1. Do you believe that people will try to prove people's innocence as much if death is not a threat? Meaning if someone is not on death row, will outsiders be so adamant to prove their innocence? That's just a random thought, take it lightly.
2. Doesn't God give us the authority to deal with criminals in our own manner? What happened to if a man kills another man than by MAN'S law he shall be judged?
1. For a random thought, its a very good one. I think you have a very valid point. And honestly, you might be right. I just don't know how to answer that.
2. God does give us the authority to deal with criminals in our own manner. He says, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's," (Matthew 22:21), which clearly show's God's acknowledgement to the validity of the state. However, why should our immediate reaction be to kill? While I firmly believe that our criminal justice system is in major need of reform, I still feel that the impulse to kill is our own human nature looking for satisfaction in revenge. Realistically, killing another human being in retribution will not bring the lost one back. Nor does it set a good example, as the logic seems to imply that murder is wrong, yet we will punish by murder to justify the crime.
I guess I don't have a solution, which is poor on my part. But such a topic begs to be examined and reexamined in order to see the whole picture.
I absolutely agree, I don't know if the DP is right or wrong to be honest, but it should only be deemed right or wrong after intense scrutiny and contemplation. This is a very tough issue ESPECIALLY for Christians, who not now only have personal morals but the word of God to decipher.
Awesome topic! I love it when posts get me thinking :-)
The validity of the state? Actually the death penalty was commanded in the the mosaic laws(Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), and it was actually the responsibility of next of kin to carry out vengence of murder. Numbers 35:33 "Murder defiles the land, and except by the death of the murderer there is no way to perform the ritual of purification of the land where a man has been murdered." But its not only for murder, Death was prescribed for kidnapping, witchcraft, human sacrifice, blasphemy, disobedience to parents, and sexual sin(adultery, incest, rape, bestiality, homosexuality). All in the name of purging evil from the land.
That being said... I don't know. Jesus did, afterall, bring forgiveness. "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." How that extends to the punishment of criminals today... I guess when it comes to the 'DP' I am undecided.
Side note: Of course the DP costs more than a life sentence, considering people are on death row for how many years? Its like a life sentence AND Death! Well, sorta.
I've actually read stuff saying it costs more to put people to death than it would to give them a life sentence(60 years). I haven't seen any proof to back that up or anything, but it was something I had heard
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Comments 6
1. Do you believe that people will try to prove people's innocence as much if death is not a threat? Meaning if someone is not on death row, will outsiders be so adamant to prove their innocence? That's just a random thought, take it lightly.
2. Doesn't God give us the authority to deal with criminals in our own manner? What happened to if a man kills another man than by MAN'S law he shall be judged?
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2. God does give us the authority to deal with criminals in our own manner. He says, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's," (Matthew 22:21), which clearly show's God's acknowledgement to the validity of the state. However, why should our immediate reaction be to kill? While I firmly believe that our criminal justice system is in major need of reform, I still feel that the impulse to kill is our own human nature looking for satisfaction in revenge. Realistically, killing another human being in retribution will not bring the lost one back. Nor does it set a good example, as the logic seems to imply that murder is wrong, yet we will punish by murder to justify the crime.
I guess I don't have a solution, which is poor on my part. But such a topic begs to be examined and reexamined in order to see the whole picture.
Reply
Awesome topic! I love it when posts get me thinking :-)
Reply
Numbers 35:33 "Murder defiles the land, and except by the death of the murderer there is no way to perform the ritual of purification of the land where a man has been murdered." But its not only for murder, Death was prescribed for kidnapping, witchcraft, human sacrifice, blasphemy, disobedience to parents, and sexual sin(adultery, incest, rape, bestiality, homosexuality). All in the name of purging evil from the land.
That being said... I don't know. Jesus did, afterall, bring forgiveness. "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." How that extends to the punishment of criminals today... I guess when it comes to the 'DP' I am undecided.
Side note: Of course the DP costs more than a life sentence, considering people are on death row for how many years? Its like a life sentence AND Death! Well, sorta.
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Yeah, my argument wasn't as structured as I would have hoped, I was in a hurry.
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