The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #97525   Message #1921386
Posted By: Greg B
29-Dec-06 - 12:31 PM
Thread Name: BS: Killing Saddam
Subject: RE: BS: Killing Saddam
Bill D...

To state:

>Yes...same with Christianity..."Thou shalt not kill" is in the same >book with "an eye for an eye", and a passage can be found supporting >ANY interpretation

ignores the Christian supercession of the second quotation
in the book of Matthew, along with a number of provisions
found in the Pentateuch (or Torah, if you prefer).

The Christian who quotes the Exodus passage as a justification
for capital punishment is in fact committing heresy.

Then again, it would seem that 'render unto Caesar...' might
apply to a discussion of whether or not the state (as opposed to
the individual) is empowered to mete out the ultimate penalty,
and there are arguments around how that admonition might apply
on either side of the (ahem) coin.