Hey Ladies,
I'm not really new to Cathe's forums as I read them almost daily. I don't post very often. I must say that even though this is a very controversial topic, it has been very interesting and enlightening to read everyone opinions. If I may, please allow me to share mine.
I am a person that suffered severe abuse as a child (for many years) at the hands of a pedophile. When I was sixteen, my mother was murdered by her live-in boyfriend right in front of me. He then turned the gun on himself and took his life. I can't say that I know how I would have felt if he had only killed my mother. I do know that I have no hatred for that man. I did for the man that molested me, as he was still alive. I just seems pointless to hate someone that's not even here to reap the benefit of that feeling -if that makes sense. It's a closed case now. For years, I hated the man that molested me. I should have because he forever changed my life. He stole so much from me as a human being. It wasn't until I realized that by hating him, I was only allowing him to control my life now, just as he did when I was a child. I would always be his victim if I didn't do something to change how I felt. So I forgave him. Now granted, I don't see him - haven't in years (he may be dead for all I know) but it wasn't something I had to let him know I did anyway because he could've cared less. But it saved me. So maybe the death of the guilty does allow the victims to move on with their lives in a way that only God knows.
Now I'm a Christian and I hate that someone posted earlier that we are more judgemental and intolerant than anyone else. That is such a shame that we have come across to the world that way as I don't think that is what the Lord had in mind. But I would like to share where corporal punishment comes from. When Noah got off the ark, God told him "Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning, from the hand of every beast I will require it and from the hand of man. Whoever shed's man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed. For in the image of God he made man." Genesis 9:5-6
I was also said in the Law "Whoever kills a man shall be put to death." Lev 24:17
Jesus never in the New Testament did away with any of God laws, He just showed us that we can fulfill all of God's law if we love each other as we love our selves and do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
If you don't believe, that's OK but as for me, I'm inclined to believe that God had a good reason for requiring a life for a life. Probably to deter future murders and to provide peace for the innocent and the families effected.
Thanks for reading. Now go get your game face on and workout!!!! CATHE ROCKS!!!!!
Karen