Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: jrossi@jato.jpl.nasa.gov (Joe Rossi) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Is There Biblical Justification For Capital Punishment? Message-ID: Date: 9 Feb 90 05:45:01 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Jet Propelled Lab - Pasadena CA Lines: 50 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu If I might, I'd like to pose a question to the author of this article. What were your feelings about capital punishment before you decided to research it in the Bible? You also may notice that Jesus fails to condemn slavery and abortion as well. In the situation with the prostitute Jesus says "Let he that is without sin cast the first stone." Now, it can be argued that Jesus only said this to avoid a trap posed by the Pharisee's however, I don't believe Jesus didn't also use the situation to make a philosopical point. I don't believe Jesus to be one to waste words, and see every reason to take this one at face value. One ought to be careful when one starts out a sentence..."Jesus didn't really meant that..." The problem is no one is equipped to sit in judgement. Vengeance alone is reserved for the Lord. The problem also is the heart of the one who does the executing, and condemning. The sin is in the heart of the one who demands justice, who calls for the execution. "I require mercy, not sacrifice" "He that lives by the sword will die by the sword" "Whatever you do to the least of me, you do to me" We all know that Paul before his conversion persecuted Christians. How do we know, in the case of a condemned killer, that God dosen't perhaps have plans to reach other inmates, and individuals, through this person. How can we say to God, "I have no room for compassion for this individual. I will willingly, as he moans, and protests, end his life. I can see no reason for this person to live, and for the sake of his victims, I will kill him." Compassion for the families of the victims? Sate their thirst for vengeance! Is this showing them compassion or helping them sin? I suppose we are filled with compassion for the little boy who was sodomized by Richard Rameriez ( aka the Night Stalker ). Let us speculate and wonder how we might feel about this boy if, as a result of this traumatic experience, he grows up to be a killer. Will we have compassion for him then? *my apologies to those who need scriptural references to my biblical quotes. -- -jrossi@jato.jpl.nasa.gov -ames!elroy!jato!jrossi R * U * 1 * 2 * ? U * 2 * R * 1 ! **********************STANDARD DISCLAIMER******************************