Capital Punishment: A Controversial Concept
Capital punishment refers to a legal death penalty for defendants found guilty of their charges; a concept that is continually finding its way into all circles in life due to its controversial nature. In Western Europe, the United States is the only country currently where the death penalty is being practiced. The sentence had gone through a series of amendments with some periods when it was suspended before being reinstituted again. Globally, about fifty-four countries are practicing the death penalty. The discussions concerning Capital punishment stems from the different ways through which people think and perceive matters. Furthermore, there are a plethora of authorities that range from the religious perspective, social cultures and traditions to political policies.
Morality and Capital Punishment
The concept of morality regarding capital punishment has had different definitions and diverse understanding, especially from the religious point of view. Different religions have different reactions on the issue, thus the mixed opinion since people define morality differently. Additionally, the attitudes of some faiths towards the matter keeps on changing due to the varying circumstances. Nonetheless, religions develop their understanding of morality and principles of morality from their repertories, such as the Bible and the Quran.
Christianity's Evolving Perception
Christianity, for instance, has had an evolutionary perception of capital punishment. Early Christians did not approve of the death penalty and people who showed interest in upholding the practice were seen as violators of moral codes. However, over time, the strict views and skeptical attitudes began to fade until the time of Philosopher Thomas Aquinas whose views changed the overall perception. Catholics bought the idea that it was lawful until recently when Pope Francis revised the ideology and condemned it. There have also been another group of Christians who condemned it from its time of institution. For instance, most Jews are opposed to the practice, although a sect of the Orthodox Jews does not see it as a violation of moral codes. They claim that it was a practice that was included even in the Old Testament even though it was rarely practiced. Currently, various Christians all over the world have different opinions about the whole idea of capital punishment.
Diverse Views Among Other Religions
Other religions too are not exempted from the diversity of opinions. For instance, the Kitab-i-Aqdas, believe that some crimes such as murder can be punished by capital punishment. Hinduism does not have any clear-cut stand on the matter; however, India has relatively low rates of execution. Indians believe in Ahimsa, which could account for the low rates of implementation. In Islam, they practice strict adherence to the Sharia laws as spelled out in the Quran. The Quran allows for the murder of individuals who commit crimes such as adultery and murder; thus Islam does not oppose the death penalty. Nevertheless, not all Islamic nations like Djibouti support capital punishment.
Varying Opinions in the United States
In the United States, there are states which abolished capital punishment. However, some states still uphold the law. The general public equally has diversified opinions on the same. There are those who firmly believe that it is a right decision. Hence the practice should be approved. The percentage of people who oppose the death penalty are on the rise. This is partly because of some of the botched executions. Some people have had questions concerning the validity of the whole process of execution. Some people, however, think it is morally wrong, and thus oppose the ideology.
