“Capital punishment is always wrong.”
The arguments and counter-arguments below are mixed up. Sort them out in a logical, coherent order to demonstrate analysis and evaluation of the statement, then highlight the connectives. The opening statement has been done for you.
Capital Punishment is wrong according to many Christians because the Bible says 'Do not kill' and that only God should take life away.
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In contrast, the Bible often shows a God of justice and some crimes are so awful, they deserve the death penalty because that brings true justice.
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A different view might be that society must be protected from the most dangerous criminals and the only way to be sure of that is if those criminals are dead.
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Furthermore, Judaism teaches that only victims can forgive, society should not forgive on their behalf, so it should be up to them to decide if the death penalty is used.
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However, some Christians would point to Bible teaching that says 'an eye for an eye, a life for a life' and so justify capital punishment in some situations.
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Also, most religious people think that even the most awful criminals are capable of transforming their lives if they are given the chance to repent.
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Alternatively, if human life is sacred because of imago Dei, then even the lives of murderers are sacred and we mustn't play at being God.
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On the other hand, Jesus' teaching was about 'turning the other cheek' and 'forgiving seventy times seven', so capital punishment can never be right.
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A contrasting argument might come from non-religious people who would disagree that human life is sacred and point to the fact that the money it takes to keep someone in prison for many years could be better spent elsewhere helping innocent people.
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However, many, both non-religious and religious, would say that in the past innocent people have been killed by capital punishment and you can't say 'Sorry, we got it wrong' once someone is dead, whereas you can just let someone out of prison.
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Furthermore, many criminals are victims themselves; victims of poverty, up-bringing or lack of opportunity or education.
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Finally, most religious people believe that our actions will be judged by God anyway and that we will be rewarded or punished in the afterlife, so in the end, it is in God's hands, not ours.