christianity

• against:

  • only God has right to take life
  • "never take revenge [...] but leave room for God's wrath"
  • Jesus taught forgiveness and mercy
  • "pray for those who persecute you"
  • human life is sacred and given by God
  • Old Testament of "an eye for an eye" is outdated
  • Quakers campaign against death penalty - human life should be respected
• for:

  • death penalty keeps in line with "an eye for an eye"
  • "whoever sheds blood of a man, by man shall his blood be shed"
  • the penalty is carred out by law, not as revenge
  • capital punishment is needed if other punishment has not worked