How is it that Christians believe in the death penalty? Can somebody explain how the two are compatable?

Question

I am not bashing Christians or the death penalty. I always thought Christianity was for tolerance and forgiveness. I truly don't understand and wouldappreciate somebody explaining this without attacking my politics.

Answer 1

I do not believe in the death penalty. But we need to respect and abide by the Laws of this Nation. Obediance. After watching the shows about incarcerations , it made me sick to see how men/women are put away in prisons and had committed crimes, while high on drugs or alcahol. It is so sad and they recieve such massive punishment. If they would have been sober , they would not have done what they did. People in the prisons suffer. Pray for the prisoners. Our old Minister used to tell the congergation to pray for them. I was young and truly believed he was wrong. But now I can see what he meant. It is wrong to make any Human suffer.

Answer 2

I've been to Cairo and I've been to Rio de Janeiro. The Egyptians are heavy handed death penalty users, the Brazilians revile it. Though Cairo is bigger than Rio, it's a much safer city. It seems to me that the death penalty is keeping innocent Cairenes from being slaughtered the way hundreds of innocent Cariocas are every year. I have no problem being a Christian who wishes less avoidable funerals on society at large, especially for the innocent.

Answer 3

I think that one of the problems is that people do want to feel safe in their communities and homes. Their fears are reasonable but should be tempered by the facts about the death penalty system and alternatives. Here are some facts about the death penalty system- all verifiable and sourced.

Re: Alternatives
48 states have life without parole on the books. It means what it says, is swift and sure and is rarely appealed. Being locked in a tiny cell for 23 hours a day, forever, is certainly no picnic. Life without parole incapacitates a killer (keeps him from re-offending) and costs considerably less than the death penalty. (It also gives the prisoner a chance to recover his lost humanity.)

Re: Possibility of executing an innocent person
Over 120 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence, many having already served over 2 decades on death row. If we speed up the process we are bound to execute an innocent person. Once someone is executed the case is closed. If we execute an innocent person the real criminal is still out there and will have successfully avoided being charged.

Re: DNA
DNA is available in less than 10% of murder cases. It’s not a miracle cure for sentencing innocent people to death. It’s human nature to make mistakes.

Re: Appeals
Our appeals system is designed to make sure the trial was in accord with constitutional standards, not to second guess whether the defendant was actually innocent. It is very difficult to get evidence of innocence introduced before an appeals court.

Re: Deterrence
The death penalty isn’t a deterrent. Murder rates are actually higher in states with the death penalty than in states without it. Moreover, people who kill or commit other serious crimes do not think they will be caught (if they think at all.)

Re: cost
The death penalty costs far more than life in prison. The huge extra costs start to mount up even before the trial. There are more cost effective ways to prevent and control crime.

Re: Who gets the death penalty
The death penalty isn’t reserved for the “worst of the worst,” but rather for defendants with the worst lawyers. When is the last time a wealthy person was sentenced to death, let alone executed??

Re: Victims families
The death penalty is very hard on victims’ families. They must relive their ordeal in the courts and the media. Life without parole is sure, swift and rarely appealed. Some victims families who support the death penalty in principal prefer life without parole because of how the death penalty affects families like theirs.

Opposing the death penalty doesn’t mean you condone brutal crimes or excuse people who commit them. According to a Gallup Poll, in 2006, 47% of all Americans prefer capital punishment while 48% prefer life without parole. Americans are learning the facts and making up their minds using common sense, not revenge or an eye for an eye mentality.

Answer 4

i'm no longer a christian, yet i've got self assurance in the death penalty, in basic terms becuase I genuinely have time-commemorated numerous persons in my time that have carried out issues and that they have in user-friendly terms carried out it the two becuase they knew they might destroy out with it or becuase the penalty grew to become into to no longer severe in the event that they did get caught. think of case in point what might ensue if drink using on the 1st strike fee you your license for 3 months 2nd strike 6 months and third strike for ever without probability of having it back in any respect, how a lot of human beings might nevertheless drink andpersistent? an analogous difficulty applies to capital crimes, seem at how lots those crimes have risen because of the fact the death penalty grew to become into bumped off. seem at countries that even have the death penalty. i think of the equipment grew to become into improper and mandatory an overhaul whether it would under no circumstances have been abolished.

Answer 5

Seriously, I have a problem with the death penalty. I'm a Christian.

Answer 6

You're right.

I think we get all old testament, eye for an eye, and forget that Jesus was all about forgiveness and love.

Answer 7

simple, the Bible tells us to obey the (law of the land) and if we do not we are liable for the punishment there in the law of the land... and are to abide by the punishment

Answer 8

thats simple,"HYPOCRITES"