Spiritually speaking: What do you think of the death sentence?

Question

We know that "god" advocates death and destruction after life according to the fundies but what are the opinions of atheists and christians regarding the death penalty?

I'm quite curious

Answer 1

Spiritually not cool.

Answer 2

Its Very wrong ; nobody has the right to take another person life and it doesn't matter in which circumstance  

Answer 3

I'm against the death penalty.  For one, it's been proven that the death penalty has been carried out against innocent people (and if it happens even once, that's too many times in my opinion), and that it's disproportionately given to non-white defendants.  It also costs more to put someone to death than it does to give them life in prison.

But if that's not enough, think about this: once someone's dead, they're beyond punishment.  Life in prison is really more of a punishment than putting someone to death.  

Answer 4

If you murder or molest you definitely get the death penalty.  God is more than able to deal with a person's spirituality and show them their need for repentance and coming to Jesus before they die.  It hink that we are way too soft on these types of criminals.

Answer 5

<--- from Texas and not queasy at all to put a rabid dog down.  It ain't purty, it ain't fun, but it has to be done.  The sooner the better.

Answer 6

The death sentence is evil.

It destroys life when we are trying to say that life is sacred.

It destroys the lives of the people who are on the tie-down teams and those who must care for the condemned.

Answer 7

An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth.

Answer 8

From a Christian standpoint - like most topics, you can find Biblical support for either side if you look hard enough.

Shakespeare once wrote, "the Devil can cite scripture for his purpose."

That said, It is true that there are many Bible passages (especially in the OT) that support capital punishment, often for relatively mild offenses:

- Adultery (Leviticus 20:10)

- Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16)

- Breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14 & 15)

- Disobedient children (Exodus 21:15 & 17; Leviticus 20:9)

- Homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13)

- Not being a virgin on your wedding night (but only if you're a woman - Deuteronomy 22:13-22)

But the New Testament is primarily ANTI-death penalty. For example, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus praises mercy (Matthew 5:7) and rejects “an eye for an eye” (Matthew 5:38-39).  James 4:12 says that God is the only one who can take a life in the name of justice. Leviticus 19:18 warns against vengeance (which, really, is what the death penalty amounts to). In John 8:7, Jesus says, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

There are many, many practical problems with capital punishment (that I won't get into here), but purely from a moral standpoint, it is pretty clear that Jesus did not support it. True Christians shouldn't, either.

Answer 9

I think is wrong spiritually but if someone kills my sister, I wouldn't be mad if he/she gets the death penalty

Answer 10

Personally I am not an Atheist nor am I a Christian. If the death penalty were to be given to an individual then I would instead change it around for the victims family to do whatever they please to the accused. There are far more worse punishments than straight out death. Sometimes death can play the savior.  

Answer 11

Its a killer

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Answer 12

As a Christian i believe the bible teaches an eye for an eye - but what I see in the courts today is the rich get off and the poor pay for their crimes.  that isn't fair.

I guess in short - I do at a spiritual level believe in the death penalty if our court system were not so skewed.

Answer 13

Enforce it quickly and evenly across the board.

Answer 14

Spiritually speaking? If someone decides to make the decision they did, then they need to face the consequences of the area they committed it in.

In contrast though, how many innocent people do we sentence to prison/death?

That's why I think it's inhumane. Besides, life in prison is far worse than a quick death, in my opinion.

But then again, it costs about $27,000 a year to care for one inmate. Hmmm....I still have to think on this one.