Spiritual Advice and Guidance Blog: Urantia Book: The Death Penalty

Q: Is the death penalty wrong?

A: There are few social pronouncements in The Urantia Book, so a ready answer to your question isn't addressed there. What it does teach is that life is a bestowal by deity and it is therefore sacred. We should do everything we're capable of to respect the life of others, to follow the Golden Rule, to love one another as brothers and sisters, sons or daughters, fathers or mothers.

That having been said, our destiny here on earth is to be ruled by laws until the time in the far distant future comes when humans will be self-reliant and naturally do the right thing, actually live the Golden Rule. Without laws and social boundaries we are less than civilized. One of the primary functions of society and of government is to protect its citizens otherwise it's the will of the strong oppressing the weak and those who disregard the rule of law overshadowing those who will abide by them.

Our laws aren't foolproof and the problem with the death penalty is that it's irreversible if it's determined later that a mistake was made. But as we progress we're getting better and better at determining responsibility.

From a spiritual standpoint whether we live out a long and productive life here before we die or we die prematurely, our destinies follow similar courses on the mansion worlds -- a bit more time may be required to get those who die prematurely back on track, but it's not a race we're running and time is not of the essence. We may possibly be doing the criminal a favor by removing him sooner from a dismal life here for the beginnings of a glorious life in the spirit.

You would probably find thoughtful people on either side of your question -- I'll offer my personal opnion. I believe that the death penalty is not wrong. I also don't believe it's a deterrent to crime or that it's a form of retaliation or vengeance by the wronged against the accused -- I see it more as a final way to remove someone who is a danger from society. It needs to be applied with care and caution and once the sentence has been made I would like to see justice carried out more swiftly.

Below is an relevant quote from The Urantia Book on the words of comfort Jesus had for a condemned criminal:

"My brother, you have fallen on evil times. You lost your way; you became entangled in the meshes of crime. From talking to you, I well know you did not plan to do the thing which is about to cost you your temporal life. But you did do this evil, and your fellows have adjudged you guilty; they have determined that you shall die. You or I may not deny the state this right of self-defense in the manner of its own choosing. There seems to be no way of humanly escaping the penalty of your wrongdoing. Your fellows must judge you by what you did, but there is a Judge to whom you may appeal for forgiveness, and who will judge you by your real motives and better intentions. You need not fear to meet the judgment of God if your repentance is genuine and your faith sincere. The fact that your error carries with it the death penalty imposed by man does not prejudice the chance of your soul to obtain justice and enjoy mercy before the heavenly courts." P.1476 (133:4.12)

Labels: death penalty, government, Jesus, law, society, The Urantia Book

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