The Death Penalty by John Cali

This may sound morbid to some folks, but I’ve always had a keen interest in death, even as young kid. So when two states, Georgia and Texas, executed two men the same night last month, that got my attention.

Quite apart from whether the two men were guilty or not (one’s guilt was virtually certain, and the other’s was in grave doubt), is the so-called death penalty justified?

My personal opinion is it is not. Many in the USA would disagree with me. However, this country is one of the holdouts in the diminishing number of countries who still use the death penalty.

Is death really a penalty? It is if you take the standard mass consciousness view that death is a terrible thing, an experience to be avoided at all costs. But we cannot avoid it. The best we can do is postpone it.

Here are some of Spirit’s thoughts about death and the death penalty:

“Death is not what it seems to most humans. Nothing new there — you’ve probably heard us say that before.

“Death is an event we in these dimensions celebrate in the same way you in your physical dimensions celebrate birth. To us, birth and death are not opposites, but only different places on the spectrum of eternal life.

“Somehow, somewhere along the trail, if you will, humans got it all mixed up. You forgot what life was all about. You began to see death as ‘the end’ of you. Your churches taught you death was even a punishment for ‘sin.’ And yet, they held out the hope you would go to something better after you died.

“Your governments have institutionalized death as the ultimate penalty for ‘sin.’ They give the ‘sinner’ the ‘death penalty.’

“What they don’t know is they are doing the ‘sinners’ a favor by ‘penalizing’ them with death. If they really wanted to penalize them, they’d let them continue to live on in their self-created misery instead of offering them the sweet release of death. Death is a release, a healing, a rebirth into new life, into the joy and peace they left behind when they incarnated.”

What are your thoughts? Is the death penalty justified? Does is serve any useful purpose? Please comment below.

John Cali’s Spirit Speaks Newsletter

17 Responses

  1. John Cali

    Thanks very much, LaTanya.

    I certainly think, as you put it, ” the one we imprison has requested (on a subconscious level) a fresh start. Society does not like their actions and therefore ‘revoking’ their earthly pass.”

    After all, everything we experience with other people is a co-creation. Though that, in my opinion, doesn’t justify the death penalty, murder, rape, etc etc.

    Abraham has an interesting take on laws. They say laws are necessary only because our society (and individuals too) are afraid of losing control.

    But, as you said, all is well.

    John

  2. LaTanya

    I always enjoy your blog John and the thought provoking messages from Spirit. Understanding the meaning of death is it possible the one we imprison has requested (on a subconscious level) a fresh start. Society does not like their actions and therefore “revoking” their earthly pass. Also… the way our prison system is… I think we all know it needs to be revamped. They are beginning to jail humans for the smallest of events, which begins a cycle for the “criminal” as they are called. As I think I have heard spirit say that if we continue to make laws we will continue to find those who break them. All is Well.

  3. Judith Anderson

    I have always been opposed to the death penalty. To me, it seems a test of who are as a society that we would commit an act of violence as judicial murder and consider it to be justified.

    That one of the Supremes commented in a different case that Actual Innocence is no bar to execution as long as all procedures were properly followed is bizarre. It is concerned with form and not substance.

    As long as we consider death a great punishment, we have no right to dole it out to anyone else.

    I note that someone else has responded on the comments about costs – and, yes, it is far more expensive to keep a prisoner alive on Death Row and following all legal avenues than to imprison him/her for life.

    But, really, should cost ever be an issue in a matter such as this?

    This is about who we are and how we are willing to treat other parts of the Oneness we all share.

  4. Jackie

    As long as the guilty person is in prsion and is no longer a threat to society, they deserve the opportunity for unconditional love to enter their heart as they reflect on their life and their actions. They have a right to achieve awareness and forgiveness. Execution is barbaric and unenlightened.

  5. George Ball

    My view of the death penalty, in agreement with John and his guides, is that it represents premeditated, cold-blooded murder and it traumatizes those who administer this brutality. In addition, I also agree, having had the opportunity to read others comments, with Joseph, in writing, “Some have stated that by taking another’s life we are actually releasing them, where by keeping them alive is a deeper punishment. They forget the psychological trauma to the soul that is aware its physical expression is being killed,” which does not even include the months or years of suffering in court and on death row prior to the execution.

  6. Pat

    It’s cheaper to keep imprisoned than it is to impose the death penalty due to all of the expensive appeals, lawyers, etc. Therefore, the first thing we should do is kill all the lawyers. No, wait. Maybe not.

    Tongue Solidly in Cheek

  7. John Cali

    Thanks very much, Karen, for your thoughtful comments. I agree with you — what we do to one, we do to all — including ourselves. I remember something Deepak Chopra once said — every hateful thought we hold contributes to the further wounding of our world. How true!

    Hugs,
    John

  8. Karen Lee Samson

    Dear John & spirit Joseph,
    I feel the death penalty is not the answer, we are not God and although we Hate the action and feel great pain of lossing a loved one, it would be best to realize there are many differing development levels with spirits in human bodies, and having the individuals work for the service of the community good, even under dire situations would be more of a learning experience to all concerned. God does not create imperfect people, yet he has many different people on earth to remind us who we are and what our purpose on life is about. Are we not here to teach love, growth, forgiveness, and working together in unityas what we do to one we do to all?
    I always enjoy reading your articles, thought provoking as usual. With Blessings and love from South Florida. Karen

  9. Joseph

    On this school called planet earth we forget it is all a loosely scripted play to remember we are, and all is, love = god. Judgment is the sin and forgiveness the cure. Some have stated that by taking another’s life we are actually releasing them, where by keeping them alive is a deeper punishment. They forget the psychological trauma to the soul that is aware its’ physical expression is being killed. “Forgive them for they know not what they do, ” can be applied to the ‘death penalty’, along with, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” When humanity finally gains the awareness that they are each a god aspect having a physical experience then this illusionary madness we call life will take on the sweetness it is meant to be. Until then humanity needs to know that all is a mirror to see what they have been before in another lifetime and to greet that reflection with unconditional love [ thus loving our self – which is the ultimate purpose of any incarnation, and the point from where you need to be to truly love another].

  10. Sam

    While I agree that every death is not likely to be “unplanned,” I think something like the death penalty provides us with the opportunity express our highest Selves and deliberately putting someone to death when “we” believe it to be the worst kind of punishment we can bestow is not very elevating. Perhaps those whom we’re killing are actually serving us in trying to get this point across. I mean, it takes a very great soul to deliberately live a life that allows us to rise above what it tempts us to do at our lowest level of consciousness, i.e., kill. Sam

  11. Cara Wilde

    Hi John

    A few things occur to me from my perception of the world. I guess that from some perspectives death is not a punishment, simply a releasing. I think that is more relevant to the person who is to experience death than for the one handing out the punishment. Also how do we wish to define ourselves? As a nation who punish or a nation who forgives? Personally I do not see that the death penalty serves any purpose other than revenge and ultimately revenge does not serve anyone. I no doubt would give a different emotional reaction if a crime had been aimed at one of my loved ones . I would hope though that eventually I would still arrive at the same perspective. When we think of it in terms of being responsible for the reality we create there is a place beyond forgiveness, a place that does not even require forgiveness.
    I see no purpose in the death penalty that takes us closer to love.

    Thanks for the thought provoking words John
    Hugs
    Cara

  12. John Cali

    I agree. My spirit guides have said for years every death is a suicide. We are the creators of our own lives and deaths. Spirit has also said dying is the easiest thing we will ever do. Granted, all our experiences with others, including that of executioner and executed, are co-creations. But the real question for me is this: Do we nurture ourselves and others by supporting the so-called death penalty? I think not.

    • Wil

      I’m indifferent to it. I do not (but I used to) have a meaning about it. It goes in the one ear and out the other ear (Dutch expression 🙂 In the universe I prefer punishment is no more as it only means that you still want to impose your way of thinking on to someone else.

  13. Wil

    Death penalty is indeed a liberation from the real punishment he or she co-created. But given that EVERY death is a suicide as you are the creator of it, does it matter?

  14. Sam

    I agree with Joseph, John. I’ve thought, even since I was a child, that if we really wanted to punish someone, what better (or worse) way to do so then to pen them up like an animal for the rest of their life? But hey, it costs a lot of money to keep someone in jail for that long; it’s cheaper to use the death penalty to save the costs. Sam

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