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Posted by gerard manley hopkins on March 29, 2002 at 19:29:28: In Reply to: Re: REPLY ON EXECUTIONS - posted by Edward T. Graney on March 29, 2002 at 18:07:43: Hey Ed, Whatever the other posters say I enjoy reading you opinions even if I disagree. Don't rest your case! murder: the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought (From Merriam-Webster Dictionary) Execution - legal in the eyes of man? An execution is only legal in those countries/states that have deemed it so. So for instance an execution in Texas would not be deemed legal under UK/French law and therefore an extradition of a suspect might be halted in such a case, this has happened. Execution - legal in the eyes of God? There is much debate on this one and either side can be taken. Exodus 20:13, says "Thou shalt not kill", the original verb used was "rasah" which refers to the premeditated or accidental taking of the life of another human being; it includes any unauthorized killing. So again we are left with the question, who can authorize a killing man or God? Very apt given the day. Jesus does not acknowledge Pilate's power even if Caiaphas does. For Jesus the answer is that only God can take a life, for Caiaphas and Pilate they believe man can take a life. Caiphas and Pilate played bit parts in a larger drama that had been playing out since even before the prophecies of Isiah. So do you side with Jesus or Caiaphas and Pilate? Heavy stuff!
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