Do you believe in an eye-for-an-eye?
ANGEL
2012/04/19 14:08:50
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When you are wronged, do you feel the need for revenge or can you just let it go?
We've all been wronged - whether we've been stabbed in the back, cheated in a business transaction or cheated on in a relationship, betrayed by a friend, etc.
Those that do us wrong can be of any religious or political orientation - democrats, libertarians, republicans, involved in Christianity, Atheism, Scientology, Muslim, Agnostic. However, how you respond when you've been wronged, may be according to the dictates of your religion. Apparently, the bible asks that you forgive those that have wronged you -- but it may be easier said than done.
Do you believe in an eye-for-an-eye?
We've all been wronged - whether we've been stabbed in the back, cheated in a business transaction or cheated on in a relationship, betrayed by a friend, etc.
Those that do us wrong can be of any religious or political orientation - democrats, libertarians, republicans, involved in Christianity, Atheism, Scientology, Muslim, Agnostic. However, how you respond when you've been wronged, may be according to the dictates of your religion. Apparently, the bible asks that you forgive those that have wronged you -- but it may be easier said than done.
Do you believe in an eye-for-an-eye?
Top Opinion
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Sonia the Stoner!i!i ♥ 2012/04/19 14:19:24It depends on what was done to me.
Ay! Ay!, Ay!
The concept in the תּוֹרָה ("Torah") calls for the pursuit of justice via proportional retaliation, which was not common in the region during the time of its divine legislation. So, those who suffered a bodily injury from an attack had the option of retaliation... but only until the same (or equivalent) damage was done. Then, the right to retaliation ends. This principle applies to damages from light injuries to murder. (While I probably will not use the right, it seems best to still have that option open, just in case.)
As can be seen, this Biblical principle is very different from the ancient right of "ubusan ng lahi" ("depletion of the lineage") in my country: If you murder 1 member of my family, I would have the right murdering the murderer's mother, father, brother(s), sister(s), son(s), daughter(s), cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, grandmothers, grandfathers... For 1 death, I can basically exterminate the murderer's entire clan! Thank God ubusan ng lahi is illegal now.
I will practice retaliation as a pragmatic matter.
His New Testament attempt to eradicate vengeful thinking. The Old and New Testaments cannot be reconciled.
As a result the Mosiac Law Code was null and void. There were just two commands made to replace them. Love God with your whole heart,etc. and Love thy neighbor as thy self. Those were it. Those that followed Jesus were given a duty to spread the "Good News of Gods Kingdom" which brought with it the "Hope of the Resurrection"
Really pretty simple when you put all the pieces together from the different parts of the Bible.
But again, that is what the Bible says, Not necessarily what Christendom teaches.
Except for the "kingdom of heaven" part, I'm in agreement. As a philosophic Christian I pay more attention to "The Gospel According to Jesus", "The Gospel of Thomas", and the interpretations of Jefferson and Spinoza. Best wishes to you!
Basically, "eye for an eye" means that the punishment should fit the crime. If someone steals/causes damage, what was stolen or lost should be repaid. If one murders, their own life is forfeit. This would eliminate things like a person being sentenced to life in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. So I do think that is a very valid concept for a judicial system.
Regarding how it plays out in my life, justice is not mine to obtain on a personal level. The new testament tells me "Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord", meaning as a follower of Jesus, I should not seek revenge on someone when I am wronged. Further, Jesus taught directly that we are to turn the other cheek. Finally, as a last and greatest application, in the Christian gospel I find that I myself am the recipient of far more mercy than I could ever imagine. In that context, I should be able and willing to forgive any wrong perpetrated upon me, because that wrong against me, no matter how harsh it appears to us, is nothing compared to any wrong I have perpetrated against the infinitely holy creator of the universe. I have been forgiven of so much, I should be compelled to ...
Basically, "eye for an eye" means that the punishment should fit the crime. If someone steals/causes damage, what was stolen or lost should be repaid. If one murders, their own life is forfeit. This would eliminate things like a person being sentenced to life in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. So I do think that is a very valid concept for a judicial system.
Regarding how it plays out in my life, justice is not mine to obtain on a personal level. The new testament tells me "Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord", meaning as a follower of Jesus, I should not seek revenge on someone when I am wronged. Further, Jesus taught directly that we are to turn the other cheek. Finally, as a last and greatest application, in the Christian gospel I find that I myself am the recipient of far more mercy than I could ever imagine. In that context, I should be able and willing to forgive any wrong perpetrated upon me, because that wrong against me, no matter how harsh it appears to us, is nothing compared to any wrong I have perpetrated against the infinitely holy creator of the universe. I have been forgiven of so much, I should be compelled to forgive any wrong done to me. I believe this is the meaning of Jesus' parable about the man who was forgiven of a debt equivalent to billions of dollars in our world, yet refused to forgive someone else who owed him a mere $100. Any one of us should be appalled at such a disparity. If I hold an offense against me, refusing to forgive, then I am essentially setting myself up as being holier or greater than God, since he has forgiven me of far greater offenses.
Sorry for being long winded. Let me know if anything above is unclear.
Take care.
Old Klingon saying
I no longer think about revenge. Much like "unforgiving" it is a heavy burden to carry.
I have learned as much from those that have betrayed me, as those that have truly cared for me.
Life continues. We need to learn from all our experiences, be good or bad.