Should Sinners Have Rights?

Question

Assuming the Bible is true (and assuming all major faiths believe in the same God however named), then should people who willingly sin and act defiant towards God/disbelieve in God have rights?

For instance, if people are downright ruthless criminals, cheaters, liars, fornicators, and drug abusers (usually always by CHOICE), should we expect God to want to protect them? Should he? Should God allow them to be destroyed? Like in the Bible?

If you were God (even if you don't believe let us use some imgination and logic for a minute) what would you do if the world you oversee had become a cesspool of evil, sin, and corruption? Would you let it culminate until it destroyed itself, or would you step in? If you believe, what do you think God will do? Society is getting more and more corrupt. We are destroying our health and our earth. Violence is senseless now. What should God do, since people obviously aren't making any effort to change? Perhaps they need something to fear...

Clarification: Sinners who refuse to believe in God, and chose to live a downright corrupt life.

Pvgoth...Read what I added AFTER my question.

John...I am NOT ignorant as per world history. That is why I said "senseless" violence. We no longer have to fight for things we once did. Slaves are free, non-whites have rights, kings no longer rule us. Unlike the past, we now know how to prevent and/or treat many illnesses. But I am saying that people are CHOSING to live unhealthily now, by chosing unhealthy lifestyles.

Who said I'm juding? I'm asking a question.

Answer 1

according to your god, everyone's a sinner, so by your logic no one should have rights.

Answer 2

If you will kindly take note, it is mostly the Christians who are destroying the world and treating the environment with impunity. They have been among the last to admit that we are polluting the world. They are also amonge the most greedy.

That said, the world is no more a cesspool of sin than it ever was. Drug abuse is rampant now only because there are laws against it. In ages past, drug use existed; it merely wasn't illegal, so it wasn't a problem. Some great writers and artists were users. Coca Cola had cocaine as a major ingredient before it became illegal.

Fornication has always been a popular passtime. If it hadn't, the Bible wouldn't have written about it. Criminals are those who run afoul of the law. Less laws means less criminals. The United States has more people per capita in jails than any other country on Earth. People are criminals because we make stupid things illegal, such as marijuana. We have many drunk drivers because we have a country that has irresponsible attitudes toward alcohol. Rather than teaching responsibility and mature attitudes, we make illegal the result of our failure to teach well.

God has nothing to do with it.

Answer 3

Another in a long line of people who miss the Spanish Inquisition and a time when only Christians had rights.

I believe Hitler tried this as well, denying Jews all rights, including the right to live.

Shall we round up all these godless heathens? Place them in concentration camps and hand out hunting licences to good Christians?

After all, denying people rights means they can be killed with impunity. Wouldn't want a stray bullet hitting a good Christian, now would you? So placing these heathens in concentration camps to be hunted down is only good public safety policy to avoid an innocent Christian from getting hit by accident.

Shall we hand out booklets on the proper method for gutting and stuffing heathens, or mounting their heads on walls? After all, if heathens have no rights then any Christian may take a fancy to such displays. You could turn their tattoed skin into lampshades if you wished.

I don't suppose you've ever read Matthew 5:44-48, have you? Read the Sermon on the Mount yet? How about the parable of the tares?

No, I didn't think so.

Answer 4

Sorry - is this a serious question? Who on this planet is without SIN? By any stretch of the imagination, there is NO HUMAN ON EARTH who has NEVER EVER SINNED!!!!

I don't believe in Sin but given your question, then all would be punished and without any rights. God can quite well handle his creation without others deciding what to do with 'sinners'. There is more than enough fear in this world that one does not need to add to it in order to get compliance to your own ideals.

Spread some love, peace, hope, courage, compassion, mercy and maybe you will see the world change. The spread of anger, intolerance, fear, rage, merciless and vengeful Gods has only increased the amount of murder, rape, lying, etc all over this planet. Fanatics of any religion maybe the best ones to have their rights taken away, not the sinners.

Answer 5

Answering your question simplistically, if sinners will not have any rights, then you are basically saying that entire Human civilisation is condemned to hell.

Everyone sins in life, there isn't any way around it, because even through what you would have learned or think, the simplest things like feeling pride and humility are a sin in the eyes of god.

Answer 6

Since by most if not all definitions (by all major religions) we are all sinners, where exactly do you draw the line? I did see what you said about living a godless life and committing more serious crimes, but still.

I'm not trying to put you down here. Just saying it's not a black and white issue. Also, what of believers who are corrupt? How about non believers who lead a good, clean life?

Answer 7

Different people believe in different God(s), a shining example is Paganism. Pagans basically believe in many gods, and there's a rule that says: "And it harm none, do as thou wilt". So you can, for instance, be a gay person, and lead a very good life (Give money to the poor, never cheat..etc) but still considered evil in Christianity. What logic are you talking about? I believe in a Deity (I'm a Deist), but I reject Christianity, and I consider myself a good person, but according to the biblical god, I'll burn in hell. And according to MY God, I won't. God is the same for all, no matter what you call Him/Her, and it's NOT your job to condemn society, so please reconsider you twisted logic before asking such a question.

Answer 8

All people, regardless of their beliefs should have rights. Who can prove the bible is true? Who knows God exists? Who has seen God? If the bible is true, Moses was the only lay-person to speak with God and get a reply. A bit far fetched in my opinion, but believe what you like, it is your right.

Answer 9

You shouldn't worry about what God should do or not do. He has everything under control. If Jesus was sent not to condemn nor to judge the world, than what gives us the right to do just that?

God gave each of us the gift of free choice to choose between good and evil. If God judged every sinner or punished every sinner, then none of us would be here, would we? But God gave us the great gift of Jesus to take away all of our sins, and carry out the punishment for us.

We just need to recognized that we are saved. So, instead of judging, maybe you can help God out by speaking about his love to the so-called "sinners" you are referring to, and help lead them to God.

Answer 10

If I were such a God, I think I would have made a better world to begin with. This world and its inhabitants are too fragile to be preserved indefinately.

If today, I were promoted to Godhood, I might just start over- or I may just sit back and watch for a while.

Answer 11

1 John 8:7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."