crime, punishment, and Christians

[Christ_empowered]

OK. I was reading (OK, skimming...but still...) a brief article by a Sociologist about how the US has an incredibly punitive attitude towards...well, everything, but crime, in particular. A sub-section of the article looked at a link between very conservative Christians and the "get tough on crime" campaign that has now resulted in the US leading the industrialized world in terms of people in prison, per capita.

So...what's your attitude on crime? And punishment? Punishment or rehabilitation? Both?

 

[jasonc]

we have talked about this before.

 

[Christ_empowered]

oh, man...didn't know...can i delete?

 

[jasonc]

oh, man...didn't know...can i delete?

just in a different way. ie the death penalty threads and pro drug legalization threads

 

[Christ_empowered]

oh, yeah...I vaguely remember that now.

 

[Malachi]

OK. I was reading (OK, skimming...but still...) a brief article by a Sociologist about how the US has an incredibly punitive attitude towards...well, everything, but crime, in particular.

This sociologist failed to check out some of the other countries and their attitudes towards crime. Suffice to say that the US is probably one of the most liberal countries in this regard. Stealing in Saudi Arabia means losing the hand that stole.

Scripture is very clear that there is always a penalty for a crime, and the death penalty for capital crimes. Both testaments show this. So conservative Christians are simply reflecting what the Bible teaches.

The real issue is whether the justice system is a farce. There are very specific reasons for crimes, and the system itself encourages criminality. Murder clearly requires the death penalty, but that has been systematically removed from most jurisdictions. So murderers are out on the street after a few months or years, and what is the first thing they do? Go out and kill someone else. For many criminals, prison is free food, clothes and shelter, so why not?

Abortion (also murder in the first degree) is clearly a crime, but has been made into a farcical "medical procedure" which is actually paid for by the state! On the other hand, possessing a few grams of marijuana is not a crime, but has been made into one for no good reason (other than "crime fighting" statistics). Parking beyond a certain time limit is not a crime, but has been also made into a crime to collect cash and fill the coffers of coppers. And so it goes.

 

[jasonc]

Cutting off hands in Islam is something I never saw.I'm sure we fired Haji for stealing. The Iman knew and didn't care or supported it.

 

[YosefHayim]

Surprised no one threw Romans 13 at you yet.

The powers that be ordained by God who don't bear the sword in vain.

But right now I'm thinking that's saying "Those who God ordains in the church to not bear the Bible [sword] in vain, to execute wrath [justice, judgement, excommunication, splitting between bone and marrow, etc.]"

 

[Eugene]

OK. I was reading (OK, skimming...but still...) a brief article by a Sociologist about how the US has an incredibly punitive attitude towards...well, everything, but crime, in particular. A sub-section of the article looked at a link between very conservative Christians and the "get tough on crime" campaign that has now resulted in the US leading the industrialized world in terms of people in prison, per capita.

So...what's your attitude on crime? And punishment? Punishment or rehabilitation? Both?

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
Would there be less crime if all felons were instantly put to death? I could near guarantee they wouldn't do that again. We could surely cut down on the recidivism of ex-cons.