2007-11-14 15:39:15 · 13 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe, of your three posts, you will find the most "civilized" & humane answers here.
The death penalty is premeditated murder; the person/s who pull the switch or give the lethal injection are murderers.
The death penalty is NOT a deterent; fair representation is not equitable; cost to taxpayers to maintain a life in prison is less than appeals; through DNA innocent person's who have lost much of their lives have been released; vengance & blood lust are high motivators for the death penalty--not to seek justice. Families of victims have "forgiven" & rejected death penalties. Statistics of incidents where the condemned, (guility or not), have commited crimes on release (in other answers) are insufficient.
A simple analogy is this: My son killed his sister by splitting her head. I will "show" him how wrong this is by splitting his. I willl MURDER him.
There have been many poignant & true examples of rehabilitation in prison, (especially those who commited a crime under the influence of drugs), but their sentence was not commuted by--Texas, the far worst under GWB.
The US remains the perpetrator of premediated murder among all civilized countries. What does this say?
I am not a Buddhist. I do not believe in capital punishment.
2007-11-14 19:19:59 · answer #1 · answered by Valac Gypsy 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism DoesTeach Respect for all Sentient Beings
A Sentient Being is any Being that can perceive
At the time of writing this is every life form on the Planet apart from a plant [A plant doesn't have a mind obviously ]
We believe as we have been taking rebirth since beginningless time and each and every Being has at some time has been our Mother
One of the five Grave Offenses is to Kill ones Mother
We also believe every Sentient Being has Buddha Nature This potential to become Buddha's Themselves in some future time
Another Grave Offense is to kill a Buddha
Yes there is our First Precept Not to Kill
I hope You would agree Using the above advice a Buddhist could come to the conclusion
To deliberately take a life is an unwholesome act
May This Help
2007-11-15 13:50:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Check out www.religioustolerance.org for the positions on the death penalty of many of the world's great religions.
Scroll down to hot topics and then click on death penalty.
However, Buddhism does not seem to have a single perspective on the capital punishment. For an explanation, take a look at a BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/buddhistethics/capitalpunishment.shtml
2007-11-15 09:15:00 · answer #3 · answered by Susan S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First Buddhist Precept
I undertake to observe the Precept to Refrain from Killing
The answer to your question should be self explanatory I would believe
2007-11-14 23:50:03 · answer #4 · answered by Human Being Human 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
It is murder and against Buddhist practice.
We believe one's thoughts, deeds and spoken words cause an effect that will come back to them.
2007-11-14 23:51:33 · answer #5 · answered by Peace Yo 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
regarding the buddhist position, it is not their duty to punish the evildoers.
2007-11-14 23:49:59 · answer #6 · answered by shadower 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
As far as capital punishment no. Killing is permitted to preserve your own life (true self defense.)
2007-11-15 02:14:08 · answer #7 · answered by LibraryTech 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Negative.
Karma will repay you. If a person kills another person (such as the person giving the injection) then karma will be returned.
2007-11-14 23:43:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Well, under right behaviour it says that we aren't allowed to kill, so it's out of the question...
2007-11-14 23:52:06 · answer #9 · answered by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
There is no value in destroying any life.
2007-11-15 00:00:33 · answer #10 · answered by Desert Lotus 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋