I wasn’t sure whether this would be more of a GD question, but i’m putting it here first in the hope that there’s a simple answer.
So why is killing the biggest crime? Christians believe life is a gift from God, but the Bible as well as mainstream beliefs show that there are other such gifts. It’s not given especial treatment in the Bible, as far as i’m aware - if anything there’s rather a lot of killing that’s actually sanctioned by God.
So where does this belief come from?
WAG:
It’s the biggest crime that is still respectable enough to specifically mention in the bible. They might have been against rape, pedophilia, spouse abuse, etc. but those are all too evil to talk about the existence of, let alone put in the bible.
And killing, being so prevalent in war and such, probably needed a big, “No! Bad!” thing added in if you wanted to curb it any. (Though I’m not sure that was very effective.)
Actually, I thought that all sins were to be considered of equal severity in the eyes of God or something like that? In that case there would be no “biggest” sin.
I’ve always heard this, but I don’t think it jives with what the Bible says. I think it’s more accurate to say that God has a “zero tolerance” policy. Murder is clearly a more severe crime than lying, but either will keep you out of heaven without forgiveness.
Anyway, I’m not sure that murder is the biggest sin in Christianity. Isn’t there an “unforgivable sin”? I don’t think it’s murder.
(and what’s that law about christianity questions being asked on a Saturday night? Oh wait. Nevermind.)
Have you, perchance, read the Ten Commandments?
The Bible wasn’t written by god but by man. While mankind may talk about an afterlife, they in reality want never to test the notion. Ending a life is always the greatest crime in all cultures, because one life is all any of us will ever have.
Yup and number 1 is “I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me…” Murder only shows up in the number six spot.
No offense, but have you ever actually read the Bible? All of the above is addressed at one point or another.
The Bible is hardly a respectable book, at least as regards to content-it’s full of sex and violence.
And if you ever do, Sage Rat, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the pervading evilness of God and his actions.
I’m not aware of killing being the biggest sin in Christianity. Maybe I’m wrong, but in this case, could someone provides evidences that it is the case?
The only thing I can think of that could be considered as the biggest sin would be blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, since it’s the only one that won’t be forgiven.
Make that the Holy Ghost.
Killing per se is not considered the “greatest crime” in Chrisitianity even today. Killing is OK with most sects if it is done “legally” - as part of a just war, by a policeman preventing a crime, in self defense, or as capital punishment for a crime.
Murder, on the other hand - unsanctioned killing - is considered a pretty severe sin. However, it is only fairly recently that it has been considered the most severe one. Blasphemy was considered more severe. Other crimes that we now consider to be much less serious, such as adultery or robbery, were considered to be on a par with murder in that the punishment was often death.
I think the modern abhorrence of murder above other crimes has to be looked for elsewhere than in Christianity.
During the Middle Ages, theft of food was often considered a capitol offense. And in the Old West, they were in the habit of hanging horse theives and cattle rustlers.
There is some precedent actually. In Genesis 9:5-6 God tells Noah,
“And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.”
It’s not a strong precedent though, because I am not aware of murder being singled out anywhere else. In the New Testament especially the message tends to be more toward, “all have sinned and are deserving of death”. (Not really a quote but a paraphrase there.)
Also as has been said before killing and murder are not the same thing. In the Old Testament state sanctioned killing is fine, but Murder (i.e. unsanctioned killing) is a sin (and crime) punishable by death. In the New Testament killing in general is considered a bad idea:
“Anyone who is angry with his brother is subject to judgement.” Mt. 5:22
“All who draw the sword will die by the sword.” Mt. 26:52
“If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jn 8:7
(Said in the context of a group of men wanting to stone a woman to death who had committed adultery.)
Actually there’s lots of other stuff in the NT about not seeking revenge, loving your neighbor, and stuff like that. The message about what to do goes completely in the other direction compared to the OT, from “state sanctioned killing is ok” to “don’t hate people”.
Wait, the Bible defines murder as non-state sanctioned killing? Really?
Murder isn’t even one of the seven deadly sins:
These aren’t organized on a basis of the action committed but of the motivation for the sin. As the entry notes, if any of these is considered the greatest sin, it’s pride. I don’t think there’s much of a basis for saying that murder is considered the greatest sin in Christianity.
I’m not sure this is definitive, but this site explains some of the circumstances in which killing is permitted:
It might also be noted that “Though shalt not kill” is merely the sixth (or fifth) commandment; there are several other commandments that come before it.
Add me to those who would request a cite that “killing is the biggest sin in Christianity” Since we are in GQ – I don’t think anyone is being obtuse…
I would add two more cites that shows it is not:
Mark 12:28-31 (New International Version)
28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these.”
Luke 10:25-37 (New International Version)
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. “How do you read it?”
27He answered: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
So either “Jesus said…” or “**a guy said to Jesus and he agreed ** …”, or I guess (for fundies and to be GQ about it) “both” the greatest commandment cite in the bible says nothin’ about killing
Dante put the Violent into the seventh circle of Hell: serious, but not the worst.
Murderers (violent against their neighbors) were in the First Round of the Seventh Circle, in the river Phlegethon.
Things Dante considered worst than murder:
7th Circle, 2nd Round: Suicide
7th Circle, 3rd Round: Blasphemy, Sodomy, and Usury
The Eighth Circle of Hell, Malebolgia, was for sins of Fraud and Malice.
8th Circle, 1st Bolgia: Panderers and Seducers
8th Circle, 2nd Bolgia: Flatterers
8th Circle, 3rd Bolgia: Simoniacs (those who sell ecclesiastical favors and offices)
8th Circle, 4th Bolgia: Fortune Tellers and Diviners
8th Circle, 5th Bolgia: Grafters
8th Circle, 6th Bolgia: Hypocrites
8th Circle, 7th Bolgia: Thieves
8th Circle, 8th Bolgia: Evil Councelors
8th Circle, 9th Bolgia: Sowers of Discord (religious)
8th Circle, 9th Bolgia: Sowers of Discord (political)
8th Circle, 10th Bolgia: Falsifiers (Alchemists, Evil Impersonator,s, Counterfeiters, and False Witnesses)
The Ninth Circle of Hell, Cocytus was for the worst of sins, Treachery.
9th Circle, 1st Round: treacherous to their kin
9th Circle, 2nd Round: treacherous to their country
9th Circle, 3rd Round: treacherous to guests and hosts
9th Circle, 4th Round: treacherous to their masters
The three worst sinners in Hell were traitors who betrayed their masters: Cassius and Brutus, who betrayed Julius Caesar; and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ.