The Controversy of Capital Punishment Since the earliest times, man has struggled with the concept of justice. The controversy of capital punishment has weighed on the minds of humans since the beginning. When we are wronged it is our natural instinct to demand compensation. This thirst for revenge can be seen in the earliest civilizations and societies. Ancient Hammurabi code states “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (History of the World). For many people this little axiom seems fair. Others however, think otherwise and warn of a blind and toothless community. What is it about capital punishment that divides so many Americans? Is it the possibility of an innocent man being executed too much of a risk? Should our current
It was by their own ruthless crimes that they ended up where they did. Yet is it right to slay a man in the name of justice? For an answer to this question I turned to the Bible. In the Old Testament, God talks about the use of capital punishment for certain crimes. He also stresses the importance of obeying his commands. These crimes included murder, kidnapping, rape and prostitution to name a few. However, in many cases God showed mercy where the death penalty was called for. Take David for example, he was guilty of murder and adultery, two things punishable by death in his time. Yet God did not command for his life to be taken. Genesis 9:6 states “Whoever sheds the blood of man by man shall his blood be shed for god made man in his own image” (New International Version, Gen. 9.6). Romans 13:1-7 states, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for