Re: Punishment - why?

In message <7dgnu39482tts7jg64g8tp4327cqa1nrhl@xxxxxxx>, {R} <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
In uk.religion.christian on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:48:09 +0000, Michael J
Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> wrote:

}In message <87od916jy5.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Gareth McCaughan
}<Gareth.McCaughan@xxxxxxxxx> writes
}>Mike Davis wrote:
}>
}>>>> However, I'm now wondering what the role of punishment really is - hence
}>>>> my original question.
}>>>
}>>> Are you wondering what people think it's for, or what good
}>>> it actually does, or what God intended it to achieve, or
}>>> what?
}>>
}>> No - ISTM that atheists (usual qualifications - not to be taken
}>> personally) and Christians - almost all humans, in fact, seem to
}>> accept 'punishment' as a given.
}>>
}>> I intend to extend the thinking to the scriptural base later. But I'm
}>> still not sure why we accept punishment as an obvious 'need'.
}>
}>Doesn't that mean that what you're wondering isn't what the
}>role of punishment is, but why people so commonly think there
}>must be a role for it?
}>
}Both actually. Would our civilisation collapse if we dropped the idea of
}punishment, sticking to restitution, protection, and rehabilitation
}alone?

Do these adequately cover the feelings of totally detached third parties ?

By this I mean the "that justice be seen to be done" and its, in my view,
implicit undertaking; that justice be seen to be done by everyone, in the
future as well as in the present and past

That's really what I am exploring {R}, is punishment an inherent component of justice? If so, why?

In particular I'd welcome the atheist input (I'm not suggesting there's only one!).

Thanks

Mike

[The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting]
--
Michael J Davis
http://www.trustsof.demon.co.uk
<><
For this is what the Lord has said to me,
"Go and post a Watchman and let
him report what he sees." Isa 21:6
<><
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Punishment - why?
    ... }>By this I mean the "that justice be seen to be done" and its, in my view, ... element of punishment is an inherent component of justice. ... I remained silent; ... Michael J Davis ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Re: Punishment - why?
    ... "Michael J Davis" wrote in message ... What is the role of 'punishment' in human society? ... Protection of society - (i.e. ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Re: Punishment - why?
    ... }>I am not sure, it is something in me, and I suspect society in general, ... }>}So I cannot see that 'punishment' comes into your description at all. ... }are freed from our sins and the consequences of sin. ... Michael J Davis ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Re: Punishment - why?
    ... I am not sure, it is something in me, and I suspect society in general, ... }So I cannot see that 'punishment' comes into your description at all. ... except that much of Christian theology seems to imply that we are freed from our sins and the consequences of sin. ... Michael J Davis ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Re: A few thoughts on Justice. reply part One A
    ... Which is one reason why I do *not* think ... that "justice" can involve consigning billions of people to eternal ... a good idea to inflict punishment on the perpetrator is ... ... Somalian pirates who steal boats and kill the crew (note: ...
    (uk.religion.christian)