Re: Punishment - why?

In message <q2etu3di593ug93u3ub7bdccoef8nvj17n@xxxxxxx>, {R} <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
In uk.religion.christian on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:47:20 +0000, Michael J
Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> wrote:

}I take the point that justice must be *seen* to be done - but why is
}'punishment' integral to that? (I suspect it may be so combined in your
}mind that you may not see the separation that I am making in asking the
}question.)

I am not sure, it is something in me, and I suspect society in general,
that says things like:

"Good, he got what he deserved"

}So I cannot see that 'punishment' comes into your description at all.
}
}Could you elaborate, please?

Not much further, the element of punishment for doing "wrong" is deeply
ingrained in most humans, coming largely from parents and authority figures
in childhood that have punished me; and called it punishment.

This is exactly why I started the post. You see, when atheists (in general) attack God as 'punishing people in hell'; I wonder when and why and for what they justify punishment.

If punishment is an uncivilised practice, not carried out by loving people, then I'm sure that view is appropriate. But I don't know why we do accept and demand punishment, and for what.

In all respects this has little to do with religion.

Indeed, except that much of Christian theology seems to imply that we are freed from our sins and the consequences of sin.

So I wanted to find out when people think punishment, per se, is appropriate.

Mike

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--
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

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