Mercy and punishment: Buddhism and the death penalty
Part of a special issue on welfare and punishment in the era of President George W. Bush. Many Southeast Asian countries share a Buddhist tradition and yet preserve and practice capital punishment, a form of retributive punishment that is inconsistent with the compassionate spirit of Buddhism. The l...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2001
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| In: |
Social justice
Year: 2001, Volume: 28, Issue: 1, Pages: 231-247 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Summary: | Part of a special issue on welfare and punishment in the era of President George W. Bush. Many Southeast Asian countries share a Buddhist tradition and yet preserve and practice capital punishment, a form of retributive punishment that is inconsistent with the compassionate spirit of Buddhism. The link between Buddhism and the death penalty in Southeast Asian countries must be understood by examining the relationship between Buddhist morality and secular law, as well as the meaning of Buddha's teachings through the Five Precepts of the religion. Evidence suggests that most Southeast Asian countries practiced capital punishment long before the emergence of Buddhist influence, and findings also suggest that policies in these countries are not significantly influenced by the compassion inherent in the Buddhist religion. |
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| ISSN: | 2327-641X |