Christians, why do so many of you believe in the death penalty?

Question

Ask an atheist, and they don't believe in the death penalty. Ask a christian, and a large % of them do believe in the death penalty, even though the Bible says 'Thou Shalt Not Kill.'

But even more than that--Christians believe in repentance. They believe that one can be forgiven for his sins if he repents to God and asks for forgiveness. Yet if you execute a man or woman before he lives out his full life, then:

1. You may be denying the prisoner the time he needs in order to repent. Thus you are condemning him to h**l when, had you let him live out his full life, he might have 'seen the light,' and repented, and have gone to heaven instead of h**l. That doesn't seem very Christian of you Christians.

2. You have interfered with God's plans for this man by taking his life and death in your own hands. Ie., you have taken over God's role as a giver and taker of life--you've brushed God aside because you want this man dead before his time. Who are you to play God?

The US is the only westernized nation that still has it (and Christianity is still the dominant religion in the US). So why is it you Christians, of all people, that are so gung ho about the death penalty, given that it conflicts with Christianity's beliefs in forgiveness, compassion, redemption, loving the sinner, etc? It's hypocritical--how can you say otherwise?

Please no bible quotes as answers, because Christianity has to be rooted in more than just words in a book--it has to be rooted in principles of right and wrong. If you do things only because a book says you should do them, that's not a valid reason. Also, I never see Christians in their back yards sacrificing turtle doves to God--something the bible dictates that you must do (Leviticus). But you don't.

Answer 1

Deal or no deal?  I will give up my support of execution for psycho convicted mass murderers if you will give up your support for executing "the least of these" (including the unborn).  Deal or no deal. Hope this 'deal' is not above your pay grade.  If it is ask yourself, why do people call condoms birth control.  It is not rocket science.

This is rooted in principles of right and wrong.  Some evil is so evil as to deserve physical death, and the state is authorized by God to mete out that penalty.  Which is more cruel and unusual, keeping a man in a small cell all his life or just giving him a painless shot.  The death penalty is neither cruel nor unusual, it is much more humane than life in prison.  

You ask answerers not to quote the Bible, is that why you mischaracterize the Bible.  Did you ever have a literature class.  Ever hear of context.  And then the name calling.  Your preaching is more passionate and less well founded than the worst pastor I have ever heard.  

Answer 2

No Bible Quotes ??!! Then Withdraw the question, You asked a question TO Christians, But Deny them the Ability to answer it manuvering it in such a way as to Bias the question so that it cannot answered, That is so stupid.

Ok Then You said "it has to be rooted in principles of right and wrong."

Ok, If God does not exist, then what is right and what is wrong ? if it is a matter of Opinion, who's ? If it is decided on Society How ?

Take both questions all the way back to the beginning of recored human History and answer, Ohh and to do to you what you have done, You cannot use any source of any kind anywere any place in any way shape or form in the Universe, and if you cannot provide an answer ? YThe I win you lose get over it an accept it.

Answer 3

Give the life penalty.

Let them Live with it.

Answer 4

i don't believe in it  

Answer 5

I am an atheist, and I do believe in the death penalty.

Edit: In response to Louie:

I'm no more comfortable with an innocent person sitting in prison for his entire life than an innocent person being executed unjustly.  The problem with innocent people being wrongfully convicted of crimes lies in the justice system itself, not in the form of punishment.

Additionally, I don't see the death penalty as a deterrent.  I support it because it is a cost-effective method of disposing of members of society who hold no productive value, and worse yet pose a serious risk to other citizens who are productive.  When an individual commits a certain heinous act, or evidences no possibility of rehabilitation, I see no problem with society killing that person instead of keeping them alive, but incarcerated, indefinitely.

Answer 6

I'm an atheist and I DO believe in the death penalty. And believe it or not, I'm not the only one.

Answer 7

A lot of Christians are hypocrites.

A few of them are not.  

Answer 8

I don't have a religion and I believe in it.

If they are mass-murders and have 100 offenses, get rid of them.

Answer 9

There are two major problems with the death penalty. First, and most troubling is the possibility of executing an innocent person. The Innocence Project has sprung more than 200 people based on incontrovertible DNA evidence. That tells all of us that a lot of people are convicted of crimes they didn't commit. Second, and perhaps equally troubling is the idea that the death penalty is a deterrent to capital crimes. Problem is, there are no statistics that prove, at any level of confidence, that the death penalty really is a deterrent. Better, IMO, to house people convicted of capital crimes and not take the chance of the state killing an innocent person in my name.

Answer 10

Interesting you reference Leviticus which is a record of the Levitical law God gave to Moses.  It's also interesting to note that God Himself instituted capital punishment (Genesis 9:6) BEFORE  He gave the law to Moses, so capital punishment was not part of the OT law many people like to refer to.

Also, the Romans in Jesus' time certainly enforced capital punishment or Jesus would have never been crucified and Jesus Himself taught to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's (i.e., taxes, the right to carry out capital punishment, etc.).  Jesus' sermon on the mount was directed at Christians not usurping the authority of the governemnt by going out and killing someone just becaus e they desrerved it (revenge, vengeance, etc.) Rather, He taught that Christians should yield to the authority of the government in matters of capital punishment, et al.  No where does Jesus , the OT, or the NT teach that capital punishment is wrong.