Life after "The Death Penalty".
The saddest part of being a believer in life after death is the absence of a moral authority assumed by the state. Knowing that there is life, after death, implies that there is something to be learned from a 'life' no matter how heinous, and that the so-called "death penalty" is just a morally ambiguous tool used by the state to manipulate our emotions and regulate our behaviour.
The threat of death, above and beyond the state sanctioned "death penalty" is a pervasive force in western culture. It's utilized by everybody in the free-market, from the schools and churches to the richest industries on the planet. The barrage of propaganda promoting either life-saving or insurance against death programs is what fuels the consumer culture. People will do almost anything to prolong life. Which is why we have such a problem with suicide bombers....we don't get why they choose to die for a cause.
At which point The Death Penalty becomes meaningless.
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