Revenge in Religion
Many religions condemn revenge, or promote it as eternal punishment.
Judaism forbids revenge for small sins such as insults and things like stealing. For large crimes, such as murder, the issue of revenge is more complicated. While some rabbis condemn all revenge, others consider feelings (though not necessarily actions) of revenge permissible in extreme cases such as murder, where the forgiveness of the person offended cannot be attained.
Hinduism focuses on dharma and karma, with revenge stemming from attachment to the physical plane. That being said, there are numerous instances of revenge in older scripture, particularly in the saga of Parashurama.
Buddhism condemns revenge as stemming from ego and attachment.
Some denominations of Christianity command their followers to forgive their enemies. Christian views on death penalty and the use of the military are more subject to interpretation.
In Islam, revenge is permissible depending on the situation and cultural mores where it is practiced, but forgiveness is preferable.
LaVeyan Satanism promotes "vengeance" as a core tenet.
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Famous quotes containing the words revenge in, revenge and/or religion:
“The retaliation is apt to be in monstrous disproportion to the supposed offense; for when in anybody was revenge in its exactions aught else but an inordinate usurer?”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“Those wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defense can be just.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)
“I fancy it must be the quantity of animal food eaten by the English which renders their character insusceptible of civilisation. I suspect it is in their kitchens and not in their churches that their reformation must be worked, and that Missionaries of that description from [France] would avail more than those who should endeavor to tame them by precepts of religion or philosophy.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)