Proof that America is Not a Christian Nation
According to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, about two-thirds of Americans know that innocent people can be killed via death penalty sentences, yet still support the death penalty:
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Mar. 25-29 among 1,500 adults, finds widespread doubts about how the death penalty is applied and whether it deters serious crime. Yet a majority (63%) says that when someone commits a crime like murder, the death penalty is morally justified; just 31% say it is morally wrong, even in cases of murder.
At the same time, 71% of Americans say there is some risk that an innocent person will be put to death. Only about a quarter (26%) say there are adequate safeguards in place to make sure that does not happen.
About six-in-ten (61%) say the death penalty does not deter people from committing serious crimes; 35% say it does deter serious crime.
And about half (52%) say that minorities are more likely than whites to be sentenced to death for similar crimes; fewer (41%) think that whites and minorities are equally likely to be sentenced for similar .
This graphic is from Vox:
How repulsive is this? We have real doubts about the *justice* of the death penalty, but we still support it. Not exactly the response of a nation guided by the Ten Commandments — the Thou Shalt Not Kill one. Or of a nation that is supposedly committed to Justice for All.
Ezra Klein thinks about why Americans support the death penalty:
Previous Gallup surveys have given a consistent justification: vengeance. In 2014, 35 percent of those in favor of the death penalty for convicted murderers said a variation of “it fits the crime,” “eye for an eye,” or “they took a life,” while 14 percent said “they deserve it.” Another 14 percent said the death penalty saves money — even though lengthy court appeals make it more expensive than life in prison. Just 6 percent said it deters crime.
So Americans are more bloodthirsty than they are Christian is looks like from here. And even the rhetoric around the death penalty in individual cases doesn’t concern itself with justice — it is about how bloodthirsty we are.
Tags: Death Penalty
It makes sense to me. The state sanctioned murder of Jesus Christ by proxy saved the souls of every Christian born. (Follow that? :-)) Why wouldn’t Christians love the death penalty. It was through an execution ordered by Rome that they all where granted divine salvation… In every Catholic church I’ve every been in there’s a shrine to a guy actually being crucified. Of course they fucking love it. They pray to it.
No execution then no resurrection then no salvation. Capital punishment was the initial move. It actually makes a pretty good story if you read it as the fiction it is.
If they had hung Jesus would Christians wear nooses around their necks?
Catholic teaching is opposed to the death penalty.
Dorian Gray…do you have the “ability” to comment on an article written without the vulgarity? It obvious from your comments you know very little about religion and our beliefs.
These results show that the death penalty is a rare instance of our public policy being guided, not by religion or reason, but a third thing. Bloodlust.
I agree with Cassandra. Sickening.
GTY, you need to be here with ONE NAME as the rules of the road here plainly state. So you choose if you are GTY, FTG or doc or just go away.
I could comment without vulgarity but what’s the fun in that.
I very likely have forgotten more about Roman Catholic dogma then you currently know. I had twelve years of Catholic school and was an unmolested altar boy! (Dodged a huge bullet there.)
I’ve also gone through phases where I’d read extensive exegesis of the Gospels and most of the New Testament. Some Old Testament textual criticism as well, mostly Bart Ehrman… Some really good scholarship from Karen King too, &c. Actually last year finished a great book by Robert Wright called The Evolution of God.
Right now I’m reading a lot of Enlightment era deist criticism of the Catholic Church. Getting into the Jansenist Catholism in France in the 17th and 18th century… Also a very interesting section in Voltaire’s biography regarding his attempts to persuade Calvinist of Geneva on tolerance and his strenuous defense of Protestant/Huguenots in France.
…but do I really need explain myself to you? Tell you what,big guy, if you ever want to debate any topic in real life I’m sure the contributors here can arrange it. You pick the topic. You have no fucking clue what you’re getting yourself into.
Here’s an idea. Unless you know where you’re going don’t fucking call me out individually. You’re out of your element.
Oh… and one other point @Puck. Yes, I’m aware of the Catholic position re: Capital Punishment. My original comment was meant as a joke and jokes don’t work if I need to explain them. I am certain that you along with every other rational/sane person who read it understood the concept.
Have “Christian nations” EVER followed their faith’s teachings on the death penalty? I think it is VERY Christian… in the “what history has shown us about them” of them to lust after capitol punishment, then try and justify it as either righteous, or it gets into something they assume they will be forgiven for later.
Anyone who actually starts acting like a Christian, gets branded a Godless Socialist
“Have “Christian nations” EVER followed their faith’s teachings on the death penalty? ”
Perhaps the Pennsylvania Colony? Not that it was a “nation” per se… but genuine New Testament teaching did inform the government until the place was overrun by Lutherans.
Nope. They had it. http://deathpenaltycurriculum.org/student/c/about/history/history-2.htm
Since I mentioned what I’m currently reading and it is relevant to this discussion about Catholicism and its history with executions, feel free to read about the following three incidents. They are quite compelling…
François-Jean Lefebvre (chevalier de la Barre)
Jean Calas de Toulouse
Pierre-Paul Sirven