The Right to Judge

2004-2-10 06:01:00

Melody writes:
Somebody who killed has bad karma coming, in other words, negative credit. It is not karma save to judge that somebody should get the death penalty.

JJ:
If it were negative karma for the state to judge that someone should get the death penalty when he has committed first degree murder then it would also be negative karma to give the man something worse than death - life in prison. Using this same reasoning it would produce negative karma to give out punishment of any kind - even a fine or a short prison term for the thief or wife-beater.

If it were to produce negative karma to administer justice through judges then this would mean that all the judges of all the nations are in a precarious situation indeed and all judges should be dismissed and no punishments administered.

Actually the truth is the other way around. If the judge is just he creates positive karma because he helps society and aids in protecting the innocent. But if the judge judges badly either too harsh or too soft then he may incur bad karma. For instance, the guy in Florida named Joseph P. Smith had many arrests and just received a slap on the wrist before he killed the little girl. Several judges may incur some karma here because they did not do their job in protecting the innocent.

A judge who administers fair justice does not incur negative karma, but the opposite because of the good outcome.

Melody:
What do you think? Aren't we guilty of murder if we agree to the death penalty?

JJ:
Where do you get this idea? If we follow this reasoning then we must also be guilty of having slaves if we support sending someone into the slavery of prison or even fine him and make him work like a slave to repay his debt.

Logic alone tells us this is not the case.

Any time true justice is administered there is no negative karma and nothing to feel guilt about.

In the commandments of the Bible where we are told "thou shalt not kill..." The word kill comes from the Hebrew RATSACH which is more literally translated as "murder." The word kill in relation to war or administering justice uses other words that mean kill, which is different from a criminal murder.

Melody:
What would you say, if somebody drives under the influence of alcohol and kills one or more people in a car crash, should we agree on the death penalty? He /she knew before drinking that it can be fatal by driving Intoxicated. Did he/she intentionally kill? You bet he/she did.

JJ:
The person is responsible for the death, but did not commit the crime intentionally. Therefore, the death penalty would be overkill. Society does need to be protected from him and he should be forced to pay recompense to the victim. If he doesn't learn his lesson he will suffer the loss of a loved one in some future time through criminal neglect. Then he will understand his crime.

Melody:
Do we have the right to judge others?

JJ:
Yes. This is why every nation, city and state has judges. This idea of judging criminals has universal support.

By the way, welcome to the list. Hope you stay with us.

Glenys writes:
What about someone who is sentenced to more than 20 years who is not a murderer? Who perhaps is in prison for fraud or kidnapping where no life has been taken.

I am assuming that the 20 years = a life principle would stand and you would advocate capital punishment for anyone sentenced to more than 20 years? Or would it be judged on a case by case basis?

JJ:
I think it should be judged case by case. There are some crimes that may be as bad a murder such as rape, child molestation and abuse. I wouldn't feel it injustice to administer the death penalty to some of the worst of these, but whatever the case, society needs protection from them one way or another until they become harmless.

One of the problems with long prison sentences is the conditions within them. Sure these guys have made mistakes, but there is much more we can do to aid them on the course of true rehabilitation. Such a course would in the end be best for all of society, the criminals and the victims as well.

But this is another topic and we'll have to cover it later.

Jesus warned his followers to seek first the kingdom of heaven (that state of consciousness which would produce the thing desired) and all things would be added to them. Neville