Any Difference Between Soldiers and Robbers Who Killed?
It is believed by most men that life is sacred. The sacredness of life informs why we feel it must be preserved.
If we go by the Social Contract theory of Thomas Hobbes, it is clear that fear of being killed was part of the major reasons men entered into a contract.
This contract ensures man life is protected, provided he gives away his natural freedom to a sovereign.
Beside this Social Contract angle, the religious injunction is that we must not kill. This is expressed in the commandment 'thou shall not kill'.
According to the religious claim above, he who kills commits sin against God and as such, it is forbidden.
Despite these two clear statements against killing of any kind, man still engage in one killing or the other.
In fact, killing becomes a scar that rub itself on the face of humanity. There are always cases of people being killed on a daily basis.
Now, the question is 'are all killings forbidden or there are exceptions'? We know religion stated it clearly that killing is a sin and it didn't give room for excuses or types of killing.
If this is the case, are armed robbers who killed sinners? If yes, what about soldiers? Are they also sinners?
Don't forget that these people killed. It is not a question of intention now. It is a question of the act of killing.
Some robbers killed by accident when the situation seems to be beyond their control. In the case of soldiers, they either killed willingly based on the order they got or killed because the situation is beyond them and they needed to save themselves.
These two scenarios are cases of killing but as far as the society is concerned, one is noble while the other ignoble.
The soldiers are believed to be fighting for and defending the country against common enemy amd ensuring peace and sovereignty of the state.
That is true in the sight of man but is it true in the sight of God? Can it be argued that soldiers who killed in their course of actions would not be considered as sinners because they killed the enemies of the state.
Don't forget that we are equal before the creator and everyone is redeemable. If this is true, what makes the robber who killed while robbing a sinner for the state and the soldier who killed during raid a saint for the state?
Is there a better way to argue this and justify it according to religious practices without resulting into the heroic names society call them because they might not be heroes in the sight of the Creator
Any clear explanation on the below:
What makes a robber who killed a sinner to state and the soldier who killed during raid a saint to the state
Or why both can be seen as sinners irrespective of the course they fight for, whether state or person.
I hope to read your comments.
Thanks for your time.