Scientists tell us that the earth is some 4.5 billion years old. So in the grand scheme of things, each of us is here very briefly. Ergo, I proffer this common-sense principle (call it C-SP): “We should strive to make each person’s time on earth as long and as pleasant as possible.” The Christian Bible disagrees with C-SP, for it states conditions under which one should intentionally kill a fellow human being. Two such cases are:

If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and worship other gods’ ..., do not yield … or listen to them. Show them no pity. […] You must certainly put them to death. […] Stone them to death, ...” (Deuteronomy 13:6-10)

and

If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death ...” (Leviticus 20:13).

What lousy advice those 2 cases are! In case 1, I prefer saying, “No thanks”, which suffices. Would it not be better to say, “Under no circumstances is it acceptable for one human being intentionally to kill another human being.”? That statement (and C-SP, supra) would rule out the death penalty, and it would display a genuine respect for human life, in stark contrast to the Bible! The United States intentionally killed thousands of innocent men, women, and children when it dropped 2 atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. Those deaths could (and should) have been avoided!