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| − | It's ok to be gay. | + | Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, refers to the custom of executing prisoners who are convicted of certain crimes. |
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| | + | == Capital Punishment in the world today == |
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| | + | This method of punishment is banned in many of the developed nations in the world. It is still practiced in the [[United States]], [[Botswana]], [[India]], [[Zambia]], and [[Japan]]. It is also practiced in most [[Muslim]] states, as well as many other countries which are not yet considered to be developed [http://www.eurunion.org/legislat/deathpenalty/EurHRConvProt13Decl.htm]. |
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| | + | Though the United States suspended the death penalty in 1973, it was reinstated in 1977. 65% of Americans believe putting someone to death for a crime is acceptable, according to a recent poll [http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/1015a3DeathPenalty.pdf]. |
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| | + | == Biblical View == |
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| | + | Some Christians interpret the Biblical passage in which Jesus says, "He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone" (John 8:7) as evidence that humans do not have the right to judge another worthy of death. |
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| | + | However, the Bible also has many passages the recommend the death penalty for different offenses. These offenses include homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13), handling the skin of a pig (Leviticus 11:7-8), eating shellfish (Leviticus 11:9-12), and working on the sabbath (Exodus 35:2). |