Crucifixion & Execution: The Trial of Jesus Christ as a Death Penalty Sentencing Process
63 Pages Posted: 24 Feb 2006 Last revised: 26 Jan 2010
Date Written: January 22, 2010
Abstract
Last year, I came to a remarkable conclusion: That the debate over the death penalty in the United States is largely among Christians, but has ignored the capital sentencing which is at the center of that faith. The result of this epiphany is Crucifixion & Execution: The Trial of Jesus Christ as a Death Penalty Sentencing Process. In Crucifixion & Execution, I argue that the story of Christ parallels modern capital practice in many respects: Christ was turned in by a paid informant (Judas), arrested in a strategic manner, given an arraignment and stood mute, was tried, convicted and sentenced, appealed to two separate sovereigns, and finally was denied a pardon.
These similarities lead to two primary conclusions. First, the death of Jesus Christ, an innocent, indicts a modern death penalty system that continues to threaten the execution of innocent men and women. Second, the trial of Christ suggests structural reforms of capital sentencing, if we are to retain capital punishment.
Keywords: death penalty, capital punishment, sentencing, law and religion
JEL Classification: K14, K19, K40, K42
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation