2004-2-5 05:18:00
The Question:
How many years would you have to be in prison before death would be preferable from the standpoint of your soul? That is, when would you, as an entity, move ahead faster through the door of death than prison and physical life?
5 years? 10 years? 20 years? 40 years? 60 years? 100 years? Never?
Notice the difference in the wording from the previous question. The last question was from the viewpoint of your soul. This was from your own viewpoint.
Have you noticed that over half of those who responded did not answer the question, but related their views on imprisonment, punishment, the State etc.
This question has nothing to do with whether imprisonment is right or wrong, whether a person deserves to be in prison, prison reform, making good use of time in prison, what the crime was, whether or not life is a prison etc.
What does it have to do with? It has to do with how it would effect you if for some reason, right or wrong, just or unjust, you were thrown in prison. How many years would you have to be sentenced before you would choose death instead? There has to be a number, for every person has his limitations. Even if it is a million years, there is a number which would weigh so heavy upon you that you would choose instead to be separated from the body and placed in the hands of your soul.
There is a reason I am steering the group this direction - toward a specific answer.
Now let's put another twist on this question.
Suppose you were a judge and five criminals were brought before you. All these criminals are twenty years of age and have committed murder and are expected to live to be 100 years of age. The evidence is beyond dispute that they are guilty. Here is the recommendation of the jury.
Criminal number one. 10 years in prison or the death sentence.
Criminal number two. 20 years in prison or the death sentence.
Criminal number three. 40 years in prison or the death sentence.
Criminal number four. 60 years in prison or the death sentence.
Criminal number five. 80 years in prison or the death sentence.
What would be your judgment? How long would the wretched soul have to spend in prison before you would deem the death penalty more merciful than prison?
Why do you suppose that so many are unwilling to answer these specific questions?
Look as though you saw; listen as though you heard; stretched your imaginary hand as though you touched ... and your assumption will harden into facts. Neville
Copyright 2004 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved