Mercy and Justice
Mercy and justice: Can they coexist?
Abstract
This paper is about if mercy and justice can co-exist. The paper discusses justice in today’s society, mercy’s role in the justice system, and God’s mercy and justice.
Mercy and justice: Can they coexist? Mercy and justice can be viewed as two separate virtues. While justice seeks resolution, mercy seeks forgiveness. This paper will discuss justice in today’s society, mercy’s role in the justice system, and God’s mercy and justice. According to dictionary.com, justice is “the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.” The virtue demands that people have equal rights and opportunities. Everyone, from the poorest person to the wealthiest deserves an even playing field. From a political point of view one can say justice is equal rights. However, the law does not necessarily mean justice. According to an article “Wit or Wisdom, the law, or justice, dictates that we all deserve hell forever. We are sinners and a stench in the nose of God” (Beckmann, 2007). This shows that while law is supposed to be right and just and true, it is not always, and there are exceptions to many rules.
Is justice fair all of the time? In its narrower sense, justice is fairness. For example, in the article “Justice Versus Fairness,” Maiese says, “… justice is fairness. It is action that pays due regard to the proper interests, property, and safety of one’s fellows… The principles of justice and fairness can be thought of as rules of “fair play” for issues of social justice… Social justice requires both that the rules be fair, and also that people play by the rules” (2003). Maiese says that justice is fairness and that society requires both that the rules be fair, and also that people play by those rules. Mercy is often considered as an important virtue. According to dictionary.com, mercy is “compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or
Abstract
This paper is about if mercy and justice can co-exist. The paper discusses justice in today’s society, mercy’s role in the justice system, and God’s mercy and justice.
Mercy and justice: Can they coexist? Mercy and justice can be viewed as two separate virtues. While justice seeks resolution, mercy seeks forgiveness. This paper will discuss justice in today’s society, mercy’s role in the justice system, and God’s mercy and justice. According to dictionary.com, justice is “the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.” The virtue demands that people have equal rights and opportunities. Everyone, from the poorest person to the wealthiest deserves an even playing field. From a political point of view one can say justice is equal rights. However, the law does not necessarily mean justice. According to an article “Wit or Wisdom, the law, or justice, dictates that we all deserve hell forever. We are sinners and a stench in the nose of God” (Beckmann, 2007). This shows that while law is supposed to be right and just and true, it is not always, and there are exceptions to many rules.
Is justice fair all of the time? In its narrower sense, justice is fairness. For example, in the article “Justice Versus Fairness,” Maiese says, “… justice is fairness. It is action that pays due regard to the proper interests, property, and safety of one’s fellows… The principles of justice and fairness can be thought of as rules of “fair play” for issues of social justice… Social justice requires both that the rules be fair, and also that people play by the rules” (2003). Maiese says that justice is fairness and that society requires both that the rules be fair, and also that people play by those rules. Mercy is often considered as an important virtue. According to dictionary.com, mercy is “compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or
Cited: Agnosticism/Atheism. (2006). Retrieved September 9, 2010, from About.com: http//atheism.about.com/library/FAOs/phil/blphil.eth.mercyjustice.htm Beckmann, H. (2007, September 22). Justice and Mercy. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from witorwisdom.wordpress.com: http://witorwisdom.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/justice-and-mercy/ Colley, C. (2004). God 's Mercy and Justice. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from Apologetics Press Web site: http://www.apologetic.org/articles/print/1860 Tersigini, D. (2005). An Essay on Justice. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from www.thealmightyguru.com: http//www.thealmightyguru.com/Knowledge/Docs/Justice.html