Capital Punishment: Christianity For

Question 1

What are four reasons?

Answer 1

The Old Testament teaches that it should be used for some criminals
In the New Testament, St Paul teaches that Christians should accept and obey the punishments of the government
Jesus’ Teachings
The Church used the death penalty

Question 2

The Old Testament teaches that it should be used for some criminals

Answer 2

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” (Genesis 9:6)
Christians, such as Fundamentalists, who accept the Bible as the Word of God use this to justify their belief in capital punishment

Question 3

In the New Testament, St Paul teaches that Christians should accept and obey the punishments of the government

Answer 3

“Everyone must obey the state’s authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God.” (Romans 3:1)
If capital punishment is part of a country’s legal code, Christians must obey the law
The state is acting as an agent of God and on his authority
This includes accepting the death penalty

Question 4

Jesus’ Teachings

Answer 4

“Whoever curses his father or his mother is to be put to death.” (Matthew 15:4)
This could be interpreted as accepting the death penalty for some crimes

Question 5

The Church used the death penalty

Answer 5

In the Middle Ages, the Church used the death penalty against those who challenged the authority of the Church, so it cannot be wrong
e.g. the Catholic Church still permits the death penalty for very serious crimes

Question 6

What did research in the the US in the 1990s find?

Answer 6

Protestants (who interpret the Bible as the literal word of God) were more likely to be in favour of the death penalty than members of other religious factions and denominations