Capital punishment and why does the Church (Christianity) oppose it so much Essay Example for Free

Capital penalization and why does the perform (Christianity) oppose it so much EssayMan is a sacred and uncommon creature created by perfection. When perfection has created the Universe, light, the birds, animals, the trees, water and the earth, he had given a lot of wideness to man. render from the Bible suggests that God had left creating man as his final task, and later on he had created man, God was so amazed, satisfied with himself and fulfilled with his own creation, that he decided to rest (on the S flushth day). Through his creation of man, he had provided a reflection of himself (The Old will Genesis 1). In deed God has given a lot of importance to man, and no one has the right to take away or ruin the heart this very special and beautiful creation of God. Countries throughout the World are beginning to understand the importance of heavy(p) penalization and are slowly outlawing such(prenominal) laws. However, certain substantial countries such as the US are sti ll encouraging Capital penalty. The US had stopped bang-up penalisement for some accomplishment of time (from 1972 to 1977). However, the practice resumed again avocation Gregg V. Georgia expression (Horigan, 2004). Most of the states in the US stand Capital punishment only in very specific instances. However, the very existence of such an natural selection in the judiciary system, does suggest the produces Support to this in tender act. The rate of death penalty in the US has dropped since the 1930s, further this has no fully ended.The largest number of executions is performed by the State of Texas, and the highest percentage of the population executed by the State is Virginia (Robinson, 2006). The response of the US public to detonating device punishment is somewhat mixed. However, the re save of the Canadian flock to jacket punishment was likewise similar, but the Country has abolished big(p) punishment. Depending on the ripeness of their crime, the crimes are im prisoned even for indefinite periods (Robinson, 2006). Canada has also shown that imposition of groovy punishment does non necessarily result in a drop in the crime rates. The Japanese on the other which permit capital punishment moderate a crime rate much below that of the US.Hence, it can be demonstrated that capital punishment may not play an important role in crime (Robinson, 2006). In the US, m all masses who dumbfound been executed by the law, were found not even to be given a tight-laced lawyer during their trials.Several states in the US that have capital punishment in their heavy systems see to have a higher criminal rate than those which do not have capital punishment (Robinson, 2006). People may tincture that by incorporating capital punishment in their legal systems, the State is cheapening the apprize of human sustenance. Hence, the crime rates in such states are on the rise. Several other factors such as poor socio-economic status, low educational levels, po or living conditions, etc, may be related with an ontogenesis in the crime rates. The Church has seriously opposed the use of capital punishment in case of serious crime. Pope John Paul II has opposed the imposition of death penalty by the State (Dulles, 2001). Christians give a lot of importance to life and have opposed any carry out that could result in the violation to the right to life such as murder, abortion, suicide, euthanasia, etc. Christians usually happen that as God has controlled life, no one including the Governments and the Courts can take away a human life. In the Old Testament, death was specifically suggested to those who had sinned or committed offences (such as murder and adultery). The Sacred Covenant during Noah had mentioned that anyone who offenders and disobeys God be stoned or hanged to death. Several episodes in the Old Testament such as those of with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16), have given instances in which capital punishment was performed to penalize sinners. People who helped to execute the will of God by ending the life of the offenders were considered as Agents of God. legion(predicate) Countries of the World still follow the Old Testament of capital punishment in penalizing serious crimes. However, things have changed since the New Testament times. Although Jesus Christ had not communicate much about the use of capital punishment by the state, indirect instances are present in the New Testament which may suggest that Jesus was against the practice of capital punishment. One of these instances included the kill of a woman who had sinned. Jesus did not allow his disciples to pronounce curses of destruction of death on people who did not have feelings of love towards others.In John 1911, Jesus told Pilate that he had the authority to clock time anybody who had sinned against God, and that Pilate had the right to fulfill Gods intentions. In Matthew 2652, Jesus told Peter to put tush his sword when he was arreste d. Jesus even put back the soldiers piece of ear, after Peter had cut it with his sword. In Luke 23 41, Jesus tells the thief crucified on his side, that they were receiving punishment for the sins that they had committed on earth. Christianity believed in the concept of love thy neighbor as thy self, and Jesus in his preaching convey that this feeling should be extended to every aspect of life. We could potentially extent its application for use to nix capital punishment. In the New Testament after Christ, there may be several instances in which capital punishment was encouraged. However, these instances may not directly support capital punishment. In Acts 5 1-11, capital meters were imposed because they disobeyed Simon Peter. The Letter to the Hebrews also encouraged the Mosaic Laws on capital punishment.St. Paul told the Romans that death sentence was a mean of expressing Gods intentions against sinners. However, there have also been instances in the New Testament in which the Church and Christians have opposed death sentence. During the early Christianity period, the Church did not approve Christians to hold up as executioners of death sentences (Dulles, 2001). St. Augustine felt that the Fifth Commandant should be utilized even to prevent execution of death sentences and killing of criminals. He wrote an entire book about Capital punishment named The City of God. The belief of capital punishment changed a bit during the Middle Age. Christianity had some influence on the people, and the Courts were told to impose capital punishment only for people who committed serious crime. This was mainly as a self-defense instrument to prevent the criminals from committing further crime and to ensure that the society was safe. Some of the theologists felt that capital punishment was to a greater extent of a hatred act against the criminal than one to enable him to reform in the future (Dulles, 2001). level though the Church opposed death sentence, it constituted a body to pronounce and capital punishment.The Church even conferred the State the authority to issue death sentences in the later part of the 16th hundred. It derived this power from the Commandant thou shall not murder, and it was performed in several instances. Slowly the Church began to approve capital punishment only in the case the criminal committed a serious crime. Slowly the status of the Church towards capital punishment began to change as they felt that life was a valued endue given by God and it was morally wrong to take ones life for sins committed. The Italian thinker Gino Concetti, wrote a Book LOsservatore Romano in 1977, demonstrating the importance and sacredness of God-given life. He said that humans could not destroy the life of another human, and even the criminals who had performed serious crimes should not be punished with death sentence. He said that there should not be any circumstance in which capital punishment was confirm as no person had the right to take the life of another and destroy one of Gods precious creations. We should be able to respect the view that God is expressing himself in man. This work had authentically changed the attitudes of Christians and the Church towards capital punishment.Many people felt that the Church itself did not respect or pick out this view of life before. There was a uproar against capital punishment in the 20th century in Europe. Several European countries who believed in Christianity began to incorporate the latest teachings and beliefs of the Church in their Legal systems. The Governments began to stealthy the importance of life (Dulles, 2001).Since, the criminal is also a human being he is a precious creation of God and has a reflection of God in himself. His actions have an element of God verbalised in it. Hence, it would be morally wrong to even punish the most serious criminals with capital punishment. In the Old Testament, the view that a criminal action should be punished with a similar action by the law-enforcement agency existed. However, a person may be expressing the Will of God through his actions. Christianity has developed over a long period, and now it does not permit both, direct destruction (taking the life of a specific person) and indirect destruction (actions performed without the intention of killing another person). In some instances, taking the life of another person by mistake may be pardoned by the Church. The Church is also against any individuals taking the life of another on the advice of the State (Pesenke, 1981).God does not allow one human to take the life of another because God is the creator of the human beings and can create or destroy a life. Any person who takes the life of another with a mental intention is sinning against God. A Human life is the most precious work of God, and destroying it would be against the Will of God. No political or legal body in the World has the right to interfere with Gods creation. It is not warra nt for any Court or King to take the life of any individual including a criminal. Many countries feel that capital punishment should be permitted at least to end the life of criminals who committed serious crimes. They may also be considering that it would be a cheaper option to end the life of such criminals than to punish them with life-imprisonment. However, the legal and the political systems should not cheapen human life, and should consider them as important to God. Having capital punishment options in the legal system is not going to reduce crimes. It is essential that the Government provides a socio-economic surround that may permit development and reduce frustration of the people. The Jews believed firmly in capital punishment and permitted it following murders, adultery, worship of idols, war crimes, and kidnapping. They feel that capital punishment would ensure that the society is safer from the actions of the criminals in the future. They also feel that anybody who destr oys God-given creations should be punished with death sentence. A counsel usually issues death sentences in Jewish hooks. The court will examine the criminal during the trial and 2 neutral witnesses should provide evidence for the case. As the ferment of issuing capital punishment under Jewish laws is very stringent, such sentences may usually emit less frequently.In several situations (such as wars, emergencies, dealing with non-Jewish criminals, etc), the stringent process is relaxed and death sentences are issued more than easily. In such situations Noah-Laws are usually applicable. Usually just one neutral witness is call for (FAQ, 2006). During the later part of the 20th century, Jewish thinkers began to oppose the use of capital punishment by the legal system. The ideas of Christian theologists are now being followed by the Jewish thinkers with regard to death sentence. Only in extremely serious crimes are capital punishment allowed by Jewish courts (FAQ, 2006). Capital p unishment is not only an ineffective way of dealing with crime (as it does not reduce the crime rate), but is also an immature way (as hatred and revenge are spread). It also cheapens the importance of God-given life. The Government should look at alternative to punish or reform the criminals.ReferencesDulles, A. C. (2001). Catholicism Capital Punishment. First Things 112, 30-35.http//www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2175%20FAQ (2006). Question 12.21 What is the Jewish position on Capital Punishment? Retrieved on April 8, 2007, from FAQ.org Web grade Ontario Consultants on Religious security deposit from Web site http//www.faqs.org/faqs/judaism/FAQ/06-Jewish-Thought/section-22.htmlHorigan, D. P. (1996). Buddhism Capital Punishment. Retrieved on April 8, 2007, from The Engaged Zen Foundation from Web site http//www.engaged-zen.org/articles/Damien_P_Horigan-Buddhism_Capital_Punishment.htmlPesenke, H. C. (1981). Christian Ethics Volume II Special Moral Theology in the Light of Vatican II, Bangalore TPI.Robinson, B. A. (2006). Facts about capital punishment Part 1 data trends. Retrieved on April 8, 2007, from Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance from Web site http//www.religioustolerance.org/execut3.htmThe Bible Gateway (2007). Genesis 1 (New International Version). Retrieved on April 8, 2007, from The Bible Gateway from Web site http//www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+1