On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 02:48:43 -0800 (PST), louise mchenry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Someone on another list remarked that according to science there is a link > between commiting arson and being sociopath. It seems that sociopaths > manifest their affliction first by an inclination to burn down buildings.
I don't think anyone is saying that arson is a good thing or that it isn't a serious problem and shouldn't be banned or prohibited. The question is how should a society treat people who have committed crimes. Islam is, in some circles, famous for having certain kinds of punishments for certain kinds of crimes. And it isn't uncommon for certain groups of people, say secular western liberals, to accuse being brutal or inhumane on this point. However much I might disagree with that position, I can still respect its consistency. I wouldn't have the same respect for a Bahai who joined in on such accusations when their own scriptures don't seem to have a problem with burning someone alive. Especially if we are talking about punishments found in the Quran which they say they believe comes from God. If you wanted to just say we are all playing a big game of Simon Says with God and that for the previous thousand years or so the rules were one thing, and for the next thousand years or so they just happened to change, that's fine. But to accuse the Islamic punishments of being brutal and inhumane is something which is difficult if not impossible for a Bahai to do with integrity. -Gilberto __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
