[artplumber]

Originally posted by Aurel
According to Amnesty International, during 2005 at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries, 94% in China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United States alone. Looks to me like most civilized countries have gotten rid of the death penalty, and that it is a characteristic of opressive regimes.

You have got to be kidding. "civilization=no death penalty". Any life is better than no life? (Including, on the other side, keeping terminally ill people alive).

...One must understand that when somebody commits a horrendous crime, they don`t hold much value in human life, including theirs. The bible has thought forgiveness, and only God should give or take life.

That is the point of the death penalty. The same people who believe that life doesn't hold much value don't get to kill again, and civilization doesn't just keep them around as exhibits to what people can become (keeping them alive serves what purpose BTW?)

And if you're going to get biblical, while one is instructed not to take a life and to forgive, the Bible in no way approves the absence of punishment. That is what the eye for an eye quote arises from.