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Quote by Shane Claiborne

“The death penalty has succeeded in America, not in spite of Christians, but because of us. The Bible Belt is the Death Belt. Wherever Christians are most concentrated is where executions are happening, and that's deeply troubling to me.”

Quote by Shane Claiborne

Author

Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne is an author, social activist, and Christian pacifist, known for his advocacy of simple living and opposition to war. Born on July 11, 1975, Claiborne's work and activities aim to promote social justice and global peace. more

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“I think we've misinterpreted some of the scriptures to justify the death penalty. So whereas a lot of folks in America feel like we can do far better justice - it's more expensive to do the death penalty than the alternatives - there's so many reasons that people come to the conclusion to abolish the death penalty.”

People Thinking Feels Reason America Can Do Justice Folks Scripture Conclusion Alternatives Expensive Justify Penalties Death Penalty Abolish Misinterpreted

Author:Shane Claiborne

“It's impossible to separate our contemporary practice of the death penalty from our history around race and slavery, and specifically, lynching. Where lynchings were happening 100 years ago is where executions are happening today. And that's a haunting and eerie thing.”

Years Today Race Practice Impossible Happenings Years Ago Slavery Contemporary Execution Penalties Haunting Death Penalty Lynching Eerie

Author:Shane Claiborne

“When we really began executions rather than lynchings, black folks were 22% of our population in 1950, for instance, but they were 75% of the executions. Now, African-Americans are 13% of the population, but they're still almost half of death row, and over a third of the executions. 34% of the executions are black folks. So, like, I mean, things like the race of the victim is one of the biggest determinants of who gets executed.”

Mean Stills Black Race Half Thirds Victim Folks Population Instance African American Execution Lynching Death Row

Author:Shane Claiborne

“I think a lot of people view the death penalty as a debate class or something. The cost and what's at stake is really, really a big deal.”

People Thinking Bigs Views Deals Class Cost Debate Stakes Penalties Big Deal Death Penalty

Author:Shane Claiborne

“The more you look at the death penalty, that's where you see that we're actually not killing the worst of the worst. We're killing the poorest of the poor. Where actually one of the biggest determinants of who gets executed is how many resources they have to defend themselves.”

Looks Poor Worst Resources Killing Penalties Death Penalty Poorest

Author:Shane Claiborne

“I believe you know Jesus said "a doctor doesn't come to the healthy, but the sick, and it's not the righteous but the sinners that I've come for," so I think that that's the scandal of God's love and grace that no one is beyond redemption, and we can see that all through scripture, you know.”

Thinking Knows Believe Said Jesus I Believe Grace Healthy Doctors Sick Scripture Redemption Sinner Righteous Scandal God's Love

Author:Shane Claiborne

“David, Moses, Saul of Tarsus, these were all people who did terrible terrible things - they were murderers. The Bible would be a lot shorter without grace.”

People Would Be Grace Terrible Murderer Terrible Things Moses

Author:Shane Claiborne

“There are people who are dangerous, and evil is real.”

People Real Evil Dangerous

Author:Shane Claiborne

“The Catholic understanding has been that the death penalty has been become, like, outdated because in industrialized countries. We have other ways of protecting societies from dangerous people without killing them. And in fact, it's important to remember that much of the world has done away with the death penalty.”

People World Way Has Beens Important Country Done Facts Remember Understanding Dangerous Catholic Killing Penalties Death Penalty Outdated

Author:Shane Claiborne

“This is the company we keep when it comes to the death penalty: China, the number one executing country; Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, those are the top 4, and number 5 is the US. And those are not countries that are known as champions for human rights, you know.”

Knows Humans Country Numbers Company Known Rights Human Rights Iraq China Champion Iran Penalties Death Penalty Arabia Saudi Arabia Saudis Executing Company We Keep

Author:Shane Claiborne