PUNISHMENT
“Punishment” is defined as the act of inflicting pain,
suffering, or loss on a person as retribution for a misdeed, such as breaking a
law or command.
It can take many forms including: forced labour, fine, forfeiture
of property, dismissal from job, simple or rigorous imprisonment, life imprisonment,
death penalty, etc.
Punishment is for crime, not for sin
for which there is suffering. According to some religions all suffering in
life, such as sickness, poverty, pain and sorrow is a result of sin.
A criminal is at the mercy of
judiciary; a sinner, at the mercy of
God. Crime is a physical or mental misconduct ; sin is a spiritual aberration.
Repentance, penance, torment, self-condemnation
and suicide are forms of self-punishment.
Forgiveness is a virtue. It brings a
change in the passion for revenge and retaliation.
Crime and sin do not remain
unpunished forever. The laws of Karma , cause and effect, action and reaction, do
show their results sooner or later.
According to the American clergy J. B.
Walker (1814-82) the existence of future punishment and everlasting destruction
is an evidence of the goodness, the justice, and the wisdom of God: of
goodness, in that it is a motive to prevent sin and turn men from evil; of
justice, in that it is the righteous doom of irreclaimable sinners; and of
wisdom, in that God can thus make the penalty of sin a motive to deter from
sin.
Finally, this psychological quote:
Punishment can breed resentment and lead to increased aggression. In many cases,
it’s better to provide positive
reinforcement for good behaviour rather than punishing misbehaviour.
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G. R. Kanwal
31st October 2024
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