Tina Talks~*: PBC

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Capital Punishment

*-This is what I posted in a Discussion Forum for my Christian Ethics Online Class-*

Capital punishment is a difficult topic to argue and discuss because almost everyone has a different opinion. Some people use the Bible to defend it, while others attempt to condemn it with the same methodology. For example, Elizabeth Morgan in her article Crime and Punishment uses her faith to debunk the death penalty argument. "It seems to me as a Christian that it contradictgs the gospel call for forgiveness and truncates the possibility of transformation." The second example is of someone using the Scriptures to argue for the death penalty. Rick Reed in his article Should Christians Support the Death Penalty? uses Romans 13:4 to support his argument. He says, "We also agree that governments with the responsibility of protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty." The verse states that "he [a ruler] does not bear the sword in vain." Seeing these two sides, how can we really know which is correct?
It is very hard to determine which is the correct ideaology, but in the end you have to look at what God says. The one trick is to remember to interpret the scriptures as what God says and not what you think. This is my argument for whether or not the death penalty contradicts the 6th commandment. It does say "Thou shalt not kill," but the actual meaning of the word kill does not contradict the idea of punishing by killing. According to Strong's Online Concordance the word kill is ratsach which means "to murder or slay or kill with premeditation, or accidental means, or for revenge, or intentionally as a slayer when used as a participle." So, it does not contradict.
In the end, I believe the dealth penalty is justifiable by NT scriptures (Romans 13:4 is one), but that our governments ideas of the death penalty needs fixing. My idea (not sure if I can completely prove the idea with scriptures other than he should be killed)- the offender is one who has killed and should be killed the same fashion as his victim.

Sources:
KJV Bible
Morgan, Elizabeth. "Crime and punishment: wrestling with the death penalty." Christian Century 123.20 (2006): 30-33. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. EBSCO. Web. 10 June 2010.
Reed, Rick. Should Christians support the death penatly? Delve Into Jesus. Web. 10 June 2010.
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for ratsach (Strong's 7523)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 10 Jun 2010

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Freshman Year

Well, freshman year is over. I am actually workin' on my last day of classes as I write this blog. I look back at some good memories and some life lessons I will never forget. I learned how to better write a paper (w/ citations and everything), I learned how to "attempt" to manage my money better, I made new friends, I had my mind strenghtened, I had my beliefs tested, I had my eyes open, and so much more. This year, though difficult, has been so great. I'm a college student. I've been tested beyond measure. I really saw how this is not high school. :) There have been some great lectures and then those that completely sucked. There's obviously been procrastination, but I've seen how hard that is to do in college. It's kind of funny. It's hard to not do your work til the last minute. More understandable- it's hard to do all that work at the last minute. I have had a great time. Many memories have been made- Sara and her Cherry Coke, Elisabeth not understanding a word of spanish (except que now), sneaking pictures, being too scared to go get ice cream alone, playing life before class, playing my power point game, the [], and many more. I have mixed emotions being done with Freshman year, but it doesn't matter how I feel in the end- it's just over! After exams nxt wk, I'll be a SOPHOMORE!

(pictures from Freshman Year)