I don't think you have to be a lunatic Christian to support the death penalty. A lot of Christians support the death penalty, I don't, personally - but then a lot of Christian thinkers did and indeed still do.

As for the example you include in your post, I think you're assuming a lot from one quote with no context.

(November 12, 2016 at 7:15 pm)Funky_Gibbon Wrote: I don't think you have to be a lunatic Christian to support the death penalty. A lot of Christians support the death penalty, I don't, personally - but then a lot of Christian thinkers did and indeed still do.

As for the example you include in your post, I think you're assuming a lot from one quote with no context.

Hey Funky, Welcome!

How would you feel about an introduction thread?

What do you think of the song Guitarzan?

BTW, Nebraska votes to put the death penalty back in place. Stupid, stupid corn hollers!

(November 12, 2016 at 7:15 pm)Funky_Gibbon Wrote: I don't think you have to be a lunatic Christian to support the death penalty. A lot of Christians support the death penalty, I don't, personally - but then a lot of Christian thinkers did and indeed still do.

As for the example you include in your post, I think you're assuming a lot from one quote with no context.

Of course, the Catholic Church has changed its/her tune on this, as it/she has on a host of other issues.

Oh yeah. Executing heretics is out now. Despite it being a practise St. Thomas Aquinas defended.

(November 12, 2016 at 7:46 pm)Funky_Gibbon Wrote: Oh yeah. Executing heretics is out now. Despite it being a practise St. Thomas Aquinas defended.

So, was the Church wrong to execute heretics:

Quote:Condemned Error:  33. That heretics be burned is against the will of the Spirit.

http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Leo10/l10exdom.htm

Yes.

Although for the record the Church never technically executed heretics. The Church never had the power to use the death penalty. Hence the ultimate sanction of the inquisition: "Relax to the SECULAR authorities."

Though this is a technicality, so refer to my above answer. Yes, it was wrong.

(November 12, 2016 at 9:50 pm)Funky_Gibbon Wrote: Yes.

Although for the record the Church never technically executed heretics. The Church never had the power to use the death penalty. Hence the ultimate sanction of the inquisition: "Relax to the SECULAR authorities."

Though this is a technicality, so refer to my above answer. Yes, it was wrong.

And, so, the Catholic Church, in its ordinary (hence, "infallible") Magisterium erred?

I don't support the DP...how can one be ''pro life'' yet support the death penalty? It seems contradictory, but a few of my Christian friends try to offer a good argument by saying...''only for the worst criminals,'' etc. I just think that if you believe every life has value of some kind, then no matter what that life ''does,'' it shouldn't be up to us to take away his/her life.

(December 3, 2016 at 10:21 pm)*Deidre* Wrote: I don't support the DP...how can one be ''pro life'' yet support the death penalty? It seems contradictory, but a few of my Christian friends try to offer a good argument by saying...''only for the worst criminals,'' etc. I just think that if you believe every life has value of some kind, then no matter what that life ''does,'' it shouldn't be up to us to take away his/her life.

Well said