The Death Sentance

[vidcc]

Here's my moral argument against the death penalty - Killing people is wrong.

I agree but change it to killing innocent people is wrong. As I said before I don't believe in the afterlife, that and as there is no god there is no judgment being made upon the murderer by him.
So given that (from my stance) if you take the one life the innocent person has then you don't deserve your one life.

Here's my Christian argument against the death penalty - Thou shalt not kill.

Which is why I respect that view on consistency, Jesus stopped an execution saying "let he who is without sin....." I just don't see how Christianity and the death penalty go together.
It's possible to go with the eye for an eye part if you are not Christian, but IMO Jesus was rebelling against the old testament slightly

[jokzor]

it doesn't matter how big a pile of junk you can be, you can always change, and people do change when they have the chance to do it

[Mr JP Fugley]

I agree but change it to killing innocent people is wrong. As I said before I don't believe in the afterlife, that and as there is no god there is no judgment being made upon the murderer by him.
So given that (from my stance) if you take the one life the innocent person has then you don't deserve your one life.

Here's my Christian argument against the death penalty - Thou shalt not kill.

Which is why I respect that view on consistency, Jesus stopped an execution saying "let he who is without sin....." I just don't see how Christianity and the death penalty go together.
It's possible to go with the eye for an eye part if you are not Christian, but IMO Jesus was rebelling against the old testament slightly

Re the Old Testament thing. Christians (at least Catholics) believe that He came from God to not only fulfill scripture but also to bring a new covenant from God. A new deal as it were, to replace the one we had broken earlier.

With regard to Scripture, the ten commandments (old) say Thou shalt not kill. The teachings of Jesus (new) are forgiveness and not taking lives, as you point out. So I agree, the death penalty is not consistant with Christian beliefs.

The "eye for an eye thing" is very much Old Testament and again not consistant with Christ's teachings that we should "turn the other cheek".

I have to say I find the concept of Christians who base their beliefs primarilly on the Old Testament to be a strange one. Why not base Christianity on what Christ taught. That seems like the way to me.

[j2k4]

Why not base Christianity on what Christ taught. That seems like the way to me.

I agree wholeheartedly; however, as a human I am less-than perfect, and harbor vengeful thoughts.

I couldn't bear to enter the afterlife with a totally clean slate, you see.

[Mr JP Fugley]

Why not base Christianity on what Christ taught. That seems like the way to me.

I agree wholeheartedly; however, as a human I am less-than perfect, and harbor vengeful thoughts.

I couldn't bear to enter the afterlife with a totally clean slate, you see.

That's cool, pas de problem. Believe what you believe and follow whatever system of morality you empathise with.

However please don't claim to be a Christian when your beliefs are fundamentally at odds with those of the person you profess to follow.

Christianity is not a fashion statement.

[j2k4]

I agree wholeheartedly; however, as a human I am less-than perfect, and harbor vengeful thoughts.

I couldn't bear to enter the afterlife with a totally clean slate, you see.

That's cool, pas de problem. Believe what you believe and follow whatever system of morality you empathise with.

However please don't claim to be a Christian when your beliefs are fundamentally at odds with those of the person you profess to follow.

Christianity is not a fashion statement.

Well, then.

Shall we see where that takes us.

[Mr JP Fugley]

It doesn't take us anywhere new.

Christ is quite clear on the concept of killing other people. It's really not open to debate. At least not from what I have read or been taught.

If you feel that you may be able to quote Him saying something, or teaching something, which supports capital punishment I would be more than happy to read it.

Seriously.