Friday 2 March 2012

Is it ever right to kill another person?

Can the different religions give me a valid answer on this topic?
The Qur’an links together murder and committing adultery with breaking the first commandment. The first commandment is the most important in all religions descending from Abraham. This is probably why I find blasphemy among the crimes that deserves death and, or eternal damnation, a very good way of obtaining blind and unquestioned obedience. All these three religions address the issue of taking someone’s life and condemn these crimes and those who commit them to the wrath and curse of God, but then they contradict themselves in some way. This leads me to believe that these different religions canon are man made and that the heavenly Qur’an is still held in heaven. Hinduism and Buddhism address the topic in a slightly different way. But still, even here it’s up for interpretations
Note
Note that I do not doubt that the heavenly Qur’an was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. And yes, you may accuse me of blasphemy if you feel the need, but please remember, if I am guilty it is between me and The Almighty and I alone will risk the eternal damnation.
we go Old Testament and Torah
The book of Genesis forbids murder and the reason for this is that we are created in the image of God. But all killings are not defined as murder. Murder is only defined as murder when it is premeditated and intentional. To kill a murderer is allowed: "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.” (Genesis 9:6) , There are numerous references to a death penalty in the old testament of the Bible, which in large parts are the same as the Torah. This is oddly enough the reason why countries calling themselves Christian, like the USA, have not abolished the use of capital punishment. Jewish law interprets the same texts with a different outcome. Death is a harsh penalty indicating the seriousness of the crime. Some Jewish philosophers stress that the point of having capital punishment is to remind the community of the severe nature of certain acts. This is why the death penalty is more of a principle than a practice in Jewish law. Killing in war is permitted. God allowed the Israelites to engage in warfare and he even gave them instructions about waging war according the Deuteronomy 20:1-20. If Christians want to go strictly Old testament adultery is also a crime that deserves the death penalty (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22-24). So if the republicans wins…well, you never know.
Jesus and the Qur’an
One would think that Christians would pay more attention to the New Testament and Christ himself. In the New Testament you can read: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse... Repay no one evil for evil... do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I Will repay," says the Lord." (Rom. 12:14) In Mat 6:15 Forgiveness is essential. "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." The most beautiful words describing why, thou shall not kill and why you should try to save lives, is found in the Qur’an. It says that to kill any human being is as if that person has killed all of humankind. And in reverse, when someone saves the life of any human being, it is as if that person has saved all of humanity (5:32)
Exception, exception, exception.
If you look at the exception found in the Qur’an they are found in the dispensation of justice as a punishment for murder or in confronting those who spread violent mischief in the land, meaning treason. In this exception you will find why the Syrian people are suffering so hard now. The rulers in a country will always lean on this exception to crush an uprising against them. They interpret the uprisings as treason and as such it is punishable by death and because of this they justify the killings of civilians. The act of Murder could according to the Qur’an be punished by death but the family of the victim can show compassion and this is considered the best choice.
Buddhism
It is not quite clear if Buddhism allow capital punishment or not. Chapter 10 of the Dhammapada states that “everyone fears punishment; everyone fears death, just as you do. Therefore do not kill or cause to kill. Everyone fears punishment; everyone loves life, as you do. Therefore do not kill or cause to kill.” Chapter 26 is the final chapter of the Dhammapada and it reads: "Him I call a brahmin who has put aside weapons and renounced violence toward all creatures. He neither kills nor helps others to kill. Buddhist allow lethal self-defense. This is based on the prevention of greater suffering. To prevent suffering some violence can be tolerated. One should always strive for the benefit of others according to Buddhism. It is not uncommon that Buddhist governors refuse to sign a death sentence due to his believes.
Hinduism
In Hinduism you can find teachings that both forbid and permit the death penalty. One form of Hinduism preaches ahimsa, non-violence
. This is what Mahatma Gandhi preached and practiced. Hindus believe that the soul can’t be killed. Death is limited to the physical body. When you die the soul is reborn into another body.
My conclusion
To me there can not be any exceptions, you can not kill, ever, it does not lie in our hands. All exceptions to this must be man made because man has vast difficulties understanding and excepting that revenge is wrong and that it is not in mans hand to hand out the death penalty. All exceptions to this create problems. Why, because exceptions will be abused. Man is not almighty and we are known to do wrong. Mahatma Gandhi said "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" This is pinpoints how wrong vengeance is. Leave vengeance to a higher power it is not our job. We do not have the right to kill but we do have the right to remove a murderer from the society and hold him in solitary confinement but we can not kill. You should save lives not take lives, it is always worthwhile and remember what goes around comes around.

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