let god talk for himself...

Philosophy Forums Religion and Spirituality
1

You often see the “faithful” demanding that we punish
the “wicked”, the “sinners” but think about this for a moment…
why? why must we punish those who sin or are evil,
from a religious standpoint…

when you punish someone who is violating religious law,
why? What is the point? If they have violated god’s law,
why do we punish instead of god? If god existed, why don’t
we allow god to do his job and punish the wicked?
for me, to punish those who have violated god’s law, is to
say the out loud part… we don’t believe that god will actually
punish them for their sins… We don’t believe in god enough to
let him punish those sinners with his actions… we think we must
get involved and interpret god’s law… if we are the lowly sinners
that people proclaim, then what gives us the right to punish sinners
that violated god’s laws? I am a sinner, I have sinned, and yet,
I don’t encourage or ask for anyone to punish me for my sins…
I leave that to god, and yet if someone else sins, I take it upon myself
to punish that sinner… not to wait for god to punish that sinner…

On what grounds can we possible justify punishing others for sins
while we ourselves will wait for god to punish our sins after death…

What exactly are we trying to prove by punishing sinners, who
are exactly like us, sinners… why does our punishment get deferred
to the future and we actively punish sinners for sins they have
conducted against god…

Those who punish sinners are telling me that they don’t think that
god will punish the sinners… he will let them off the hook…
but why do we think we are more knowing then god?

If god lets them off the hook, why can’t we do the same?

The New Testament speaks of love and forgiveness… and yet we are unable
to practice that with sinners… for we must punish those who transgress
god’s laws… why, can’t god speak for himself? Can’t god act for himself?
If there is a god and he is as defined, then by what right do we have
to punish others? I say, leave it to god and his judgement…

Don’t try to take the place of god by passing judgment on others…
and if you do pass judgement on others, are you saying, I am god?
Even I am not that bold… NO, allow god to speak and act for himself…
allow him to make judgements on our souls… as it should be…

Kropotkin

2

Does this logic apply to ALL sins or just some?

For example, would you apply this law equally to murder and homosexuality, or is there something that sets murder apart as needing earthly punishment?

3

Sin is on a spectrum. Like autism.

Here’s how you defend everyone:

  • They weren’t taught correctly.

  • They are mentally handicapped

  • They have a tic disorder (that they can’t control)

If people can’t behave, you don’t send them to hell realms… you disempower and isolate.

If sin weren’t on a continuum. Everyone would be disempowered and isolated.

I suppose that’s what humans would call grace.

4

K: for much of what people need to punish others, I myself don’t feel
the need to punish… for example, I see homosexuality as not being a sin,
not needing to be punished… and that the punishment for murder,
shouldn’t need to be capital punishment…and I wasn’t really talking about
punishment per se… I was more referring to the need of people to
act in judgement of others… to act in judgment of others, requires one
to be “above” such a judgement… for me to sit in judgement of others,
requires me to be on some level “above” them…for how can two
people being equal, how can one pass judgement on another?
for we are equal… if I ''sin" and you “sin”, who is to say my ‘‘sin’’ is lessor
or greater than yours? What standard shall I use to justify my sin
being greater or smaller than yours?

the mechanism of justice is less important than the why of justice…

why must we act in god’s name to engage with god’s judgement?
why not let god speak for himself and dole out punishment himself…

that is more of the nature of the thread…

Kropotkin