Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
It doesn't. It actually delays it because you get up the false hope that you will feel better, and has you focusing on some external goal which prevents you from dealing with your own internal problems. It's a way to avoid closure.If it helps with closure, sure.
No.In the case of a murder conviction and death sentence for a child rapist/murderer, should a family member have the option of pulling the switch or administrating the needle?
It doesn't. It actually delays it because you get up the false hope that you will feel better, and has you focusing on some external goal which prevents you from dealing with your own internal problems. It's a way to avoid closure.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pieces-mind/201309/revenge-will-you-feel-better
I prefer that it be sold to the highest bidder.In the case of a murder conviction and death sentence for a child rapist/murderer, should a family member have the option of pulling the switch or administrating the needle?
I don't believe in the death penalty at all, but definitely not an overt indulgence in revenge, which is not rational and highly vulnerable to mistakes, plus isn't good to hold onto for healing from loss or injury anyway.
Signed,
A child molestation survivor
Sure it was.That wasn't the question.
Depends on the age and mental status of the criminal. One could argue there needs to be more options for the family members to execute with, depending on the degree of violence the victim had to suffer through.In the case of a murder conviction and death sentence for a child rapist/murderer, should a family member have the option of pulling the switch or administrating the needle?
Forgetting for a moment that I dont believe in anything like a 'pure' science, I've never seen a situation where revenge was helpful treatment, certainly not by psychologists and psychiatrists. Closure doesnt come from external sources. It comes from you reaching acceptance. If you're actively allowing your wellbeing to be based on the outcomes beyond your control you will perpetually be in an emotionally unhealthy space.The key word, was IF.
The issue with psychology is that it's not exactly pure science. And it suggests a probability which I can agree that there's a high probability of truth to this matter.
However, IMO, if could help any families of victims then I'm fine if its at the expense of the criminals. They've lost their freedom because of their crimes so this is an extension of that.
Depends on the age and mental status of the criminal. One could argue there needs to be more options for the family members to execute with, depending on the degree of violence the victim had to suffer through.
Is that before or after the castration?You mean like two in the chest?
You asked if the victim's family should be allowed to kill their loved one's murderer. It speaks straight to your question to answer with "no, because nobody should be allowed to kill murderers."That wasn't the question.
Revenge is a dish best served cold...and yet it remains entirely unsatisfying at the end, and leaves one as trapped in the circumstance as before. Forgiveness really is the only way to free your own self completely, to move on.In the case of a murder conviction and death sentence for a child rapist/murderer, should a family member have the option of pulling the switch or administrating the needle?
A counterpoint... imagine that the condemned person is later found to have been innocent? The justice system we have isn't 100% accurate, so it happens. How's that going to effect the psychological health of the family member who "threw the switch"? There's also the small matter of becoming a target themselves, of retribution or public backlash.The key word, was IF.
The issue with psychology is that it's not exactly pure science. And it suggests a probability which I can agree that there's a high probability of truth to this matter.
However, IMO, if could help any families of victims then I'm fine if its at the expense of the criminals. They've lost their freedom because of their crimes so this is an extension of that.
Forgetting for a moment that I dont believe in anything like a 'pure' science, I've never seen a situation where revenge was helpful treatment, certainly not by psychologists and psychiatrists. Closure doesnt come from external sources. It comes from you reaching acceptance. If you're actively allowing your wellbeing to be based on the outcomes beyond your control you will perpetually be in an emotionally unhealthy space.
And further, it goes against everything our justice system is about. Justice being 'blind,' using a detached rationality to weigh cases and their outcome. If we had no empathy towards criminals we wouldn't strive for living conditions to have standards or make cruel and unusual punishments illegal. Our legal system certainly isnt pure, either, and adding a bunch of emotional baggage won't help the amount of false convictions and false executions or botched executions.
A counterpoint... imagine that the condemned person is later found to have been innocent? The justice system we have isn't 100% accurate, so it happens. How's that going to effect the psychological health of the family member who "threw the switch"? There's also the small matter of becoming a target themselves, of retribution or public backlash.
The fallibility of the justice system is the basis for my opposition to the death penalty, but if we MUST practice it, better the state do the executing rather than individuals personally involved in the matter. For hundreds of years, executions have been conducted by, at least nominally, anonymous executioners, and there is a reason for that.
I know that race to the bottom, armchair Laura Norder types love puffing themselves up and proudly declaring "well I'd be happy to throw the switch!" I've actually killed people, though, and the reality is somewhat different. I was all gung ho about getting into it, based on the information available at the time, but the actual act of what I did eats at me, and in the light of information that has since come out, I don't even have the consolation of telling myself I was on the "right" side. My recurring nightmare is about a killing I didn't commit, nor even explicitly order. I gave a lawful command that resulted in what was determined to be an accidental killing, and THAT is the reason I've only had about 2 decent nights' sleep a week for the last 15 years.
So, based on personal experience, and general concerns based on my understanding of psychology, bloodthirsty revenge fantasies of comfortable middle class Westerners aside, no, I don't think it's a good idea.