by Paul Schingle

Created on: January 22, 2009

This is one of those "catch-22" questions that trip philosophers up all the time. To my mind, if somethng is wrong, it is always wrong. Therefore, doing a wrong thing to correct a previous wrong thing is still wrong, even if it makes one feel better. Jesse Jackson once said, "An eye for and eye makes everyone blind." Jesus said, "If a man strikes you on the chhek, turn and offer him the other." These are difficult principles to live by, but from a philosophical standpoint, it bears out the adage that two wrongs never make a right.

To take this to an extreme, I would use capital punishment as an example. And, this example is what often trips up people who claim to call themselves Christian. I have a tendency to take Jesus' words literally and not leave them open to interpretation. This tends to really bother people I know who use the Christian label to describe themselves. If you read the "turn the other cheek" quote from the new testament in full, Jesus actually contradicts the old testament. The full quote has Jesus saying, "You have been told before, '...an eye for an eye...' but I say unto you now, that if a man strike you on the cheek, turn and offer him the other." Jesus is clearly saying that two wrongs never make a right. And this is what vexes the likes of Jerry Falwell who claim that capital punishment is, in fact, okay.

So, if murder is wrong, then it is always wrong. The state initiating the death penalty is, in effect, condoning murder at the same time it condemns it. Essentially, the state is saying that two wrongs do, in fact, make a right. Of course, this puts Christians in a philosophical pickle. Interestingly, one of the most conservative of the Christian churches-specifically the Catholic church-actually opposes the death penalty. I grew up Catholic and have since largely turned my back on them. But, this is one area I still have in agreement with the Catholics. Capital punishment is not right. It is not just. It is merely revenge.

Believe me, I have complete sympathy for those who believe in capital punishment. I'm the first to admit that no one in the world is going to miss Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy or any of the other mass murderes who've existed over time. But, just because they've committed numerous acts that were wrong doesn't mean taking their lives is any more right. It just doesn't work that way.

So, do two wrongs make a right? Depending on your philosophy, the answer can vary. But, to anyone who calls himself a Christian, the answer is an emphatic no. Two wrongs never make a right.

Learn more about this author, Paul Schingle.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.