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Gardner C. Hanks shows that while the Hebrew Scriptures give some support to the use of the death penalty, they also demand that people apply high standards for fairness and protecting the innocent. He argues that the use of capital punishment in the United States does not even meet the standards of the Old Testament.

Hanks shows how Jesus and the early church extend the concept of restorative justice. According to the Gospels and the epistles, God's love, as exemplified in the life and teachings of Jesus, requires restorative rather than retributive justice. Hanks concludes that the use of the death penalty is not compatible with Jesus' call for love and forgiveness.

Hank gives here a fuller treatment of the Bible's approach and helps Christian proponents of capital punishment take a second look at the death penalty. He challenges the whole society to work for fairness and restored humanity rather than merely punishing criminals.

Copyright 2002.

Drawing on Old and New Testament resources as well as secular arguments, Hanks shows that the death penalty harms rather than helps any quest for a just, humane society. Used primarily against the poor or mentally disabled, capital punishment reinforces societal inequities and exacerbates racism. He demonstrates through research data that the death penalty is not only an ineffective crime-fighting tool, it also brings out the worst in society, pollutes the political process, and threatens human rights.