means what it says. It is no picnic to be locked up in a tiny cell for 23 of 24 hours a day.

Over 120 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence.
(In the overwhelming number of these cases, the evidence was not DNA. DNA is not a miracle cure for wrongful convictions). The exonerees had spent many years on death row before being found innocent. Speeding up the process would guarantee the execution of an innocent person. It is human nature to make mistakes.

Once someone is executed for a crime the case is closed. If the wrong person was convicted, the real killer is still out there.

Death sentences can be very hard on victims’ families. The process takes a long time and they are forced to relive their ordeal over and over again, in courts and in the media. Some murder victims’ family members have said that although they support the death penalty in theory, they do not want to see it in the case of their murdered loved one because of how the process affects families like theirs. Life without parole is swift and sure and rarely results in appeals.

Last of all, opposing the death penalty does not mean you excuse or coddle criminals who commit brutal and depraved acts. They must be punished severely. But we need to use common sense based on the facts, not to focus on revenge.

Message to angelhunt- The United States does not prescribe capital punishment for treason. All it does is define treason.

Answer 4

The US Constitution is based on the lessons learned from history of the Western world. From the history of Democracy in Athens, to the Republic of Rome, to the Bible, the Magna Carta and the foundation of English common law, to the great political philosophers of Rousseau, Smith, etc.

It is based on the best and practical aspects of all of these.

And in none of these was capital punishment considered unjust or wrong.

Answer 5

not so much the Bible, as the ten commandments and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD."--James Madison-"Father of the Constitution"

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionistts, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ."--Patrick Henry

"Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers"--John Jay (the FIRST supreme court cheif justice)



Capital punishment is another issue entirely. many states are imposing "moratoriums" on capital punishment.

in cases of extreme violence, child abuses, rape etc... i'm all for capital punishment. with dna evidence and what not, it seems a moratorium is like throwing throwing the baby out with the bath water.

the systems may need repair but it's not as worthless as these secular progressive nutbags would have you believe.

i'll cite an example and go.
good 'ol gov ryan here in illlinois imposed a moratorium on ALL death penalties.

a good friend of mine had a roommate murdered in his home, by a downtrodden "friend" whom he was trying to help, by letting him sleep on the couch for a couple of weeks.

the state caught up with this p.o.s. in n.y. at a shelter, getting food, and cash, and other "aid". the evidence was overwhelming.
dna, confession with the lawyer, everything done to the letter of the law.( America's Most Wanted was going to cover the story the same week he was caught.)

this p.o.s. will probably never pay the price for his crime.

my opinion-- capital punishment is o.k.

Answer 6

The US Constitution is NOT based on the Bible.

Answer 7

Yes it was when it was written... Capital Crimes deserve Capital Punishment.