Is Capital Punishment Right according to Religion?

Yes.

If you do a little research, the 6th commandment DOESN'T say "Thou shalt not kill." That is a mistranslation....It says: Thou shalt not MURDER...There are several modern translations which have this correct.

To begin with, it should be noted that in the very first book of the Bible God clearly communicates his position with respect to capital punishment: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man” (Genesis 9:6). It is instructive to note that this passage not only predates the Mosaic Law, but it demands universal adherence to the sanctity of life.

Furthermore, in Exodus 21, Numbers 35:31, and Deuteronomy 19 the Bible reaffirms God’s perspective on capital punishment by underscoring the principle of “Life for life.” To murder a person who is made in the image of God is not only to show contempt for the apex of God’s creation but also to show contempt for the Creator himself. Thus, while capital punishment may be reprehensible from a secular perspective, it is basic to a biblical worldview.

One of the obvious reasons for doing this is to protect the rest of society, as implied in Ecclesiastes 8:11 “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men Is fully set in them to do evil.” Psalm 19:7 tells us that “The Law of the Lord is perfect.”

Capital punishment is implicitly validated in the New Testament. Jesus acknowledged the legitimacy of capital punishment before Pilate in John 19:11 Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Notice that Jesus did not DISPUTE the righteousness of the death penalty; and if anyone ever was qualified to dispute what was righteous, would it not have most certainly been Jesus?

In addition, one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Jesus) replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23: 39-43

Again in this passage, Jesus does not speak against the righteousness of the death penalty; but rather looks beyond the grave to eternal justice, which he shared with the willing and repentant, even at the moment of his OWN death.

Likewise, the Apostle Paul before the Roman governor Festus (Acts 5:11) does not dispute the righteousness of the death penalty. Moreover, Romans 13 implies that the failure of the governing authorities to apply the “sword”—the Roman symbol for capital punishment—exalts evil and eradicates equity.

The Holy Spirit, God, through the power and justice of the Holy Spirit, executed both Ananias and his wife, Saphira. Their crime? Lying to the Holy Spirit - to God - through Peter. Acts 5:1-11.

Finally, Paul admonishes us again in 1 Peter 2:13 “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14) Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

I'm not sure about other religions, but in the Christian Bible you can find support for either side if you look hard enough (this is true with most topics). As Shakespeare once wrote, “even the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”

There are indeed many passages in the Old Testament that support capital punishment, often for relatively mild offenses:

- Adultery (Leviticus 20:10)

- Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16)

- Working on Sunday (Exodus 31:14 & 15)

- Disobedient children (Exodus 21:15 & 17; Leviticus 20:9)

- Homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13)

- Failing to control your livestock (Exodus 21:29)

- Not being a virgin on your wedding night (but only if you're a woman - Deuteronomy 22:20-21)

The New Testament (starring Jesus) is primarily ANTI-death penalty. For example, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus praises mercy (Matthew 5:7) and rejects “an eye for an eye” (Matthew 5:38-39). James 4:12 says that GOD is the only one who can take a life in the name of justice. Romans 12:17-21 warns us against answering evil with evil, and assures us that God will see to justice in the afterlife. In John 8:7, Jesus points out that all humans are imperfect, and therefore unqualified to decide whether someone lives or dies. My personal favorite is James 1:20: “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

There are many, many practical problems with capital punishment (that I won't get into here), but purely from a moral standpoint, it is pretty clear that Jesus did not support it. True CHRISTians shouldn’t, either.

I hope that helps. Good luck on your essay!

The 6th Commandment:

The commandment "thou shalt not kill" is actually a slight miss translation. It's actually should be "thou shalt not murder." Killing is sometimes necessary to protect oneself or one's family. There is a reason for the killing--the was no other way out. Murder is usually a selfish act, with no purpose except to enrich the person committing the murder in some form or fashion. With regard to capital punishment, only meted out to murderers of a certain calibre, one could argue that the threat from that person to others no longer exists. His (or her) execution becomes a matter of vengeance.

"Vengeance is Mine" Romans 12:17-21

In this scripture god is essentially saying not to repay evil with evil. Apparently, he thinks vengeance--revenge--is bad. In the Old Testament there is the scripture to take only an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; however, in the New Testament, Jesus says in Matthew that was the old way. Now it's (basically) "turn the other cheek." Again, it doesn't appear to support capital punishment.

Capital Punishment and Secularism

America is approximately 90% Christian. Many people glory in our freedoms and being a powerful "First World" nation. While we are supposed to be a secular nation, religion creeps in and determines a great deal of our culture. Of our contemporaries--countries with an economy and world standing similar to ours, though not as populated--most are decided secular. While they have people are many religions within their borders, the government is firm that no religious belief should rule all people. The population is pretty content to worship as they choose and "live and let live." Most have a lower crime rate, but in those rare instances where "capital" crime occur, they have outlawed execution. 97% of the United Nations body have outlawed it. Of the countries that still use execution, they are largely African and Arab nations, which are predominantly Muslim.

Where that leaves the United States in the scheme of things, well, if we really want to consider ourselves best in the world, we have to do better.

Murder is condemned by all faiths, as by reason itself

U have the first para so 2nd and 3rd statements just take from ANY 2 other religions, including paganism and even Satanism! How wonderful that the only system or doctrine that believes in murdering people is the very one we live in!

Some passages in the Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, and Jewish scriptures may be interpreted as teaching that killing a human being is a sin under any and all circumstances.

Capital punishment is encouraged by the old testament, although it was used for much less serious crimes. Punching your father, working on a Sunday, having a tattoo, being suspected of being a witch, there are many reasons in the bible to use capital punishment. Being that capital punishment was used and encouraged by the bible, I suppose capital punishment is right according to this specific religion.

No, capital punishment is not right. No one has the right to kill anyone, no matter the circumstances. The Bible even goes as far as to say, at 1 John 3:15, "Everyone who hates his brother is a manslayer, and you know that no manslayer has everlasting life remaining in him."

Which religion? There are thousands of them. On top of that, there are thousands of different sects of these different religions. You might as well ask if it's "right according to people".

P.S. - The commandment you're referring to says "thou shalt not murder", not "thou shalt not kill". There's a subtle difference.

depends on the religion. Chrsitianity and islam have both come up with all kinds of justifications to kill and thus are the relisions most likely to support capitol punishment.

capital punishment is wrong because law enforcers want to convince criminals that we are the good guys.

we want criminals to be have the opportunity to turn good and believe in government, to reduce crime is important to let population at risk understand that government is not at war with them,

we want everybody to get a decent job and contribute

According to religion.

Lol, what a positively ignorant thing to say.

A couple of good places to start:

Positions of religions on the death penalty at

http://www.religioustolerance.org/execut7.htm

and at http://pewforum.org/Death-Penalty/Religious-Groups...