The death penalty and Christianity
The botched execution of Oklahoma death row inmate Clayton Lockett in April ignited a national discussion about capital punishment that was followed by fresh debate over the executions of three felons last week in Missouri, Georgia, and Florida. Christians on both sides of the issue have been weighing in on capital punishment, saying that Scripture supports their position. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has argued that “the Bible clearly calls for capital punishment in the case of intentional murder.” But Christian activist and author Shane Claiborne has countered that the teachings of Jesus provide no support for the death penalty. To add context and nuance to the conversation, Paul Massari of Harvard Divinity School Communications turned to Francis X. Clooney, Parkman Professor of Divinity and professor of comparative theology and director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at the School. Clooney questions the reasoning of...