Undeniably, the issue on whether death penalty should be imposed on criminals or not is one of the most discussed debates in the world. There are different groups and regions that have shown different reactions towards this issue. The discussion below shows different reactions and views of different religions and groups on the death penalty. Confucianism did not concur with the death penalty because. This is shown when Lord Chi K’ang, asked Confucius if he can use killing to get rid of those people who were not abiding to his laws. The Confucius had an opposing response, where they asked the Lord how killing can be used in governing. Confucius also condemned anyone who enriched a leader who did not consider humane government. Nevertheless, they also criticized those people who declared war for this inhumane ruler.
Even though, Confucianism is against capital punishment, there are some conditions such as assisting, as well as, abetting exploitation; together with war making; which deserve to be punishable by death. Buddhism, on the other hand, does not support death penalty. Its doctrine holds that there should be nonviolence, along with, compassion in regards to life. Its first precept requires individuals to restrain from injuring and killing living creatures. Buddhism teachings are inconsistent with death penalties since capital punishment with Buddhism philosophies are a bogus paradox (Jones, 70).
Before the emergence of Buddhist influence in India, many countries found in the south eastern part of Asia were exercising capital punishment. Death penalty was also not supported by Buddhist since death marked the end of human life. They argued that the death penalty denied criminals the opportunity for change, restoration, and compensation (Owens 56). They believed that everyone in the society is capable of correcting themselves, as well as, making improvements. Therefore, they saw that it is possible to get rid of the criminal activity, without resorting to death of the criminal. According to Buddha Net, capital punishment involved killing. Therefore; it was incompatible with the ethics related to the Buddhist. The death penalty was also contrary to the social, as well as, legal philosophy of the Buddhists. Its peace fellowship believed that there is the possibility of social and personal transformation. They also believed that no means of arriving at death sentence was fair and that capital punishment nourishes the roots of violence within the society. On the other hand, death penalty is one of the social political issues facing
Taoism (Gerald et al., 34). Reforms take a negative stance, as far as, death penalty is concerned. In its creed, one of the statements is that people should avoid unnecessary violence. The Taoism’s prisons, along with its judicial system, are capable of instilling action to criminals, while preserving the societal civility, and stability. One does not need to murder a capital criminal since imprisoning such people seizes them from being a threat to the society. The troubling aspects related to capital punishment include loss of civility, and humanity. Due to this reason, Taoism saw the need of reaching at a similar conclusion to those of “developed” societies, and cultures. This conclusion states that capital punishment is a practice, which is archaic and socially-brutalizing, that people should diligently strive to end it. Legalism in China emphasized on the application of harsh punishment, and laws. The main reason for this emphasize, as far as, Shang Yang is concerned was to strengthen the state’s control in periods of war and conflicts. Lord Shang’s book stated that for a society to be governed well, the punishments should exceed the rewards.
History depicts that the death penalty in China was instituted to those people whose socioeconomic status was low (Jones, 66). This type of penalty was only applicable to persons of high social class in special circumstances such as, victimizing military officials in periods of war, and also in times of both internal and external threats.
Works Cited
Owens, Erik C, John D. Carlson, and Eric P. Elshtain. Religion and the Death Penalty: A Call for Reckoning. Grand Rapids, Mich: W.B. Eerdmans, 2004. Print.
Walker, Ida. The Death Penalty. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub. Co, 2008. Print.
Garland, David, Michael Meranze, and Randall McGowen. America's Death Penalty: Between Past and Present. New York: New York University Press, 2011. Print.
Jones, Sandra J. Coalition Building in the Anti-Death Penalty Movement: Privileged Morality, Race Realities. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, 2010. Print.
