Christianity as an Example
The extent to which capital punishment affects the decision for religious activists to either support or go against is difficult to narrow down into one single issue. According to Christian Fundamentalists, the Holy Scriptures teach, “…eye for eye, foot for foot” which is used as the basis for their justification to support capital punishment (Unnever, 2006). This is the belief that every man is responsible for their own actions, therefore, if one kills, it is equally fair that the perpetrator ought to have a punishment equal to his or her actions. Unnever, author of “Christian Fundamentalist and Support for Capital Punishment,” mandated according to the views of Christian Fundamentalists that if God mandates the punishment of sinners, then the U.S has the right to mandate death of an individuals’ life if it is equal to his or her actions; in other words the punishment for murder is death (2006). Timothy McVeigh was trialed and sentenced to death as the first victim ever to experience the death penalty in Oklahoma after bombing the Oklahoma City Federal Building in 1995, killing 168 people. According to Dudley Sharp, president of Justice for All, McVeigh’s murder actions is justifiable and equal to death (Friedman, 2006). In opposition, John Kavanaugh, author of “Capital Punishment is Unjust,” argues that the significance of an “eye for an eye” does not mean a “Life for a Life,” it is a “…stipulation for a lesser punishment for a lesser crime” (2000, 156-157). Such iniquity availed the notion of proportionate justice. Kavanaugh said:
“Exodus teaches a fundamental lesson about justice and decency: Criminal law must not permit vast disparities between the magnitude of the offense and the magnitude of the punishment” (2000, 157).
In addition to Kavanaugh’s point of view, the Bible also says:
“If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.” (NIV, Luke 6:29)
It is not God’s intention to promote violence and death. When Jesus said “If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also,” he meant to fight evil with good and not evil with evil. In essence, the Bible does not dictate to take a life for a life but to overcome evil with good.
Cultural Background and other Religions
Capital punishment is not as widely acceptable as one may think. For instance, not all of the states in the U.S are pro capital punishment. According to Amnesty International, “the U.S is among 70 countries who use capital punishment” and “In 2003, 84 percent of all known executions occurred in China, Iran, Vietnam, and the United States” (Friedman, 2006, 126). Congo, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates altogether use beheading as the death penalty method; on the other hand, Canada and Australia are one of the few who abolished the death penalty for all crimes (Friedman, 2006). Though capital punishment may not be widely acceptable, it is widely used in different circumstances in different cultures. In Buddhist culture, capital punishment is strongly prohibited because of their first of five religious precepts which states:
“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.” (www.answers.com).
In the Catholic Church, for the most part, they are in opposition to capital punishment, but like many countries, is still considered in certain rare circumstances. Pope John Paul II strongly opposed capital punishment and described it as the “culture of death” (www.answers.com). Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalia Lama, said:
“The death penalty fulfills a preventive function, but it is also very clearly a form of revenge. It is an especially severe form of punishment because it is so final. The human life is ended and the executed person is deprived of the opportunity to change, to restore the harm done or compensate for it. Before advocating execution we should consider whether criminals are intrinsically negative and harmful people or whether they will remain perpetually in the same state of mind in which they committed their crime or not. The answer, i believe, is definitely not.” (http://www.engaged-zen.org/HHDLMSG.html)
The Dalia believes that the death penalty is a form of revenge and cruel punishment due to the fact that the victim is not given the opportunity to change.
