winstonjen

Their punishment? IMHO, to be sent to a jail where they will be treated roughly by the inmates. Hopefully they will get what they did to the young children.

Edit: According to their teachings, their forgiveness comes from Jesus, so that's why I think they use Him as an excuse to sin.

[ December 05, 2002: Message edited by: winstonjen ]</p>

Amie

ok I understand how one could feel that way...
winstonjen do you see yourself as being a "forgiving" person?

we have consequences for our actions. Sometimes people do things without thinking of the consequences to their actions. That is what I think was the case here.

winstonjen

No, but then again, I feel that mercy is a shield used by the weak, exploited by criminals.

Evil must be slain immediately, if not, it will fester and grow like an uncontrolled cancer.

I don't see how they can rape little boys and not be thinking of what they were doing. Maybe once or twice, but certainly not 10 or 11 times.

Amie

Oh boy...
so do you feel that people who are forgiving are somehow "weak"? and also do you feel the act of forgiveness somehow condones certain behaviors? I just want some clarity on this...

I think they know what they are doing. I just think that they are not thinking of the consequences of their actions, example how the victims will be affected for the rest of their lives, how the families will be affected, how ones faith will be affected and on and on.

winstonjen

Well, if they know they can get forgiven no matter what they do, they would be more likely to do horrific things. With punishment, it shows them that they can't get away with it.

Amie

I disagree. It all depends on the person. That would be like saying since atheists don't believe in a god who they will be accountable to when they die and since none of their transgressions will come back to haunt them so to speak, they are free to run a muck...we both know thats not true...

I do think when there is some sort of punishment involved, people learn from that...
but if one has a guilty conscience, that would be a terible way to live...and a bit of self punishment.

on a lighter note winstonjen although I agree with almost nothing you say, I am rather fond of you

Amie~

winstonjen

Thanks. I like you too - your posts make sense, unlike some theists, I just don't agree with you.

A guilty conscience makes them feel bad, sure, but the rest of society may not know they feel that way. They need concrete evidence of punishment.

winstonjen

Yeah, but they would be pretty sure they'd get punished in this lifetime, so they wouldn't do anything bad because of that. Less deadly than afterlife blackmail, and it works.

Dark Jedi

Whoa! How did this get in here?

Off to general religious discussion with you.

(Off topic)

Ya turn your back for a minute, and a thread runs rampant...

Moved to <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=45" target="_blank">This forum.</a>

[ December 08, 2002: Message edited by: Dark Jedi ]</p>

Amie

I disagree here with your statement. So you are saying because atheists don't believe in an afterlife, they are more likely to not do "anything bad"? since they will be accountable here?

Just because an atheist does not believe in any punishment of an afterlife, does not mean they will not commit wrongdoings.
"Less deadly that afterlife blackmail" and NO it doesn't work winstonjen...

I'm a theist. I hold myself accountable for my actions in this lifetime.