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Compare Christian And Islamic Views On Capital Punishment

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A Deserved Death? : A Christian and Islamic Perspective on Capital Punishment

The position of various religions of the world concerning the issue of capital punishment has varied through the centuries. Christianity and Islam have taken positions that are not completely contradictory to one another. The presumption in Christian doctrine appears to be that while capital punishment is not rightly condemned, it is not wholeheartedly endorsed either. The Roman Catholic Church is the one segment of the Christian world that seems to come out most forcefully against capital punishment. Ultimately, the Christian world advocates the death penalty when it is called for, and the teachings of Islam largely do not contradict this view. In fact, the Christian and Islamic philosophies of capital punishment are very much the same. The Islamic world follows the written Sharia, which has existed since the seventh century A.D. From an examination of the Koranic texts, it can be concluded that Islam as a whole allows for the execution of offenders, particularly murderers, traitors and adulterers. While an advocacy for mercy and …show more content…

The Law of Moses, the concept of retaliation for a wrong done, was not challenged. How should a Christian view the death penalty? When people study the nature of God they might see that He Himself has instituted capital punishment in His holy word. God holds the highest standard. He balances justice with mercy, but the Bible speaks on occasion of His wrath and of the rightness of retribution. Therefore, there is a biblical authority for capital punishment. In Protestant Christianity, Martin Luther wrote that “the hand that wields the sword is no longer man’s hand but God’s” (Oussani 65). This quote seems to indicate that the death penalty is divinely ordained and that the punishments that human society deal out are actually in some way a reflection

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Summary of “Death and Justice” by, Ed Koch In “Death and Justice” Koch explains some of the reasons why people are against the death penalty, but also why he is for the death penalty. Some people are against the Death penalty because no other democracy uses the death penalty, or the wrong person could be convicted and get executed. Religious people take a firm stand against the death people because the bible states that thou shalt not kill. The death penalty needs to be available to punish murders for their heinous crimes.

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1147 Words | 5 Pages

I believe that under this ethical system, one could argue both ways on whether the death penalty is morally permissible. On one hand, we have the rule to treat others as you want to be treated, and other bible passages such as Exodus 21:23-25 which could be use to support the death penalty. While others could argue that interpretations could be wrong. What if it is not our job to carry out this penalty, and it is God’s job to do the judging and penalizing. Since we must choose, I believe most people would argue against the death penalty under Religious Ethics.

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1653 Words | 7 Pages

People disagree on many aspects of the death penalty for several different reasons like moral and religious differences. When considering capital punishment, people’s opinions

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607 Words | 3 Pages

Capital punishment is both a moral and a fiscal issue. When it comes to issues of morality, it is wise to look to our religious leaders. “When the death penalty is applied, it is not for a current act of aggression, but rather for an act committed in the past,” Pope Francis

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585 Words | 3 Pages

The death penalty is an issue with heavy moral and legal ramifications, and is often debated by everyone from the professionals to the scholar. Globally, the death penalty carries certain connotations, and within the United States, many states have chased to outlaw it. What follows is a brief examination of each perspective on this divisive issue. The organization of Oregonians for Alternatives to Oppose the Death Penalty is highly credible due to the sources of their facts, all the way straight from the courthouse to the bible, there isn’t one opinionated statistic in this article.

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1004 Words | 5 Pages

From the beginning of the foundation of America, men have tried to figure out the correct way to deal with law-opposing criminals. From crucifixion and slavery, to death by firing squad and life sentences, the world has utilized different forms of discipline. The death penalty has formed into the most questionable form of punishment, drawing the most attention from the public eye. This sanction is used to punish criminals for committing the most heinous crimes and offenses. The crimes that obtain the death penalty mostly consist of murder which include murder during a kidnapping, murder for hire, drug-related drive by shooting, and genocide.

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1274 Words | 6 Pages

If you are for or against the death penalty, the question is Do you believe a human being should be killed for one’s actions? Who deserves the Death Penalty? Many people will argue about this topic but in fact based on the law the people who get sent to the death penalty are cold blooded murders. The citizens that are in favor of this believe in the code of hammurabi which is “an eye for an eye”.

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870 Words | 4 Pages

Kushiya: Would the Jewish tradition approve or disapprove of the way the death penalty works in contemporary America? Citation: Genesis 9:6 Pshat: If someone commits murder, they will be put to death since humans are made in God’s image.

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900 Words | 4 Pages

The Assault on a Biblical Text” By Wilma A. Bailey it mentions that for many centuries there was an attempt to understand the true meaning of the commandment “do not kill” on the topic of the death penalty. Barry Cytron gives three points that are used in Judaism to support the death penalty. The first example Cytron brings in is that “moral order demands it” (death penalty). The second example Cytron brings in is the “life for a life” statement and the third example Cytron brings in is that it restores balance (“You Shall Not Kill or You Shall Not Murder? The Assault on a Biblical Text”, Wilma A.

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816 Words | 4 Pages

Having gone to Catholic school my whole life(kindergarten through high school) capital punishment has been a popular key discussions. Not only is this issue just coming up in religious organizations, but it seems to me that almost every time someone is sentenced to death, the news channels bring up the debate as to whether it is right or wrong. I plan to discuss a utilitarianism approach/thinking on this issue.

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1082 Words | 5 Pages

Those who support the death penalty believe, or claim to believe, that capital punishment is morally and honorably acceptable. The gist of their evidence comes from the Old Testament which actually recommends the use of capital punishment for a number of crimes. Others also quote the Sixth Commandment which, in the King James Version reads, "Thou shalt not kill." However, these literal understandings of certain passages from the Bible which are often quoted out of context corrupt the sympathetic attitude of Christianity (The Holy Bible: King James Version). In the early days of capital punishment, executions, were painful, humiliating, and public, may create a sense of horror that would prevent others from being tempted to commit similar crimes.

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1040 Words | 5 Pages

One cannot talk about the ethics in the death penalty without mentioning the religious undertone. There is an ethical issue regarding the death penalty. Religion seems to play an important part in ethics, but religion often has a mixed message. In the bible, there is an irony that can be found, God threatens any potential executioner who was to kill Cane, with punishment sevenfold and also instructs Moses to kill sinners. (Kania, 1999).

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3278 Words | 14 Pages

Leviticus outlines the rules that God required the Israelites to follow. God tells his people, “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death” (Leviticus, 24:17, ESV). This clearly outlines to God does not accept murder or killing in any way. There is no valid excuse to take another life, and God makes it abundantly clear that permanently ending a life is unacceptable and deserves death. God also touches on the punishment of the innocent.

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594 Words | 3 Pages

The Death Penalty and Christian Ethics The death penalty is not one of those topics that is frequently brought up or thought about through the course of daily life for me, as I would assume for anyone not being sentenced to it. Even though it may not be thought about for the average individual, the ethics behind it are still in question especially concerning the correct use of it in the American legal system. The legal system is not perfect, and many flaws end up condemning individuals to long sentences. Because of this the death penalty can be even more controversial – even more so when an innocent man or woman is sentenced to death.

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1409 Words | 6 Pages

Like Buskie, Critical feminist are hesitant to agree with liberal feminists because they believe their methods are too neutral. Furthermore, critical feminists argue that the liberal feminists vision of power relies too heavily on the notion that social goods can be contributed without a fundamental change to society. Critical feminists argue that vision would not work because there needs to be a fundamental change. Often times, critical feminists are associated with Marxist theories and are labeled as Marxist feminists. Buskie delivers an example of what critical feminists want by stating that "Marxist feminists seek to transform the oppressive socioeconomic structures of capitalist society."

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