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 and/or religion:
“When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take revenge upon the injustice of fortune by vilifying those enjoyments which she had not given them.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“... it was religion that saved me. Our ugly church and parochial school provided me with my only aesthetic outlet, in the words of the Mass and the litanies and the old Latin hymns, in the Easter lilies around the altar, rosaries, ornamented prayer books, votive lamps, holy cards stamped in gold and decorated with flower wreaths and a saint’s picture.”
—Mary McCarthy (1912–1989)