Is it ever ok to take another humans life?

[scottlittlefield17]

Is it? And why? Is it ok to either take someones last chance of being saved and send them to hell if they aren't a Christian? Or to kill your brother in the Lord?

[LiamOS]

Are you assuming that we're Christian?

If not, I think it's fine. I meant I wouldn't without reason and I'd rather not have anybody do so to me, but I don't particularly see anything wrong with it.
That said, I still am largely in favour of removal from general society as a form of 'punishment', as a functional society seems somewhat far fetched if you're just allowed to massacre people.

[scottlittlefield17]

Are you assuming that we're Christian?

If not, I think it's fine. I meant I wouldn't without reason and I'd rather not have anybody do so to me, but I don't particularly see anything wrong with it.
That said, I still am largely in favour of removal from general society as a form of 'punishment', as a functional society seems somewhat far fetched if you're just allowed to massacre people.

Nope i'm not thats why i said if your willing to argue from that standpoint. I would include military service in the OP as well.

[dianaiad]

Is it? And why? Is it ok to either take someones last chance of being saved and send them to hell if they aren't a Christian? Or to kill your brother in the Lord?

Are you asking the question strictly from a religious viewpoint? There are many religions that teach that it is NEVER acceptable to take the live of another human...they teach that one should allow one's family and one's self to die before committing such a sin.

Not many of those around, though.

I think most people, Christians included, believe that it is wrong to commit MURDER, but murder isn't about simply ending the life of another human being. It's about motive for doing so.

If you are defending your life, or the life of someone else against an attacker and take his life in so doing, then it can be argued that YOU aren't killing him--you are simply doing what is necessary to keep him from commiting murder. If he dies, the fault is his, not yours.

If you are in the armed services, as a soldier you may be asked to kill. When you do, you are doing it at the behest, and in the defense of, your nation. The fault, if there is fault, is on the leaders--the ones doing the attacking. Not the soldier's, unless s/he is acting against, or beyond, orders.

As for me, well, for me it is ALL about motive, and it is the motive that counts no matter what the deed actually is. I have a favorite riddle: two men in adjoining fifth floor apartments push a woman out of the window at approximately the same time. One is hailed as a hero, given a medal and a large promotion. The other is serving 25 years for attempted murder. In neither case did the woman die. How could this be?

The hero was a fireman who rescued the woman from the building, which was on fire. There was an air bag awaiting her fall. He risked his life to save hers. The criminal didn't know the house was afire OR that there was an airbag below his window. He was attempting to push his wife to her death.

It's all, and always, about motive.

[Choir Loft]

Is it? And why? Is it ok to either take someones last chance of being saved and send them to hell if they aren't a Christian? Or to kill your brother in the Lord?

In time of war the taking of human life may be necessary. As General W.T. Sherman said, "war is hell". Nobody ever said it was pretty.

Whether any particular war is just or not is a political and moral question. For America, war and killing has always been viewed as a good thing while at the same time we like to think of ourselves as a peace loving people.

(Kinda gives you a good idea how Americans think, doesn't it?)

Nobody "sends" a man to hell. Not some Christian and certainly not God.
The road to hell is a judgment call on the part of the man who either makes peace with God or not. Putting the blame on a man's eternal destiny ANYWHERE else except on the guy in question is neither logical nor Biblical.

Killing a brother in Christ is allowed if he wears a different uniform than the uS army or carries a different flag than the Stars and Stripes. If it's an American doing the killing then it's gotta be a good thing.

[dianaiad]

Is it? And why? Is it ok to either take someones last chance of being saved and send them to hell if they aren't a Christian? Or to kill your brother in the Lord?

In time of war the taking of human life may be necessary. As General W.T. Sherman said, "war is hell". Nobody ever said it was pretty.

Whether any particular war is just or not is a political and moral question. For America, war and killing has always been viewed as a good thing while at the same time we like to think of ourselves as a peace loving people.

(Kinda gives you a good idea how Americans think, doesn't it?)

Excuse me, but would you be willing to prove that America has always, and does always, view war and killing as a good thing? Consider; look what it took to get us into WWII, for instance. As well, "America' is the sum of her citizens, and a BUNCH of those are vehemently opposed to war--in general, and in specific cases. I mean, sheesh, would you look at what happened in Viet Nam and when Bush sent people into Iraq?

Or how about right now, with Libya? It is a really good idea to NOT make 'America' some monolithic goose stepping entity where all Americans think, and behave, alike. Doing so will trip you up, every time.

Nobody "sends" a man to hell. Not some Christian and certainly not God.
The road to hell is a judgment call on the part of the man who either makes peace with God or not. Putting the blame on a man's eternal destiny ANYWHERE else except on the guy in question is neither logical nor Biblical.

Not according to those who believe in predestination, like Calvinists. Mind you, I agree with you on this, but there are other viewpoints.

Killing a brother in Christ is allowed if he wears a different uniform than the uS army or carries a different flag than the Stars and Stripes. If it's an American doing the killing then it's gotta be a good thing.

I take it, then, that you are one of the Americans who somehow aren't Americans, according to your characterization of 'America?'

One of those who dislikes the idea of killing, and is opposed to war in all its forms? How can you be typing on this forum if you, by your own estimate, don't exist?

[Kuan]

I agree with the statement war is hell. It is and will always be something to be avoided. Yet at the same time....my signature sums it up...

[Defender of Truth]

I think most people, Christians included, believe that it is wrong to commit MURDER, but murder isn't about simply ending the life of another human being. It's about motive for doing so.

If you are defending your life, or the life of someone else against an attacker and take his life in so doing, then it can be argued that YOU aren't killing him--you are simply doing what is necessary to keep him from commiting murder. If he dies, the fault is his, not yours.

If you are in the armed services, as a soldier you may be asked to kill. When you do, you are doing it at the behest, and in the defense of, your nation. The fault, if there is fault, is on the leaders--the ones doing the attacking. Not the soldier's, unless s/he is acting against, or beyond, orders.

As for me, well, for me it is ALL about motive, and it is the motive that counts no matter what the deed actually is. I have a favorite riddle: two men in adjoining fifth floor apartments push a woman out of the window at approximately the same time. One is hailed as a hero, given a medal and a large promotion. The other is serving 25 years for attempted murder. In neither case did the woman die. How could this be?

The hero was a fireman who rescued the woman from the building, which was on fire. There was an air bag awaiting her fall. He risked his life to save hers. The criminal didn't know the house was afire OR that there was an airbag below his window. He was attempting to push his wife to her death.

It's all, and always, about motive.

Good answer.

Accidents and Capital Punishment are other common exceptions for killing without contempt or murder.

[jayden.]

I agree to the statement that motive is the one that counts if you did something wrong or right. HOWEVER! During the medieval period many woman and men, but mainly woman were burned at the stake and killed because they were accused of witch craft. Will you say what some of them did was right? I for one say no. The reason being that is was a public execution and evidence stating you were a witch is incorrect. The people who vouched that they were a witch are either seeing things, Hate them, to acquire money or simply just stupid or high.

PS: I am sorry if I offended anyone

[Ernestalice]

Is it? And why? Is it ok to either take someones last chance of being saved and send them to hell if they aren't a Christian? Or to kill your brother in the Lord?

No, it's not ok and I don't think a Christian or a man can send people to hell. If you're pointing about the event which Abraham willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac to God because God told him so, it's ended with no one died. And at that time, the 10 commandments haven't existed yet. So now, when Christian is commanded not to kill, I'll 99% doubt any voice inside that tell me to kill as a mere delusion or temptation.

If you're questioning about witch burning or something similar, it's just a matter of stupidity and humanity.