Challenge regarding Christian morality

[Dystopia]

Justice is essentially fair punishment, hence an eye for an eye.

An eye for an eye is the laziest, most uneducated definition of justice I've ever heard, because it completely misses out all the functions justice has in society.

The virtue of justice consists in moderation, as regulated by wisdom. - Aristotle

As for your question - Dealing with murderers is a complex question and criminology can't answer it in one or two lines because murder is by itself an extremely heterogeneous crime - There are many reasons to commit murder, many circumstances that lead to it, many aggravating and attenuating factors... But dealing with murder, or murderers, isn't just a matter of punishing those who commit the act itself; justice is preventive, mostly preventive, the reason why there are laws in the first place is for prevention... This means we can prevent murder not only by legislating but essentially by identifying the causes of murder, and know which ones can be prevented beforehand.

[Roxy904]

"An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind."
Unless, of course, you happened to be blind already, well, then, that's a rather awkward situation, isn't it?

[Darkstar]

"An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind."
Unless, of course, you happened to be blind already, well, then, that's a rather awkward situation, isn't it?

So instead only the good people should be blind? I never really understood that one. Maybe if you didn't stab someone's eye out in the first place, we wouldn't be having this problem. Or am I missing something obvious here?

[Norman Humann]

I'm guessing stabbing in the eyeball used to be the highest criminal offence.

[Dystopia]

"An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind."
Unless, of course, you happened to be blind already, well, then, that's a rather awkward situation, isn't it?

So instead only the good people should be blind? I never really understood that one. Maybe if you didn't stab someone's eye out in the first place, we wouldn't be having this problem. Or am I missing something obvious here?

Instead we should find methods for less people to become blind. And that is not done by blinding those who blinded others. It is done trough research and application of studied political, economical and social measures. There's a reason the state with the highest probability of prisoner rehabilitation, Norway, has these 5 star ranking prisons and doesn't execute anyone.

[Darkstar]

Instead we should find methods for less people to become blind. And that is not done by blinding those who blinded others. It is done trough research and application of studied political, economical and social measures. There's a reason the state with the highest probability of prisoner rehabilitation, Norway, has these 5 star ranking prisons and doesn't execute anyone.

I guess it makes more sense when you don't take the 'eye for an eye' literally. Gotcha. I have nothing against rehabilitation (if it is a plausible option for the person in question, that is). Reducing crime rate should be the overall goal, and if rehabilitation is far more effective than punitive measures, then sure, why not? For some reason I had gotten more of a 'turn the other cheek' (i.e. you should do nothing rather than punish someone) impression.

[Nope]

I'm guessing stabbing in the eyeball used to be the highest criminal offence.

Grabbing someone's balls seemed to be an even worse offense

Deuteronomy 25

11"If two men, a man and his countryman, are struggling together, and the wife of one comes near to deliver her husband from the hand of the one who is striking him, and puts out her hand and seizes his genitals, 12then you shall cut off her hand; you shall not show pity.

[YGninja]

This is a byproduct of another thread, but I think the point is worth its own thread, if not its own TV show.

Can anyone name a single Christian moral teaching (moral meaning helpful for the wellbeing of individuals and society) that is not reasonably obvious to any well balanced atheist?

If you are a Christian and the answer is no, what does that tell you about the relevance of Christianity as a moral guide?

The importance isn't in the rules themselves, it is in knowing that the rules are set by God. The law is in your hearts, this is why it seems obvious to you, but you can easily override the laws, as i am sure we have all done many hundreds of times in our lives. The important thing is the realization that they are Gods laws.

[Dystopia]

This is a byproduct of another thread, but I think the point is worth its own thread, if not its own TV show.

Can anyone name a single Christian moral teaching (moral meaning helpful for the wellbeing of individuals and society) that is not reasonably obvious to any well balanced atheist?

If you are a Christian and the answer is no, what does that tell you about the relevance of Christianity as a moral guide?

The importance isn't in the rules themselves, it is in knowing that the rules are set by God. The law is in your hearts, this is why it seems obvious to you, but you can easily override the laws, as i am sure we have all done many hundreds of times in our lives. The important thing is the realization that they are Gods laws.

[emphasis mine]

So basically, as long as it's set by god, it's meant to be followed, no questions asked? Nice

[YGninja]

The importance isn't in the rules themselves, it is in knowing that the rules are set by God. The law is in your hearts, this is why it seems obvious to you, but you can easily override the laws, as i am sure we have all done many hundreds of times in our lives. The important thing is the realization that they are Gods laws.

[emphasis mine]

So basically, as long as it's set by god, it's meant to be followed, no questions asked? Nice

What do you mean, "no questions asked", you already said they are obvious to any reasonable atheist.