If you're in favor of the death penalty how does it square with you're religion?

Question

I'm not trying to put anyone down, I'm just curious, and hope at least a few of the conservative Christians on here can give me a straight answer. Once of the ten commandments is you can't kill, and Jesus said love the sinner hate the sin. How does this square with those of you who are pro death penalty and Christian? It doesn't say it's ok to kill sometime, or under certain circumstances so how is it ok? (I'm liberal and anti-abortion so you all can leave that one alone) I really would like to know the answer to this one so please some one give a serious answer.

Another good point I didn't even think of, when the bible contradicts itself what do you do. Though I'm no bible scholar isn't eye for an eye tooth for a tooth in the old testament? Didn't Jesus say he was wiping away the old and bringing the new? Thats why christians don't sacrifice animals like it says in the bible, right?

Answer 1

The word translated 'kill' in the commandments is more accurately translated 'murder'. There are crimes for which Biblical law requires the death penalty. Therefore, I support the death penalty as such. That is not the same as agreeing on the subject of what crimes should be subject to the death penalty or how executions are performed. Those are discussions that will not fit in this answer.

To those that mention "Turn the other cheek", that statement was given to INDIVIDUALS. Romans 13:4, states that GOVERNMENT "beareth not the sword in vain. For it is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.
Personal forgiveness does not mean lack of legal punishment.

Answer 2

To be sincere, what used to be written within the bible is mans interpretation of what they feel God has stated or might desire. I individually feel the loss of life penaly is mistaken nonetheless, we're handiest human and I feel that if anybody murders an additional, they must pay in step with their crime; e.g: loss of life. By a central authority or person murdering a assassin, to be able to talk, I don't believe it'll absolve an members sin, I feel that what it'll imply is that extra men and women might be wondered approximately their worthiness for getting into the dominion of heaven. Just seem at Moses as an instance..., he used to be denied seeing that of commiting homicide in spite of the entire well he had performed. It's a tough one, I believe there are absolutely occasions in which each and every person believes they would kill an additional and generally with very well explanations however eventually, I feel that the one truly being who has the proper to decid who lives and who dies, is the being who created lifestyles within the first situation..., GOD.

Answer 3

First, it is important to understand that religion and faith ARE NOT synomous. The word religious or religion simply means an act that is repeated consistantly over time. On the other hand, your FAITH is a philosophy or standard that you belive it. Therefore, I PRACTICE my FAITH religiously. I am religiously faithful, etc.

There is a BIG difference between murder and the death penalty. Death has always been a form of punishment in scripture. The introduction of MANY of our laws are from the laws given to the Israelites in the Old Testement. If you look at the Hebrew word for murder as it is used in the OT, it means WITH malice and WITHOUT cause. When the Word says, "put to death" the word death translates just cause.

Answer 4

The Bible says "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot"...it is the idea of the punishment fitting the crime AND to act as a deterrent.

If people feel that they can kill people and get away with it, then what is there to stop them? I believe that people who kill are afraid to die...and what could be worse than knowing you're going to die and just waiting for it to happen. I would think that knowledge would prevent people from killing...instead most try to kill, but do it so that they won't be caught.

We complain about small crimes and "slaps on the wrist", but people don't seem to care about the slap on the wrist for killing someone...that doesn't make sense to me.

I personally think people should die in the same exact manner in which they killed someone...if they shot someone, then they should be shot, if they used a knife, the same, if tortured and killed, again the same. You should be willing to take what you dish out.

Answer 5

This is why so many issues get complicated because of the moralistic values I may have vs yours. If we rely on the bible to contradict these issues it just opens up more debate. For example Thou shalt not kill vs and eye for an eye. Another could be Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord vs He that killeth with the sword shall die by the sword.
I personally believe in capital punishment. I think Thou shalt not kill means you shouldn't be a murderer or else suffer the consequences either now or later. The ten commandments were given to us as a guide in how to live and conduct ourselves in a christian civil way. Not to be taken that literally. If it were that literal we would not be able to say kill animals but we do it to eat etc...

Answer 6

Well my religion isn't necessarily Christian.though that is how I was brought up. Now Jesus may have said turn the other cheek, but if someone murdered one of my children I certainly wouldn't offer him the other one to have a go at.
Where a criminal cannot be rehabilitated is it more loving to keep the person incarcerated for life at great expense to the rest of the community or to allow them a quick painless death so they cannot be a threat to anyone else? Ask Ian Brady.

Answer 7

I believe that if the sin that the person has done involves killing someone then they become the sin and deserve to be treated as a sin and should be punished...

Answer 8

I'm not christian. I am pro death penalty. It suits my religions just fine. :)

Answer 9

Doesn't it say "An eye for an eye"?
Take a life, give a life.