Debate: Death Penalty & Jailhouse Conversions

[robinb]

In May Terry Nichols was found gulilty of 161 counts of murder in Oklahoma in the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building. Last week, during the penalty phase, the jury was split on the death penalty and some jurors voted for life in prison because of Nichols' jailhouse conversion to Christianity.

My questions are for those people who believe in the death penalty.

(1) Is a jailhouse converion to Christianity a good enough reason to vote for life in prision?

(2) How about an equally soulfelt conversion to Islam? Judism? Buddism? Hinduism? Paganism?

(3) Do you think other conversions would have gained him as much sympathy?

 

[wvrevy]

1 - No.

2 - No.

3 - Of course not...

 

[jrydberg]

Check for signs of the end of the world... I agree with wvrevy

 

[AirForceRocks]

No to all three questions, and I think it stinks that he didn't get the death penalty.

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by jrydberg
Check for signs of the end of the world... I agree with wvrevy

Dang, me too.

 

[faithinkarma]

What's up with the boards today...everyone doing all this agreeing???? I'm sure it cannot possibly be good for us.

PS I don't think anyone should get a pass for any type of conversion.

 

[hipporina]

A slightly different way to look at it: if he truly is a Christian now, life in prison is a FAR worse punishment than death. He will be living with the horrifying guilt of what he did for decades, instead of going to heaven right now.

 

[wvrevy]

Like I said before, you guys can't be wrong ALL the time

 

[MHopkins2]

One more vote for the love fest. Conversion, schmonversion.

 

[CEDmom]

I'm sick of people who say they found Jesus and that's supposed negate all the bad they'll done. It shouldn't be part of the equation.

 

[Big Dude]

If he is truly a Christian and studies the Bible, he will not be opposed to be put to death. In Acts chapter 25 verses 9-11, Paul said that he would not refuse to die if he did anything deserving of death. This is in the New Testament after Jesus' ascension. It sounds as if there is a Biblical case for the death penalty.

9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?"
10 Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!"

As far as government carrying out such a penalty, Romans chapter 13 verses 1-5 (again in the New Testament) reads:

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 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 he will commend you.
4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

So, this capital punishment believing Christian says the answer would be no for all 3 questions.

Adam aka Big Dude

 

[caitycaity]

i do not believe in the death penalty, but if i did, terry nichols would surely be one person deserving of it. i think people who kill for ideology are far scarier than people who kill just because they have some screws loose.

 

[flaps]

1) No
2) No
3) No

Like Big Dude, I too believe a Christian should be willing to submit to a punishment of death.

 

[Eeyore1954]

(1) Is a jailhouse converion to Christianity a good enough reason to vote for life in prision?

NO

(2) How about an equally soulfelt conversion to Islam? Judism? Buddism? Hinduism? Paganism?
NO

(3) Do you think other conversions would have gained him as much sympathy?
NO

(GASP! I am in agreement with wvrevy! Will wonders never cease!!! )

 

[Betsyt82]

Reguardless of where the man is spiritually after the crime. The fact remains that he was and is a criminal in the eyes of the law of the land and needs to be punished under the laws of the land. I don't believe in the death penelty and really believe that if a person is placed in prison then they need hard labor, not hardly any labor. But I might add that with those who kill like Terry N. I have to say that they would deserve to die.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Doesn't everybody in prison convert to Christianity, or find Jesus especially around parole hearing time? (No offense intended)

I'll lump myself in with the majority on this one, no sympathy for the converted.