Snippet #8

The image to the above is titled LOVE SONG FOR A DYING UNIVERSE.   It was photographed at an abandoned, burned-out, pottery factory.   While the title suggests some environmental theme I am thinking more about capital punishment a.k.a. the death penalty.  Primarily; even in the presence of decaying circumstances beauty and life can be found and should have the chance to exist.

I've heard many religious people use the Bible to justify the death penalty.  But I have never felt that way.   It just never seemed to make sense in light of what Jesus taught.   Today I read something the really confirms my point of view.   My text is Genesis 4.  The story of Cain and Abel.   I'm not going to repeat the whole story here - after all this is just a "snippet".  But the key point comes after Cain has murdered his brother and God has pronounced judgement.  Cain replies (verse 13, 14)

"My punishment is more than I can bear.  Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."

God's response to Cain's complaint is evidence that he does not approve of the death penalty.  (verse 15) He says,

"Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.  Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him."

Wow!  First of all God could have just killed him - but didn't.  Then he even pronounces extreme vengeance on anyone who does kill him.   If God supported capital punishment he would have killed Cain outright.   Even with Cains parents (Adam and Eve) God does not kill them for their sin.  Sure he says they will die -- but the death he is talking about is loss of innocence. 

It seems that today people are more concerned with vengeance than justice.  They would rather see someone die than allow them a natural life with every opportunity to repent and change their mind about what they've done.  

Still...

I love these people.

I encourage you, to join me and let your voice be heard with your local chapter of the NCADP (National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty) or any local organizing in your country that supports this just cause.

For more info about the NCADP click on following links:

http://www.ncadp.org/affiliate.cfm?affID=24

http://www.otse.org/

Some good news.   People are waking up to this issue as can be seen in the following article.  http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/2011__Year__End.pdf

Thanks for reading,   Happy New Year and long life to all my readers.

mobius faith