What are some religious view to the death penalty?
From a Christian perspective, you can find Biblical support for either side if you look hard enough (like most topics). Shakespeare once wrote, “the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.” That said, there are many passages in the Old Testament that support capital punishment, often for relatively mild offenses: – Adultery (Leviticus 20:10) – Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16) – Breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14 & 15) – Disobedient children (Exodus 21:15 & 17; Leviticus 20:9) – Homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13) – Not being a virgin on your wedding night (but only if you’re a woman – Deuteronomy 22:20-21) Some people cite Romans 13:1-7, which states that all governments are sanctioned by God, and if the government dictates something – like capital punishment – then it is God’s will (one could also use this passage to legitimize abortion). However, I have yet to see a coherent reconciliation of this passage with governments like Hitler’s Germany, or Stalin’s Russia, or Pol Pot’s Cambodia, or
