Christianity and Capital Punishment
1. Many Christians are against capital punishment
They feel that it is un-Christian. They think Christians should campaign for it to be abolished.
They think these things because:
They think these things because:
- Jesus came to save (or reform) sinners. You cannot reform a criminal after they have been executed!
- The Old Testament Law allowed retribution but in the New Testament Jesus said that “an eye for an eye” is wrong.
- Christians believe in the sanctity of life. This means that life is special because God made it.
- Most Christian Churches have condemned capital punishment.
2. Some Christians support capital punishment
They think that its use is the best way of keeping order and preventing murder in society.
They believe this because:
o The Bible states (in the Old Testament) that the death penalty should be used for a number of crimes so God allows it.
o The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England have not withdrawn their statements allowing the state to use capital punishment.
o Christians have in the past used capital punishment for heresy. Heresy means having beliefs that others believe to be wrong.
o Thomas Aquinas said that punishment should aim to achieve reform of the sinner and the peace of society. Of these two aims the peace of society is the most important. Christians can therefore use capital punishment to achieve the peace of society.
They believe this because:
o The Bible states (in the Old Testament) that the death penalty should be used for a number of crimes so God allows it.
o The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England have not withdrawn their statements allowing the state to use capital punishment.
o Christians have in the past used capital punishment for heresy. Heresy means having beliefs that others believe to be wrong.
o Thomas Aquinas said that punishment should aim to achieve reform of the sinner and the peace of society. Of these two aims the peace of society is the most important. Christians can therefore use capital punishment to achieve the peace of society.
Islam and Capital Punishment
Islam allows capital punishment for three reasons: murder, adultery and apostasy (a Muslim denying Islam and working against the religion).
The crimes must be proven and the processes followed that are laid down in the Shari’ah (Islamic law).
1. Some Muslims agree with capital punishment because:
• It is a punishment set down in the Qur’an.
• Muhammad made statements (hadith) agreeing with capital punishment for the three offences of murder, adultery and apostasy.
• Muhammad sentenced people to death for murder when he was ruler of Madinah.
• The Shari’ah Law states that capital punishment is the punishment for these three offences.
• Muhammad made statements (hadith) agreeing with capital punishment for the three offences of murder, adultery and apostasy.
• Muhammad sentenced people to death for murder when he was ruler of Madinah.
• The Shari’ah Law states that capital punishment is the punishment for these three offences.
2. Some Muslims do not agree with capital punishment for the non-religious reasons.
- They think that although the Qur’an recommends the use of the punishment it is not compulsory.