Christians and the death penalty?

Question

If you are pro-death penalty, do you have proof that it deters crime? Compared to other nations like Canada, even when adjusted to population, they have 1/10 the murder rate as the US. How do Americans justify this governement sanctioned killing? Christians, didn't your god say thou shalt not kill/murder (depending on which bible you happen to read)?
Yes this does belong in R&S considering the number of chistians that make up the US.

wristshot- has Charles Manson?

Answer 1

Yes their God did say that, but those who are pro death penalty, pro war and pro hunting find loopholes to justify their beliefs.

I am against the death penalty and I don't need a commandment to tell me killing is wrong.

Answer 2

No one has statistics that either prove or deny that the death penalty deters crime. The only absolute is that it has a 100% success rate at preventing that person from committing another violent crime, or any crime for that matter.

I am not pro-death penalty, I only see that there are no other viable alternatives that can guarantee that the offender will never kill again. As long as these offenders breathe there is the possibility that they will kill again, even if it is another prisoner or a prison guard. Execution is the only guarantee.

Until there is another proven alternative that can have that level of guarantee then we are forced to accept the death penalty in order to save lives.

There are many faults with the system and how the death penalty is applied, those have to be fixed. But few people ever give the same regard to the victims of the criminals that they do the criminals.

The violent offenders are give a more humane death than they gave their victim(s) and yet the receive a death that is more humane than my veterinarian gave to my dogs when the time came.

The formula is simple. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. In this case the many need absolute guarantees that these murderous humans will never commit another violent crime again.

Having said that - The real question for the Pro-Life religious right is how can they be anti-abortion only if they are "Pro-Life".

How come they are Pro-Death penalty (In many cases) or how come they want a ban on stem cell research yet are Pro-IVF which destroys tens of thousands of viable embryo's each year by throwing them out with the trash? Why can't the embryo's that would be in the trash cannot be used for research?

How come the same Pro-Life Religious Right activist are also often the same Pro-War supporters?

How can they be Pro-Life because of their religious values yet be Pro-Death at the same time?

Answer 3

The death penalty and in fact all other forms of punishment, are JUST that punishment. They are not designed to deter crime.

You did what you did and then got what you got.

If it deters crime that is a side benefit, not the reason people are punished.

Deterring crime is a liberal "thought" up idea that has little to do with the justice system.

Btw, People are put in prison for all of the rest of their lives and THAT is not cruel and unusual? Death penalty or all of their life in prison, isn't both taking their life away?

Also, btw, Charles Manson was sentenced to death but was saved by the supreme court ruling that banned the death penalty, after it was re-instated he could not have it changed back. Charles Manson has been in prison for about 40 years and will never get out.

Answer 4

Look at the Old Testament and the multiple crimes God provided the death penalty for. Not including the times He struck dead those who disobeyed. This even continued in the New Testament when Ananias and Sapphira lied about the money. Have you seen the back of Ann Coulter's new book? It has a funny quote about this. It basically says if the death penalty does not deter crime then why is she not in jail and Michael Moore is still alive.

Answer 5

i'm for the dying penalty. Their lives at the instant are not prepared with reference to the help of sinners. Their lives are prepared with reference to the help of an unconsious government and in the previous reported litigation. enable me clarify, government basically is an unthinking gadget responding to crimes with the help of the letter of the regulation. there is not any judgment that has to take place as far because of the fact the character is going. in case you kill somebody in a definite way or do another heinous crime, you will get the dying penalty. Criminals have the prospect to understand the outcomes in basic terms before their crime, yet do it besides. that's different than the stoning that happened with the help of the sinful Jews.

Answer 6

Has Ted Bundy killed again? What about John Wayne Gacy?
I think not.
It sure worked for those 2 and countless others.
Would the world be a better place if they were still alive and another 45 million babies were killed in abortion clinics?
You are a hypocrite.
First of all he tricked others into killing.
He just continues to waste my tax money on food housing and entertainment.
Would you care to foot the bill for all the murders and rapist in prison yourself?
How about supporting the families who lost bread winners from the criminals you defend? How rich are you? You have more compassion for murders than their victims and families.
Also I never saw a response from your other question about death penalty.
Do you think abortion doctors should just get life in prison instead of the death penalty?

Answer 7

Well I said before that I'm more against it than for it, but to argue the pro side I would say that the death penalty is never meant to be a deterrent. It is punishment for taking a life.

As for me, I think it would a mighty test from the Lord if I were given the opportunity to either forgive or condemn a person who had, for example, murdered one of my loved ones. What a glorious testament to the mercy of God were I able to forgive that person in my heart rather than "want to flip the switch" on them.

EDIT -
Psst...bad example gwen, Charles Manson never actually killed anyone, he just convinced others to murder for him.

Now here's my example for all of you - Son of Sam. Serial killer, in jail for life. Now a saved and honest Christian whose prison ministry has brought many men to the Lord.

Answer 8

The commandment "Thou shalt not kill" does NOT pertain to the death penalty. It pertains to senseless murder - killing a person for whatever reason: jealousy, robbery, greed, envy, money, etc. The death penalty is a punishment that God ordained as the ultimate punishment for taking a life - murder. It is NOT government-sanctioned killing, but a law that God ordained for man to carry out - capital punishment for murder. If someone kills another person for whatever reason, they are to pay for taking that life with their own life.

It is not to deter crime, but to punish a particular crime: murder.

Genesis 9:6 - Whoso sheddeith man's blood, byman shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Anyone who claims to be a Christian, but is against the death penalty, is against God's law. If anyone claims to be Christian, yet disagrees with the death penalty, then they disagree with God - and God is perfect, sinless and holy - He cannot make mistakes! If a person claims to be Christian, yet is against the death penalty, then the person is against God and His law. We must remember that God's law is perfect; God is a righteous and Just God - He cannot do wrong, which means all His laws and judgments are right!

Answer 9

The old testament calls for an eye for an eye. It's not about deterring crime. it's for punishment. We are to abide by the laws of the land, and if it's capital murder, and the punishment is death, then so be it. Don't do it in the first place and you won't have to worry.

Answer 10

The God Yahweh's recommendation of the death penalty to be used by humans is all the proof I need that it will work to keep violent crime in check in our societies.