the religious and capital punishment

[nailit]

I would like to hear religious peoples attitude towards capital punishment.
State sanctioned execution is obviously a contentious and contraversial subject at the best of times but Im more interested in the religious aspect of it.
If you are religious, what crimes would warrent death? Are there 'crimes' that your holy books once sanctioned death for that are no longer applicable? Would society be better of if we (in the western world) followed your religious laws concerning capital punishment?
Thanks.
(obviously, thread open to non religious as well...)

[naomi24]

Holy books sanction the death penalty for many perceived transgressions - but it seems in some cases it no longer applies. I don't know who changed God's rules though. It wasn’t him – well at least he hasn't admitted to it – and I can’t get an answer from the religious among us, so good luck with your question.

[Zacs-Master]

Holy books? Is she a TV presenter?

[sandyRoe]

During the debate on the proposed abolition of the death penalty here in the UK the writer, Evelyn Waugh, made a very good point. "Few of us," he said, "are in the happy position of knowing the hour and date of our deaths. The condemned man is thus fortunate to have the opportunity to make his peace with God."
As we no longer live in a theocratic society laws, such as lapidation for people taken in adultery, no longer apply. It's not for me to say if that's a good or bad thing.

[jno]

the Old Testament demands the death sentence for quite a range of people, including adulterers and mediums, which would be bad luck for Sally Morgan and Ryan Giggs alike. But Christ rather short-circuited this by suggesting that the penalty should only be administered by those who were without sin themselves. He didn't actually change the rules, just suggested a very limited number of people were fit to impose them.

As far as I can see, the death penalty is demanded by a great many ABers in cases that get their dander up, but they're seldom overtly religious ones.

[Anlyn]

Am I alone in thinking that when you see posts from certain people regarding certain things, you cant be bothered to read it?
I mean Instantly turned off and don't want to know what that idiot has posted?

[FredPuli43]

The Old Testament is pretty robust on punishments ! But when was the last time Jews stoned a woman to death for adultery? St John's gospel has the story of 'the woman taken in adultery', which depends on that. Religions can be pragmatic, and reflect the times, so it seems that holy books can be 'reinterpreted' (or simply ignored !)..

[annadomino]

Oh yeah,
hang draw and quarter em all, then tie em up with their own entrails .. this is just for the 'religious ones' - no punishment is enough.

[sandyRoe]

Anlyn, in R&S I'm faced with a formidable phalanx of erudite freethinkers.
I'm trying to plant a tiny seed of doubt in their minds and so turn them onto the path to salvation.
Stirring solids is the last thing on my mind.

[naomi24]

Jno, nice thought, but it doesn’t work because it only applied to adulteresses, so he didn’t exactly short circuit the original law as you suggest. Where, for example, disobedient offspring are concerned, the law stands – unless, of course, someone else has changed it since then.

‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death'" (Matthew 15:4).

Evening Anlyn. :o)

[starone]

How about an eye for an eye, etc. and presumably a life for a life.

[RATTER15]

Anlyn >>>SandyRoe and jno are sh!t stirrers, they exist here simply to wind people up.Stupid.<<<

and of course you are such an angel to make such horrid remarks!!! and you think they are stupid, look in the mirror!!

[Anlyn]

Evening Naomi. :0)

[maggiebee]

You beat me to it Ratters! SandyRoe and jno are entitled to their opinions just as you are.

[Anlyn]

Ratter, I had thought better of you. No, I don't attribute any supernatural qualities to myself. As for 'horrid remarks' just take a look at the history these people have and you'll understand why I said what I said.

[sandyRoe]

I don't remember ever uttering a gratuitously horrid remark here in AB. Could you refresh my memory, Anlyn?

[Anlyn]

No I can not. I never said you were 'horrid'

[RATTER15]

Anlyn, I am well aware of what they say, thats just there opinion, they are entitled to it. I know I have upset a few people on here with my opinions, it happens but we dont need to be calling people insulting names because of it.

[Khandro]

A devout muslim friend told me that 'they' would, 'without doubt', have executed Josef Fritzl, pronto.

[Anlyn]

understood, but my opinion still stands.