Kiran Patel 12 Marker Essay 18/09/2020

“No religious person should support the

death penalty.” Evaluate this statement.
I think that this statement is correct because no matter how horrible the crime is, the death penalty
should never be a viable option for punishment. This is because God created life and so it is sacred,
therefore only God has the right and authority to take it. Quran 17.33

There is always possibility that the ‘criminal’ is innocent

Forgiveness-lord’s prayer

Reformation Matthew 5:44 and Ezekiel 33:11

However, …

Criminals should pay with their life – ‘eye for an eye’

It gets criminals off the street for good, and better than life sentence, as on average a murderer
could walk free after just 16 yrs.

Retribution -genesis 9.6

Ultimate act of deterrence /vindication (weak argument since there is actually little evidence to
suggest it is a deterrent – murder rate is no higher, also most murders spur of the moment)

Nevertheless…

Irreversible

It is inhumane and degrading to put anyone through the mental torture of death row ‘right to life is
inalienable’

Victims families still grieve, killing the murderer rarely ends the pain of loss

The death penalty is contradictory –in Nevi’im it says that the Lord does not enjoy seeing people die,
He would rather they stop sinning and live.