If you were serving on a jury...and the person was accused of a heinous crime....and all the evidence pointed to their guilt, and their defense was "Satan made me do it..."
Would you let them off? Why or why not? Doesn't Satan make people do bad things???? Wouldn't their defense be a viable one??? Why or why not????
2007-08-16 20:59:05 · 16 answers · asked by Adam G 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Adam,
If Satan was responsible for every bad thing that people did- it would be unfair for God to judge people for their sins. Satan does provoke and tempt people to sin-- but ultimately people are responsible for their own actions.
As a Christian seving on a jury first their priority is always pleasing God- and pleasing God would involve being just and fair. If all the evidence pointed to someone being guilty of a heinous crime than they should convict that person. Most certainly God would not accept that person saying the devil made me do it- so why would a Christian accept that as a viable excuse.
i can't say that Christians are always perfect and make the right decision but in your hypothetical example- i think what the right thing to do is quite obvious- and i think that if a person could not do that- they shouldn't be qualified to serve on a jury.
Kindly,
Nickster
2007-08-16 22:07:20 · answer #1 · answered by Nickster 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assume they would also be using a defense of insanity...as well...
If the evidence points to their guilt that is all it would take for me..If you let them off because of their defense every person in the world would claim Satan made me do it...If someone said Jesus made me do it...well I would think the same thing. Evidence is evidence..if you are guilty you are guilty..I believe people need to be held accountable and stop passing the buck for their bad decisions..
2007-08-17 04:10:10 · answer #2 · answered by Nicole B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To me, it's not a viable defense, because it completely evades the factor of human responsibility. Satan doesn't "make" us do anything. Acts of evil are accomplished due to one's own will to engage in them. However, if I felt that the accused were clinically insane and could genuinely not discern right from wrong, and that they honestly believed that they were getting personalized instructions from the Prince of Darkness, then that might be a different matter.
2007-08-17 04:08:32 · answer #3 · answered by solarius 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Eve tried using that excuse. (Genesis 3:13) But there were consequences to pay just the same.
And why would we want to let them off? So Satan call tell them to do something again?
Satan doesn't "make" people do anything. He tempts us and then the decision is up to us.
2007-08-17 04:06:49 · answer #4 · answered by out of the grey 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Im not a God fearer, but id like to post a quote in response..."Religion is a byproduct of fear. For much of human history it may have been a necessary evil, but why was it more evil than necessary? Isn't killing people in the name of God a pretty good definition of insanity?" and another...."Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence." No offence intended to anyone out there.
2007-08-17 04:30:49 · answer #5 · answered by skinsect 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it wouldn't be a defense. Try still committed the act, they are responsible for it. Unless you could bring Satan to trial, it is no excuse.
2007-08-17 04:12:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Satan cannot make anyone do anything against their will, satan does have an influence over them and may have convinced them to do so, but he cannot make them do so, even in cases of demon possesion, it is done so because the individule invited it or left himself open for it to happen, all in all it is God who is in control, satan cannot do anything without God's permission, this is in the book of Job chapter 1
2007-08-17 04:07:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Satan Tempts. People Sin.
Jury convicts.
2007-08-17 04:02:04 · answer #8 · answered by SDW 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No. Because that is a lie. Satan doesn't make anyone do anything. The do it based on their own free will choice and must suffer the consequences of their choices.
2007-08-17 04:03:01 · answer #9 · answered by Who's got my back? 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No one makes anyone do anything. We all have choices. God could easily get rid of Satan, he MADE him. God has left Satan here for a reason, to tempt us, and challenge us. Satan doesn't make anyone do anything, we do it ourselves.
2007-08-17 04:02:47 · answer #10 · answered by Nicole 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋