Should Saddam Hussain be forgiven?

[Blissman]

Should Saddam be forgiven?

 

[Sphere]

Yes, since we're on the subject, lets also forgive adolf hitler, joseph stalin, fidel castro, and other evil historical figures.

 

[Bodhisattva4eva]

Saddam should be forgiven. Just look at his evil as God's way of showing you how good your life really is. By knowing evil you can be more appreciative of the goodness/kindness in this world.

 

[Blessed-one]

well, the answer is 'yes' as a christian..

 

[jon1101]

Forgiven by us as individuals? Sure. However I absolutely do not think that he should escape justice simply by apologizing. Government still needs to make mass genocide an "ill bargain," as John Locke put it, to the offender, and thus severe punishment is in order.

Perhaps we could clone him for future use and make new American tradition out of the Superbowl half time show? Think about it.

-jon

 

[Mephster]

Saddam ought to be forgiven. But forgiveness does not exonerate him from things he has done. Reparation must be made.

 

[Zoot]

Saddam hasn't done anything to me, so I'm in no position to forgive or not.

But as for forgiveness in general, are we asking if there are limits? The nature of forgiveness means that it's undeserved. It's because someone's undeserving that they are in a position to need forgiveness.

 

[Salsa_1960]

Difficult as that is for us to do, Christ taught us to forgive. It's the example he showed us when He was on the cross.

 

[Fiendishjester]

I agree that Saddam should be forgiven, and I also believe that he should be treated with respect, as an enemy of the United States. I also believe he should suffer the consequences of his actions, but as long as he's on trial, we might as well put Bush there right next to him. If they plan to try him for killing the Kurds, then former President Bush (senior) should also be put on trial for that, considering that it was he who officially condoned and supplied weaponry to Saddam in order to help him accomplish the genocide.

 

[Achichem]

Should Saddam be forgiven?

Forgiven by whom?
Me? he did nothing to me but cost some money!
To the people he hurt? I say in time, I do hope they can forgive.
To those effected by teh damage he caused?I think that should be forgiven.
Open his eyes,and forgive himself? I hope for him!

of course, if you mean forgive in judgement,I say simply judge righteously.
Which leave of forgivness really depends on saddam himself, and what he has learned in that little hole of his.

Shalom,
DaTsar

 

[ChristFollowers]

I think he should be forgiven. I mean if he repented and ask God into his life and God see that he is serious..he will be forgiven by God.... God forgives us for our sins....so we should forgive people also. I still love Saddam...but I feel he should suffer a little.....

 

[Fiendishjester]

Oh, and while we're on the subject, I also believe that the United States has no right to put him on trial. I think only the Iraqi people, those who were the real victims of his reign, have the right to put him on trial.

 

[hisvessel1]

As a christian, i forgive him.
As a veteran, i forgive him.
As an American, i forgive him.
Jesus didn't hate the sinner, Just The Sin.
He'll get his just reward on judgement day, just like the rest of us.
By the way, this has nothing to do with either of the Presidents, it has to do with Saddam...Sorry if i offended anyone...

 

[Blissman]

I think he should be forgiven. I mean if he repented and ask God into his life and God see that he is serious..he will be forgiven by God.... God forgives us for our sins....so we should forgive people also. I still love Saddam...but I feel he should suffer a little.....

If you want Saddam to suffer, aren't you being vengeful?

 

[stillsmallvoice]

Hi all!

The only question in my caffeine-addled mind (such as it is) is whether Saddam should get the permanent haircut or the you-can-only-wear-it-once necktie.

Proverbs 24:17 tells us not to gloat over Saddam's fall; rather, we are pleased that he can longer perpetrate any more monstrous evil.

Forgiveness? There is no forgiveness for Saddam in this world since very many of the people he wronged (and who are the only ones who can forgive him; see http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?p=802357&highlight=forgiveness#post802357) are no longer in it.

Be well!

ssv

 

[tiuliucci]

I believe that Saddam should be tried by an Iraqi court and imprisoned for life for crimes to humanity. I do believe that he should be forgiven for those crimes, but he should not be a free man. He is dangerous to others and has proven this during his twenty five year rule of Iraq.

As a Christian I believe in forgivenness and I believe that we must also be able to live in a safe world. God created this world to be loved and cared for, not for tyrants to hurt and kill people and the environment (ex. Mustard Gas).

Take care,
Troy

 

[roadie432002]

anyone can be saved.however they still have to pay for the crimes committed.

 

[TheseBlindEyes]

I think some people have just an evil way about them. For instance, people who worship Satan. I think we, as Christians, should forgive those who hurt us but really because they repent. I don't feel that Sadam has repented (however I really have no idea). Also I think it is something we just leave in Gods hands. He will judge Sadam so I don't know whether I would really forgive him. God Bless.

 

[Blissman]

Saddam hasn't done anything to me, so I'm in no position to forgive or not.

Are you your brother's keeper?

 

[Blissman]

I agree that Saddam should be forgiven, and I also believe that he should be treated with respect, as an enemy of the United States. I also believe he should suffer the consequences of his actions, but as long as he's on trial, we might as well put Bush there right next to him. If they plan to try him for killing the Kurds, then former President Bush (senior) should also be put on trial for that, considering that it was he who officially condoned and supplied weaponry to Saddam in order to help him accomplish the genocide.

Whom shall be asked to forgive? Under Christianity repentance, as far as I know, includes that you approach those whom you have offended. Saddam had commit atrocities, creulty including extreeme torture. He raped mothers in front of her children. He killed and tortured people whom had commited no crimes. He had used chemical warfare on thousands of people because of their faith. Weapons of mass destruction has a peaceful purpose - to deter. The idea is based on the insane principle that if an enemy were to attack
"me", they would not gain, thus, they will not attack. Ideally, such horrible weapons should be guarded and would be stored so that it can not be stolen nor accidentally released. Theoretically, as long as a weapon is never used, it might not have been made. So by some idiotic principle, there may be thousands of little storage boxes all over the world, in every country, collecting dust. Aside from morality, the obvious problem is that this model fails if someone plans on actually using it. Saddam has plainly demonstrated that he uses this as an agressive weapon, and too as act of cruelty. The United States had used such a weapon (a bomb) on people. While it can be endlessly be argued as to it's morality/imorality, in a practical sense it can be seen that it was different in that it had been used in defense during a time of war. The phsychology of war changes otherwise peaceful and rational men.
Saddam was not facing a threat. Who is expecting forgiveness be granted?
The people whom he tortured? We can sit back in the comfort of our homes and say that he ought to be forgiven. If somone had tortured your children, raped you, and tortured you, do you think that that evil person should walk away? There is a difference between vengence, justice, and walking away without punishment.

Do you think that God will forgive Saddam? If you were He, should he be forgiven? As far as I know, not everyone who asks for forgiveness will be forgiven. There is such a thing as evil. I of course, can not decide forgiveness.