The Chop
June 5, 2003 7:08 AM Subscribe
Interview with an executioner. “It doesn’t matter to me: Two, four, 10 — As long as I’m doing God’s will, it doesn’t matter how many people I execute,”
The Government != God. It's the government's will (in the form of a judge and jury) that the individual die.
People will point to Matthew 5:38 (KJ) and say that this provides amble support for a policy on execution, but when viewed in context, the passage is a statement of what you may have heard, and that you should turn the other cheek.
In fact, if I'm correct about this, God's got some sort of law about this sort of thing.
posted by thanotopsis at 8:22 AM on June 5, 2003
People will point to Matthew 5:38 (KJ) and say that this provides amble support for a policy on execution, but when viewed in context, the passage is a statement of what you may have heard, and that you should turn the other cheek.
In fact, if I'm correct about this, God's got some sort of law about this sort of thing.
posted by thanotopsis at 8:22 AM on June 5, 2003
Interesting yet obviously disturbing interview. Kind of reminds me of The Last Face You'll Ever See, a book about two men working in the execution arena of a Mississippi Prison. The last review on this page provides a pretty good synopsis.
posted by Ufez Jones at 8:30 AM on June 5, 2003
posted by Ufez Jones at 8:30 AM on June 5, 2003
thanotopsis: If I recall correctly, there is some debate about is, in that it has been suggested that the commandment has been mistranslated, and that it was originally "Thou shalt not (do) murder".
I don't really care, because I'm an atheist, but "Thou shalt not kill" is worryingly broad for my liking. For example, are you allowed to get rid of cockroaches in your house? Wasp's nests? For that matter, how do farmers get around "Thou shalt not kill" when it comes to cows, pig and lambs? If a Christian kills a man in self-defence has he contravened the sixth commandment? What about soldiers? Whether they're killing for their country or not, "Thou shalt not kill" is pretty clear. Is every man who takes up arms in defence of his country risking his soul here?
posted by kaemaril at 12:10 PM on June 5, 2003
I don't really care, because I'm an atheist, but "Thou shalt not kill" is worryingly broad for my liking. For example, are you allowed to get rid of cockroaches in your house? Wasp's nests? For that matter, how do farmers get around "Thou shalt not kill" when it comes to cows, pig and lambs? If a Christian kills a man in self-defence has he contravened the sixth commandment? What about soldiers? Whether they're killing for their country or not, "Thou shalt not kill" is pretty clear. Is every man who takes up arms in defence of his country risking his soul here?
posted by kaemaril at 12:10 PM on June 5, 2003
Kaemaril, you are right about "thou shalt not murder." In the New Testament, centurions who asked what they needed to do in the realm of repentance were told to be content with their pay (in essence don't extort). They were never told not to kill in the course of their duties, and they were never told to resign as centurions.
posted by konolia at 12:48 PM on June 5, 2003
posted by konolia at 12:48 PM on June 5, 2003
I'm thinking the Bible probably isn't his religious literature of choice.
posted by John Shaft at 3:49 PM on June 5, 2003
posted by John Shaft at 3:49 PM on June 5, 2003
“It doesn’t matter to me: Two, four, 10 — As long as I’m doing God’s will, it doesn’t matter how many people I execute”
Coulda sworn that quote was from Bush, when he was governor of Texas.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:25 PM on June 5, 2003
Coulda sworn that quote was from Bush, when he was governor of Texas.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:25 PM on June 5, 2003
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