Is it inconsistent to be against abortion and for the death penalty ? At first glance it might appear to be, but on further inquiry it is not at all.
The first question that must be asked is; what's at stake? It is human life. And human life is not the sort of thing that should be taken in a careless manner. It must have the proper justification, and that of the highest degree, to be taken. So my objection to abortion is that human life is valuable and the reasons for abortion don't rise to the level of proper justification. In the case of capital punishment; it is because of the value of human life that the highest penalty is demanded and with proper justification. This is not to say that it is always carried out justly. We are mostly certainly prone to abuse our powers, that is why a system of checks and balances is so important.
So in summary; abortion doesn't have proper justification and capital punishment does. So there is no inconsistency. I start with the same premise in both cases, the value of human life, and apply it consistently through out.
As a side note; it would seem to me that the case for capital punishment would be getting stronger with DNA testing, not weaker.
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4 comments:
There is a difference? One death there is no crime, another death there is a crime? Yes - No - Maybe?
You're right there is difference, one is justified, capital punishment, and one is unjustified, abortion. Although abortion is legal, no crime, it is still immoral. My argument however was not about the legality of the issues.
Maybe you could clarify for me what you mean. "One death" contrasted with "another death" is to vague.
The interesting thing is if life was truly sacred and each was treated from infancy throughout life with the dignity bestowed as Children of God no question would exist in the beginning or the end.
It is a cultural illness that births both questions whose health could cure both.
reese,
There is no question to the issue of the sacredness of life, it "IS" and not "IF IT IS"
The death of any human is a tragedy and we know instinctively that death is not normal, although common, it's not how things ought to be. If it was normal, we would not weep so bitterly at the death of loved ones, but we do.
As to the source of the illness as you would say. We must remember; cultures are made up of families and families are made up of people.
So the problem lies within the very nature of who we are, not culture. Culture is only an outward manifestation of who we are internally.
I wish evil was not real and someday it will be put down. But until then we must suffer under it's reign and wrestle with questions like these. Ultimately, it is God who gives and takes away life. And He has given the power of the sword to the state to administer justice and punish the evildoer.
If we as a people don't administer justice and behave wickedly then God will judge us and administer justice, just ask the nation of Israel. God plays for keeps, this is no dress rehearsal.
And you are correct, if we did live in a Genesis 1 and 2 world, questions like these would not exist. But reality is, we are living in a Genesis 3 world and the cancer of sin has spread to all men. Therefore, the sword is necessary to restrain evil, otherwise life would not be possible. And you would not be here to behold the glory of God, because humans would have killed themselves off long time ago. So the power of the sword is a great mercy from God, a mercy because it allows life to go on and for you to see the sun.
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
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