101. "The Effects Of Capital Punishment" By Sarah Belle Dougherty those most active in seeking to abolish capital punishment. is at odds with mostreligious and philosophical In the theosophical view, every person is rooted http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/issues/pu-sbd2.htm

The Effects of Capital Punishment By Sarah Belle Dougherty The merits of capital punishment continue to be debated as executions, American court decisions, and worldwide efforts to abolish the practice keep the issue before the public. Some proponents feel that death is a just retribution for certain crimes that the criminal has forfeited his right to life by his actions; some view it as a deterrent; others have lost faith in the ability and willingness of the criminal justice system to keep demonstrably dangerous people away from the general population. Permanently ridding humanity of the influence of the worst criminals might seem the most obvious effect of the death penalty, but does it really do this? Our evaluation of the practice depends on what we think happens to us after death. In the early part of this century theosophists were among those most active in seeking to abolish capital punishment. What are some of the grounds for their stand, and what light do they throw on today's debate? As the expression of a single spiritual source, the universe is fundamentally a oneness: the earth is an integral portion of the solar system, and we are integral parts of the earth. Just as we draw the elements of our physical body from the physical body of our planet, so do our spirit, mind, and emotions originate in corresponding aspects of our living, ensouled earth. Further, these different ranges of our being are sustained by their interactions with corresponding aspects of the earth, in the same way as we are sustained physically by our contact with the earth's physical environment; and our interactions with the psychological aspects of the earth are as substantial as those with the physical world.

102. THE JEWISH VIEW OF ABORTION The Jewish view is also important to discuss to a discussion on why they or any religiousgroup should punishable by fine only, and capital punishment does not http://www.libchrist.com/other/abortion/jewish.html

Liberated Christians PO Box 32835, Phoenix Az 85064-2835 Promoting Intimacy and Other-Centered Sexuality THE JEWISH VIEW OF ABORTION Since only 2 passages in the Bible deal with the death of a fetus and since both are in the OT, lets look at the Jewish view, since they often study the OT in much more depth and have a better understanding than Christians, since it is so fundamental to their faith. The Jewish view is also important to discuss to show that one religious belief does not have the right to take away the rights of another religious belief. To many Christians and most Jews, there is no soul till birth, and the only scripture dealing with the issue, clearly shows taking the life of a fetus is not murder. I respect the Catholic declaration that abortion is wrong and Catholics can be ex- communicating for it. However, the point is not to impose Catholic doctrine on other Christians and Jews whose religious beliefs follow more closely scripture rather than Catholic tradition. This is not a Catholic attack but a discussion on why they or any religious group should have no say in controlling the reproductive rights of non-Catholics, especially Jews. I've reviewed many Jewish texts and they are surprisingly in agreement on the basic issue. One is Judaism Confronts Contemporary Issues by Alex J. Goldman. Mr Goldman, rabbi of Temple Beth El, Stanford Connecticut was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College, attended Dropsie College for Hebrew and received his J.D. from De Paul University College of Law. He served two terms as Editor of the Rabbinical Assembly Proceedings and has written extensively in Jewish history and created many liturgical aids.

103. Death Penalty Religious: General Conference Mennonite Church In view of our responsibility as ministers of to work for the abolition of capitalpunishment or for of the economic, social, and religious conditions which http://www.deathpenaltyreligious.org/education/statements/mennonite.html

General Conference Mennonite Church CAPITAL PUNISHMENT The position on capital punishment of the General Conference Mennonite Church as adopted at Estes Park, Colorado, July 16, 1965. In View Of our Christian responsibility to give witness to the righteousness which God requires of all men, we are constrained to set forth our convictions concerning capital punishment. Our Belief Since Christ through His redemptive work has fulfilled the requirement of the death penalty, and has given the church a ministry of reconciliation, and in view of the injustice and ineffectiveness of capital punishment as a means for the achievement of the purpose of government, we express our conviction that its use should be discontinued. In view of the prophetic commission given to the church, therefore, we appeal to the Parliament of the Dominion of Canada and to the federal and state governments of the United States, to discontinue the use of the death penalty and to set rehabilitation as the ultimate goal in the treatment of the criminal, expressing a positive attitude to the offender, thus further encouraging the peace and order which under the lordship of Christ the state is commissioned to provide. Our Confession and Our Prayer In view of our responsibility as ministers of reconciliation we confess that we have not adequately fulfilled our obligation to work for the abolition of capital punishment or for the reduction of crime in our society. We need to be more faithful in serving persons in prison and in laboring for the reform of prison procedures; for the rehabilitation of released prisoners; and for the improvement of the economic, social, and religious conditions which contribute to the making of juvenile offenders and to the spread ofcrime.

104. The Death Penalty: A View Of Opposition The Death Penalty A View of Opposition the number of violent crimes where capitalpunishment is reinstituted? This is not religious dogma or pious prattle but http://www.truthinjustice.org/deathpen.htm

The Death Penalty: A View of Opposition by Doug Berry As we approach the 21st century, it's time to rethink the growing use of the death penalty in America. The idea of using of violence to combat violence seems to possses an inherent contradiction. Is contributing to the use of violence the best way to solve violent problems, or could our efforts be put to better use finding ways to end violence of all kinds? Does this lower the level of all of us as a society to the level of the violent crminal? Are we sanctioning capital punishment out of fear? Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation, a national organization, is sponsoring Journey of Hope to stir opposition to the death penalty. An excellent example of forgiveness in action. Nearly 60 percent of Virginians favor life imprisonment and restitution to the victims' families over the death penalty for convicted murders, according to figures provided by the Center for Survey Research at Virginia Tech. Yet, capital punishment persists. Sister Helen Prejean, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille in New Orleans and author of the book "Dead Man Walking", believes the American people have been manipulated by politicians into accepting the death penalty, and most people,when given an alternative, will oppose it. She believes that politicians running for office try to win by outdoing each other on how strong they are on punishing crime. She believes they have played on our fears and convinced us that we need capital punishment in order to deter violent crimes.

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