PARADIGM

definition: par•a•digm (pār'ə-dīm', -dĭm')

3. A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.


The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/paradigm

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this blog is four-fold:
(1)
to recognize that every person functions within a basic paradigm, which affects how all information is processed;
(2) to understand the paradigms of others;
(3) to discuss, in particular, paradigms which are related to science, religion, and philosophy.

(4) to reveal the paradigm shifts in my own life, a process that has completely changed the direction and purpose of my existence.

The purpose of this blog is NOT to convince anyone that their paradigms or beliefs are correct or incorrect. I am hoping for an honest dialog, but the discussions must remain respectful of others, even if there is profound disagreement. If any comments are not respectful, they will be removed.
(Revised 1/13/09)

Monday, February 11, 2008

A Dichotomy??- Supporting the Death Penalty but Not Abortion. Hmmmm....

I am purposely staying on neutral ground on this one, but I would like to hear some of the opinions of others. I hear some people who support the death penalty say that they are strongly against abortion, on the grounds that human beings have no right to choose to take another human's life. This might sound contradictory to some. On the flip side, I have heard Pro-Choice proponents say that the courts have no right to take the life of even the most evil, self-professed murderer. This, too, sounds contradictory. Can anyone make some sense of these apparent dichotomies?

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Hmmmm, the very next "Bitter/Sweet" is meant to address both of these things. Could it be that your own post about this is a sure sign that our Heavenly Father wants as many as will to want to take a much closer look???

No, I do not mean to be flippant. For hypocrisy reigns supreme on both sides of both issues.

Other than that: I am rather reluctant to go any further. For there are larger issues at stake that are hard to address in a comment.

Nonetheless: I will leave this one thing on the table here. For what is being ignored by mostly all on both sides of both issues is that there is more unto our existences than just what is of this world.

Please forgive me for being so vague. For I am not sure about just how many screaming meemies you want to attract; but if you would like for me to get more into specifics here: I will (in accordance unto His will, of course).

Anonymous said...

My feelings on this is we our told to be subject to the Governing
authorities by God. Those authorities bear the sword not in vain. If you murder someone, You
can expect that governing authority
to use its God given sword.

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Unknown said...

This old post that was made on FishHawk Droppings might help some: http://fishhawkdroppings.blogspot.com/2007/09/3-strikes-and.html

By the way: you have now been tagged for one of those loathsome MeMes. Go here to find out what happens next (if anything): http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2008/02/meme-of-personal-quirky-facts.html

Anonymous said...

I can see how hypocrisy comes into play in how we value life. After all, what makes one life more valuable than another? Age, talent, demeanor, destiny?

Technically, any expectant mother that seeks an abortion would make a horrible parent if they were made to keep their child, but the child shouldn't be punished.

Partial birth abortions should never be allowed.

It would be better to have a state program cover the cost of medical checks, treatment and delivery expenses for the mother. There is a mandatory post-operation sterilization. The mother signs a contract to pay the state back for her bill as well as child support until the child turns 18. After the child is placed with a happy foster family, the natural mother's payments continue to be sent to the foster family anonymously.

Abortion should be allowed in strict circumstances and determined by a court (only for cases of rape, incest, health risks, viability of baby, etc.) and only within a small window of time in the earliest stage of pregnancy. The court would consider the mother's age and other factors in her life.

Convicted murderers aren't innocent and should pay for their crimes with their own suffering. They shouldn't be swiftly and painlessly executed in hope of a divine justice.

They would be made to work in a highly-guarded island community to pay back a debt to society. Life-term prisoners work until they die of natural causes. There could even be a reward system. Nonviolent prisoners that demonstrate exceptional skills are promoted within their island community and trusted with a higher-ranking position. The prisoners help fuel the civilian economy to pay back their debt to society.

Violent criminals are sent to fight to the death in a gladiator tournament shown on pay-per-view television. The revenue generated from the show is given back to society.

Corporate criminals would serve out their sentence on the island and be marked with a brand on the face. This way, once returned, they would never again be trusted to hold a position of authority to deal with finances. Their character is permanently flawed and always under the high scrutiny of their peers.

LucyS said...

Here are some ideas to ponder, none of which are intended to imply judgement, only to initiate thought:
(1) Is it wrong under any circumstances to take human life?
(2) Consider these verses: "You [God] made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.... You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb." (Psalm 139:13,15 NLT)
(3) What is the exact purpose of the death penalty?--to punish the criminal?; to remove the criminal from society?; to serve as a deterrent to other criminals?; to prevent overcrowding in prisons?
(4) There appear not to have been prisons in the ancient Israeli culture. It seemed that captives were either killed or made into slaves. It is difficult to compare our culture with that.
(5) Is it ethically consistent to be against abortion under any circumstances and yet to support some form of the death penalty?

Remember--I'm not judging? I'm just asking.

Anonymous said...

Fishhawk, I just read your post that you mentioned in your last comment. You bring up some very good points--some that I had not thought of, before. I need to digest them, but I do recommend that everyone read what you posted.