# Why is killing the biggest sin in Christianity? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 9, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101 "2006-09-09T22:51:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/1 "2006-09-09T22:51:03Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/2 "2006-09-09T22:54:55Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/3 "2006-09-09T22:59:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/4 "2006-09-09T23:07:33Z")
[QUOTE=hawksgirl] 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. [/QUOTE] 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.) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/5 "2006-09-09T23:28:11Z")
Have you, perchance, read the Ten Commandments? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/6 "2006-09-09T23:33:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/7 "2006-09-09T23:47:31Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] Have you, perchance, read the Ten Commandments? [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/8 "2006-09-09T23:56:04Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/9 "2006-09-10T00:01:58Z")
And if you ever do, **Sage Rat** , be prepared to be overwhelmed by the pervading evilness of God and his actions. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/10 "2006-09-10T00:07:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/11 "2006-09-10T00:08:38Z")
[QUOTE=clairobscur] against the Holy Spirit. [/QUOTE] Make that the Holy Ghost. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/12 "2006-09-10T00:12:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/13 "2006-09-10T00:49:36Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![nano8track](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8e8cbc/32.png) [@nano8track](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nano8track)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/14 "2006-09-10T01:18:02Z")
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”. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/15 "2006-09-10T01:23:53Z")
Wait, the Bible defines murder as non-state sanctioned killing? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/16 "2006-09-10T01:37:21Z")
Murder isn’t even one of the seven deadly sins: > **[Seven deadly sins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins)** > > The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, is a grouping and classification of vices within Christian teachings. According to the standard list, they are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth, which are contrary to the seven heavenly virtues. These sins are often thought to be abuses or excessive versions of one's natural faculties or passions (for example, gluttony abuses one's desire to eat). > This classification originated with Tertullian and contin... 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. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/17 "2006-09-10T05:00:07Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] Wait, the Bible defines murder as non-state sanctioned killing? Really? [/QUOTE] I’m not sure this is definitive, but [this site](http://www.biblestudy.org/question/notkill.html) explains some of the circumstances in which killing is permitted: > [@](#): > > Q. I am studying the 10 commandments. Please explain the Sixth commandment “thou shall not kill.” > > A. The commandment “thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17), is better understood to mean “you shall not murder,” most modern translations of the Bible rendered it this way. According to the Bible not all killing, the taking of a life, is murder. Murder is the unlawfully taking of human life. The command not to murder applies to human beings, not to killing animals or plant life for food. God gave animals to mankind for his use (Genesis 1:26-30; 9:1-4). . . Under the Old Covenant God allowed the Israelites to kill other humans under very special circumstances such as punishment for certain sins, for example, murder (Exodus 21:12-14, Leviticus 24:17, 21) and adultery (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22-24). God also allowed the Israelites to engage in warfare and even gave them instructions about waging war (Deuteronomy 20:1-20). God also recognized that humans might accidentally kill each other, and he made provisions for this (Numbers 35:9-34; Deuteronomy 19:1-13). > > The primary reason God hates murder is that out of all creation, only human are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:4-6). Even before the codification of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai the murder of other human beings was wrong (Genesis 4:8-12; 4:23-24; 9:4-6; Exodus 1:16-17). While on earth, Jesus spoke out against murder (Matthew 5:21-26; Mark 10:17-19). We also see in the writings of Paul (Romans 1:18, 29-32; 13:8-10; Galatians 5:19-21), James (James 2:8-11; 4:1-3), Peter (1 Peter 4:15-16) and John (Revelation 9:20-21; 21:7-8; 22:14-15) that murder is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/18 "2006-09-10T05:04:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/19 "2006-09-10T13:37:30Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101/20 "2006-09-10T15:44:21Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-killing-the-biggest-sin-in-christianity/372101.md?page=2)