h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why do so many supposed Christians today have a problem with the death penalty, a punishment ordained by God Himself when He gave the Law to Moses?

Why do they assume that God has shifted the goalposts, that what was once a central plank of the penal system is now viewed as some sort of throwback to primitivism. What would these soft-bellied liberals have to say if they had been around in Biblical times, when criminals were often stoned to death, impaled on a stick or burned alive? Would they have called Almighty God a savage and flung the Law back in His face? I suspect not, although one never knows what way those under the devil's control will act when confronted with TRUTH!

Almighty God says:

"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." (Gen 9:6)

The reason? To DEFEAT THE DEVIL and DRIVE EVIL OUT OF SOCIETY.

We must do the same!

God's will cannot be clearer on this matter. Criminals who are driven by the devil to take the life of a fellow man MUST BE EXECUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCRIPTURE.

Some say the death penalty went out the door at Calvary, but that is untrue (see I Cor 5).

ALL criminal justice systems should immediately instigate the death penalty for murder. I would also add attempted murder to that list, and treason too.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME. YESTERDAY. TODAY. FOREVER.

well I partly agree that the death penalty should be brought back for murder. I am utterly fed up of reading about murderers put away for 6 years and getting out in 3. I would hope that this country values human life more than that.
The death penalty should be brought back for cold-blooded murder. Self defense or insanity should be excused from this of course. Otherwise, people will get fed up with the law and take matters into their own hands, knowing that they will get off with a light punishment.

However, I disagree about attempted murder. A long prison sentence should only be given for that (say 15 or 20 years) as a life has not been taken so I don't think we should take their life.

But there is one thing. If they brought back the death penalty, it could not be like America were people sometimes sit for years on death row. That is just psychological torture and costs the tax-payer money. It should be done within a few weeks of sentencing.

However, I would be worried about innocent people getting executed. And I do prefer rehabilitation to punishment which is the opposite of the death penalty. It is a bit more complicated when you start thinking about it.

And Sam, if you have a minute could you lend your thoughts to my 'prayer to the Saints' message? I'd quite like to see what you think about those arguments.

I'd really like to see Sam and a group of friends stranded on a desert island, in a Lord-of-the-Flies type scenario. That would be cool.

I think I heard of this thing before, I think it was called a Commandment.........

Thou shalt not kill


Funny that....Or doesn't a death penalty count as killing cos I always thought it did, but then, I don't have Sam's wisdom.

ahh, but if were an advanced Hebrew scholar, you would know that the commandment actually sez "Thou shalt not murder". And if you read the original aramaic, it says "Thou shalt not murder, or attempted murder".

So "killing" is allowed, especially by the state as punishment for "murder". Right guys? Can I be born again now?


ps. If your next question is "why do I have to be an advanced Hebrew scholar to understand the bible, I thought the bible was for everyone?" don't ask me, that contradiction is best left to Good_News and GrandSam.

<>GN

There might be hope for you yet Good News! You could be Saved!

or you could just repent

Stefan Kisko.

SoRB.

>>Criminals who are driven by the devil to take the life of a fellow man MUST BE EXECUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCRIPTURE.<<

It's a good job you're never going to be elected to public office. Having said which, given John 8:7, who do you suggest act as executioner? Or are you ignoring that particular bit of scripture in preference of the parts that back up your bloodthirst?

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What are you sugesting here GN? People will get fed up with the law and commit cold-blooded murder if there is no death penalty?

I don't understand - There is no (legal) death penalty in the uk now, are people who are fed up with the law murdering people in cold blood? - is that what you mean? What people are you talking about?

Hi all

I have no problem with the death penalty for premeditated murder. I do have a problem with 'beyond reasonable doubt' though. If my life was on the line I would hope that the jury were beyond ALL doubt.

Unfortunately, even in our digital, DNA driven forensic age miscarriages of justice are still too prevalent for us to allow the death penalty to be reinstated.

Unfortunately if we allow evangelical christians to dictate the law we would not only have capital punishment for murder would we? Sharia law is pretty biblical and if you've observed states where it has been put into effect and led by religious men all sorts of innocents are regularly disfigured and killed for trifling crimes.

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\

<>Good News

Does this mean you need the threat of capital punishment over you?

Sam,

What about where Jesus talks about the 'eye for an eye' rule and then goes on to say 'But I tell you....turn the other cheek' (Matthew 5: 38-39)?

I thought this was often quoted as showing that he wasn't for the death penalty.

Personally, I agree with those who say the American system of making people wait is an extra cruelty (and should those meting out punishment be cruel? Doesn't that make them as bad as the wrongdoers?)but nailing my colours to the mast I would be against the death penalty full stop as we hear of so many miscarriages of justice.

The Chinese, I think it is, now have a system where they wait outside a court room with a special van and carry out executions minutes after sentence is passed. That makes me shudder.

Jules.

And 1 Cor 5 talks of chucking someone out of the Church fellowship, not killing them.

'What are you sugesting here GN?'

I am suggesting that people will get fed up with the law and take it into their own hands. For example, I have read about people getting put away for murder for 8 years and then getting out in 4 and sometimes even less than that. That is not an adequate punishment for murder and unless we start punishing people properly for murder, people (family for friends of the victim) will seek revenge by themselves. And that will lead to anarchy.

I disagree with the death sentences because they are no real deterrence especially in the cases of religion based murder where the killers want to be executed.

What I want is life to mean life, but only when the evidence is totally compelling.

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How old are you, GN, if you don't mind me asking.


az

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Didn't think I'd hear myself say this, GN, but well done.

Noggin

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