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:
“We drove the Indians out of the land,
But a dire revenge those Redmen planned,
For they fastened a name to every nook,
And every boy with a spelling book
Will have to toil till his hair turns gray
Before he can spell them the proper way.”
—Eva March Tappan (1854–1930)
“Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy. Both your religion and policy must be based on it. Your honesty must be based, as the sun is, in vacant heaven; poised, as the lights in the firmament, which have rule over the day and over the night.”
—John Ruskin (1819–1900)