YART: Simple question I've been pondering.

[Yax]

So for Christians: if I recall correctly, the bible says "thou shall not kill" and also something like "do onto others as you would have done onto yourself".

If this is true, I'm just wondering about how christians can justify the death penalty. I mean, can a christian be the one doing the injection or pulling the switch? Or how about being on the jury and recommending the death penalty, wouldn't that make you partially responsible for someone's death?

This crosses my mind everytime I'm called for Jury duty. I just wonder if I could be on a jury for a criminal case where the Death Penalty is a possibility.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

thou shalt not kill is a translation error that everybody knows about but nobody aknowledges (i can never spell that). hebrew really dosen't translate that well to anything else but its closer to thou shalt not murder.

 

[Yax]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
thou shalt not kill is a translation error that everybody knows about but nobody aknowledges (i can never spell that). hebrew really dosen't translate that well to anything else but its closer to thou shalt not murder.

So you're saying, if we execute someone, its not murder?

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Originally posted by: Yax

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
thou shalt not kill is a translation error that everybody knows about but nobody aknowledges (i can never spell that). hebrew really dosen't translate that well to anything else but its closer to thou shalt not murder.

So you're saying, if we execute someone, its not murder?

so they say but don't ask me, i'm not a christian and i don't talk to non-coprial beings.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Yax
So for Christians: if I recall correctly, the bible says "thou shall not kill" and also something like "do onto others as you would have done onto yourself".

If this is true, I'm just wondering about how christians can justify the death penalty. I mean, can a christian be the one doing the injection or pulling the switch? Or how about being on the jury and recommending the death penalty, wouldn't that make you partially responsible for someone's death?

This crosses my mind everytime I'm called for Jury duty. I just wonder if I could be on a jury for a criminal case where the Death Penalty is a possibility.

If he gets the death penalty he has most likely killed someone and he consequently gets treated like he treated others.

 

[meltdown75]

Cuz, we're the good guys. We just kill the bad guys so we still get into heaven.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
thou shalt not kill is a translation error that everybody knows about but nobody aknowledges (i can never spell that). hebrew really dosen't translate that well to anything else but its closer to thou shalt not murder.

Yeah, this same argument is used as to why it's okay to kill in self-defense or in wartime, etc.

 

[aplefka]

I kinda wonder about stuff like this a lot.

If you're a cop and you end up killing someone in a firefight, are you a bad person for it?

If you're in the military, and it's point blank with another man with his gun pointed at your head and you have the quicker trigger finger, gonna go to hell?

I dunno, I'd like to say it works itself out but one could never know that.

 

[Yax]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Yax
So for Christians: if I recall correctly, the bible says "thou shall not kill" and also something like "do onto others as you would have done onto yourself".

If this is true, I'm just wondering about how christians can justify the death penalty. I mean, can a christian be the one doing the injection or pulling the switch? Or how about being on the jury and recommending the death penalty, wouldn't that make you partially responsible for someone's death?

This crosses my mind everytime I'm called for Jury duty. I just wonder if I could be on a jury for a criminal case where the Death Penalty is a possibility.

If he gets the death penalty he has most likely killed someone and he consequently gets treated like he treated others.

The question is, what about the people who kills him and the jurors who recommended it? They're killing someone too, why isn't that a bad thing?

 

[StageLeft]

I have wondered that. I've not looked, but I've not heard a good argument from a christian on why the death penalty is ok by them.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I have wondered that. I've not looked, but I've not heard a good argument from a christian on why the death penalty is ok by them.

Maybe because they see them selves as the spokesmen of God?

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Yax

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Yax
So for Christians: if I recall correctly, the bible says "thou shall not kill" and also something like "do onto others as you would have done onto yourself".

If this is true, I'm just wondering about how christians can justify the death penalty. I mean, can a christian be the one doing the injection or pulling the switch? Or how about being on the jury and recommending the death penalty, wouldn't that make you partially responsible for someone's death?

This crosses my mind everytime I'm called for Jury duty. I just wonder if I could be on a jury for a criminal case where the Death Penalty is a possibility.

If he gets the death penalty he has most likely killed someone and he consequently gets treated like he treated others.

The question is, what about the people who kills him and the jurors who recommended it? They're killing someone too, why isn't that a bad thing?

Maybe because they consider themselves as spokesmens for God?

 

[DougK62]

I'm curious as well.

I hope this thread doesn't get trolled all over...

 

[Yax]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Yax

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Yax
So for Christians: if I recall correctly, the bible says "thou shall not kill" and also something like "do onto others as you would have done onto yourself".

If this is true, I'm just wondering about how christians can justify the death penalty. I mean, can a christian be the one doing the injection or pulling the switch? Or how about being on the jury and recommending the death penalty, wouldn't that make you partially responsible for someone's death?

This crosses my mind everytime I'm called for Jury duty. I just wonder if I could be on a jury for a criminal case where the Death Penalty is a possibility.

If he gets the death penalty he has most likely killed someone and he consequently gets treated like he treated others.

The question is, what about the people who kills him and the jurors who recommended it? They're killing someone too, why isn't that a bad thing?

Maybe because they consider themselves as spokesmens for God?

I wonder what the pope thinks of all this too.

 

[Mathlete]

Being a Catholic I wonder this too. I have the same problem witht the death penalty that I have with killing. If I were ever in the situation where someone had a gun to my head and said "You or Me", it would have to be me that died.

Do I think that people that sentence someone to die are bad?

That is not for me to judge. I will leave that to God.

And one small point. I hate it when people use "Do onto others..." to justify "An eye for an eye". You are supposed to treat everybody like you would want to be treated not as they treated others.

Edit: spelling

 

[Forsythe]

Where's all the annoying christians when you need them...

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Mathlete
Being a Catholic I wonder this too. I have the same problem witht the death penalty that I have with killing. If I were ever in the situation where someone had a gun to my head and said "You or Me", it would have to be me that died.

Do I think that people that sentence someone to die are bad?

That is not for me to judge. I will leave that to God.

And one small point. I hate it when people use "Do onto others..." to justify "An eye for an eye". You are supposed to treat everybody like you would want to be treated not as they treated others.

Edit: spelling

That's why I answered like I did.

 

[Yax]

Originally posted by: Mathlete
Being a Catholic I wonder this too. I have the same problem witht the death penalty that I have with killing. If I were ever in the situation where someone had a gun to my head and said "You or Me", it would have to be me that died.

Do I think that people that sentence someone to die are bad?

That is not for me to judge. I will leave that to God.

And one small point. I hate it when people use "Do onto others..." to justify "An eye for an eye". You are supposed to treat everybody like you would want to be treated not as they treated others.

Edit: spelling

You're right, I wouldn't be the one to judge someone who sentences someone else to die, but I asked the question mainly because I feel the same way you do. I don't think I can recommend the death penalty for anyone.

 

[NyteCrawler]

The way I always think of it is if someone raped and murdered my mother and sisters, could I live with myself knowing that they are living in a jail cell being fed and clothed by my tax money for the rest of their life? I couldn't live with that. God doesn't want people to kill others, but He does want us to defend ourselves from those that do wish to do us harm. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone that threatened me or someone I care about.

 

[ElFenix]

interesting that someone gave an explanation but this thread continues on and the explanation is ignored.

 

[jdini76]

here we go...

 

[KoolAidKid]

Originally posted by: NyteCrawler
The way I always think of it is if someone raped and murdered my mother and sisters, could I live with myself knowing that they are living in a jail cell being fed and clothed by my tax money for the rest of their life? I couldn't live with that. God doesn't want people to kill others, but He does want us to defend ourselves from those that do wish to do us harm. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone that threatened me or someone I care about.

What part of thou shalt not kill do you not understand?

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

*backs out of thread very slowly before Nebor or MichaelD get here*

 

[Hammer]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
interesting that someone gave an explanation but this thread continues on and the explanation is ignored.

interesting, but also annoying.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
interesting that someone gave an explanation but this thread continues on and the explanation is ignored.

Of the countless translations of the Bible, only the KJV translates Exodus 20:13 as "Thou shalt not kill". All other translations say something to the effect of "You shall not murder", but the exact Hebrew word in the original text includes the English language concepts of manslaughter and wrongful death.

Under the ancient Mosiac Law of the Hebrews (and if we're talking about the 10 Commandments, then we're talking about Mosaic Law), capital punishment was not only accepted, but required.
Deuteronomy 19:19-21 (NIV) says "19 Then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."

But in Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus says "38 ?You have heard that it was said, ?Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.? 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

IMO this is the key point where Christianity separates itself from Judaism. However, fundamentalists are their own brand of Christianity. It is worth noting that most sects of Christianity, particularly Catholicism (the largest and oldest Christian church on earth), are opposed to the death penalty.