If you knew a state executioner...

[stan1980]

what would you think of their choice of job? Would you think they are only doing their job, and judge them by how their actions are towards you, or would you look at them with disdain?

 

[pgp_protector]

No problem with the job.
Even the bible states that the state / government has the power to end a life.
Even Jesus didn't fight there authority to execute him, he even forgave the guards doing there job.

 

[Spherical Time]

I might not agree with the beliefs that allow him to continue in his position, but that's never stopped me from considering someone a friend before.

Now, if it was a person that was a serial murderer, I might have an issue with that.

 

[quatona]

what would you think of their choice of job?

Given that I am strongly opposed to the death penalty I would think it is a poor choice.

Would you think they are only doing their job,

No, I would not simply ignore the fact that they have accepted or even applied for it.

It would be interesting to know whether the person in your hypothetical is a proponent of the death penalty or has accepted (or applied for) this job despite his convictions.

An interesting read in the context of "doing your job and your duty" is the authobiography of Rudolf Höss, commander of Ausschwitz.

and judge them by how their actions are towards you,

I don´t see much good coming from judging a person.

or would you look at them with disdain?

I would think that his professional doings (and possibly his thinking) helps making the world a place I don´t want it to be.

Personally, I guess I would try to avoid getting too close to him. Dealing with someone who either approves of organized killing or uses "I´m just doing my job" for an argument (or both) seems pretty risky.

I would, however, use every opportunity to discuss with him and to understand his motives and attitude better.

 

[Natural1]

I don't buy the "just doing my job" philosophy either. There are many forms of employment out there, and while many are not glamorous, they also don't involve routine killing. So no, I wouldn't "judge" them, but also wouldn't have anything to do with them either. Same goes for a slaughterhouse worker.

 

[stan1980]

Same goes for a slaughterhouse worker.

Do you eat meat? I would feel a little hypocritical having nothing to do with a a slaughterhouse worker, particularly as I never really pay any attention to where my meat comes from.

 

[funnymommy]

I wouldn't look at him with disdain; however, I'm not sure how good a friend I could be to him knowing what he does for a living. It would make me uncomfortable to say the least.

 

[jayem]

In Missouri, where I live, a team administers lethal injections. Two nurses and an anesthesiologist, who supervises. It may seem to pose even more of an ethical issue to have medical personnel in this role. Though I think they just start the IV lines and set up the drugs. Pushing the switch to actually administer the drugs is done by prison personnel. I have mixed feelings about capital punishment and I can see both sides. If executions are to be done, it's a safeguard for the prisoner to have trained medical professionals involved in the process.

Though there hasn't been an execution in my state since 2005.

 

[CCGirl]

I would never be close enough to a person to be friends with someone who killed people for a living.

 

[angelpie545]

Well, everyone has to stand before God one day, and I am not the person to judge someone for their line of work. The Bible does say that we should obey the government that is in place, and if that government sanctions capital punishment, then this person is simply obeying the law and doing the job that they were given/applied for. Could I be friends with someone who does that for a line of work? I really couldn't say, because I've never met anyone who is an executioner.

 

[Bombila]

In some ways, the team (usually it is a team, I believe) doing the actual killing would be no worse to me than all people who support the death penalty while knowing what that entails. I've often suspected that most people who say they agree with the death penalty don't really look long and hard at what they are supporting, so I don't automatically remove them from a possible friend category, I would just try to inform them and encourage them to think about it more deeply. Fortunately, I live in Canada, and we have no death penalty. There are some Canadians who think we should, but again, I think they just react in knee-jerk fashion to horror stories about evil murderers.

 

[quatona]

The Bible does say that we should obey the government that is in place, and if that government sanctions capital punishment, then this person is simply obeying the law and doing the job that they were given/applied for.

This part caught my interest and concern.
Since I was born and live in Germany, almost naturally the question forced itself upon me:
So those who obeyed the Nazi government in place and put the commanded genocide into practice were not only justified but downright obliged to so by virtue of the bible´s advice?
That´s what seems to follow from what you say here.

It would be in strong contradiction to what I usually hear from Christians: that being a Christian should actually prevent you from committing such atrocities, and that such atrocities occur due to disobedience to god´s commands.

Could you clear that up, for me?

 

[Autumnleaf]

I would view them the same way I view combat trained Marines. They are doing a job someone else told them to do every day they wake up in the morning.

 

[stan1980]

I would view them the same way I view combat trained Marines.

I would too, except I think the millions of people worldwide who willingly join the armed forces have made a poor choice too.

 

[stan1980]

This part caught my interest and concern.
Since I was born and live in Germany, almost naturally the question forced itself upon me:
So those who obeyed the Nazi government in place and put the commanded genocide into practice were not only justified but downright obliged to so by virtue of the bible´s advice?
That´s what seems to follow from what you say here.

It would be in strong contradiction to what I usually hear from Christians: that being a Christian should actually prevent you from committing such atrocities, and that such atrocities occur due to disobedience to god´s commands.

Could you clear that up, for me?

Good point, I wouldn't hold your breath though for a rational answer.