It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
The Lost Boys | 60 Minutes Archive
Bob Simon first met the Lost Boys of Sudan — a group of young men orphaned by civil war — in a Kenyan refugee camp in 2001. Their parents were killed, and their sisters were often sold into slavery. In 2013, after some had relocated to the United States, 60 Minutes caught up with them...
Post Argument Now Debate Details +
Arguments
Many have suggested that the Old Testament laws were as strict as the Code of Hammurabi, but this is not the case. The Old Testament does list 16 offenses where the death penalty is possible (even things like disobeying parents) - but in all of them other than murder - a lesser punishment was accepted (Numbers 35:31; Prov 6:32-35; Matt 1:19). Not the case for Hammurabi, well if you weren't rich that is. In fact, there is little to no evidence that the Jews enforced the most extreme form of punishment, capital punishment, for most of the 16 crimes, though immediately after the giving of the 10 commandments - there are some examples where breaking the commandments was punished that way.
The Bible does not have differing punishments for different classes of people. If someone killed a slave, then it punished in the same way as if he killed a rich person. If they stole from a slave, they got the same punishment as if they stole from a rich person.
The Bible required 2 witnesses for a death penalty, and a court judge's ruling. People were not allowed to enact street justice (though it did happen illegally sometimes).
The Bible, unlike Hammurabi's code, requires the Jewish people to not turn over a slave, but to protect them.
Jesus in the New Testament describes a different mindset to have about one's rights:
So, I think there is a place for non retributive justice. Where I see that some efforts go off the rails, is where they become only concerned about the restoring the criminal, and ignore the victim. While as a Christian, I can overlook an offense from someone else. That is self-imposed, not the mandate of the law at large. While I might choose to overlook some wrong or injustice done by someone else, that is a personal choice, and not a legislative mandate placed upon all victims.
  Considerate: 100%  
  Substantial: 100%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level:   
  Sources:   
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
it should be noted that Iran has a very low theft rate
Iran also cut the hands off captured thieves and their feet if they attempt to flee once identified, if only Iran applied this same logic to male rapists it could consider itself civilised.
  Considerate: 100%  
  Substantial: 100%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level:   
  Sources:   
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
You posted on another topic which implied that you are anti Israel? If so, then I find your position on pedophilia's to be odd? If you oppose Israel, then it stands to reason that you support Islam. within Islam, what you would call "paedophilia" is openly practiced, and officially and religiously sanctioned. How do you reconcile your opposition to paedophilia when you apparently support the evil religion which practices and promotes this behaviour?
  Considerate: 100%  
  Substantial: 100%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level:   
  Sources:   
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
  Considerate: 100%  
  Substantial: 100%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level:   
  Sources:   
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra