Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Religion News
Lamentations: On Benjamin Cole (w/ Abe Bonowitz)

Lamentations: On Benjamin Cole (w/ Abe Bonowitz)

Last updated on: October 19, 2022 at 11:47 am by Jeff Hood

Lamentations: On Benjamin Cole (w/ Abe Bonowitz) 2022-10-19T11:47:31-06:00 Jeff Hood

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

October 19, 2022

Lamentations: On Benjamin Cole (w/ Abe Bonowitz)

Benjamin Cole is scheduled to be executed for killing his infant daughter, Brianna, on October 20, 2022

Abe: You were speaking earlier about what these executions remind you of? Do you mind sharing that again?

Jeff: We live in a culture that greatly romanticizes hunting. Set up camp under the cover of darkness. Sleep restlessly on a cot. Get up early. Pour some coffee. Put on your finest camouflage. Find your trusted tree stand. Enjoy the cool morning air. Hear the rustling of leaves in the distance. See the deer approach. Then, pow…

Let me make something clear, I have been a vegetarian most of my life. I hate hunting. But…I did go one time with a friend when I was a young man. That was enough for me. You see, we were sitting out in a camouflage tent. In the distance, I see a wild hog approach. It was clear that the hog was young. The closer it got the more I realized how young it was…easily a small baby with little sense of direction. Before I could react, my friend shot it. When he walked up to it and saw that it wasn’t dead…he shot it again. When we got back home, my friend bragged and bragged about how he had taken down a huge hog that would of destroyed crops and other wildlife. I knew better. There was nothing romantic or just about what I saw.

Abe: So, what’s hunting got to do with executions?

Jeff: We live in a culture that greatly romanticizes executions. Catch the murderer put them on trial. Prove their guilt. Secure the death penalty. Make them suffer through the appeals. Then, kill them with no hesitation. “May God have mercy on your soul” type stuff.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been in contact with a man that was convicted of killing his baby daughter, Benjamin Cole. For decades, Cole has been on death row. To say that his mental condition has deteriorated would be an understatement. Often, when we have talked it is as if he has forgotten who he was talking to mid-conversation. Furthermore, he thinks that he is the messiah and that God is either going to keep him from being executed or resurrect him shortly thereafter. Lastly, he will forcefully repeat scriptures incessantly…until you force him to stop. From my conversations with him, he has very little understanding of what is happening to him or why. This is a man that has the mentality capacity of a child. Yet, Oklahoma is determined to kill him. Let me assure you, there will be nothing romantic or just about any of it.

After the execution is over, there will be the typical bullshit about how everyone is safer now that Benjamin Cole is dead. I know better. I’ve actually talked to the guy. Have you?

There is no question in my mind that this execution isn’t going to be all that different from the first and only time I went hunting…a tremendous amount of blood and bragging…that amounts to nothing more than killing an infantile compromised animal in the woods.

Abe: That’s an interesting connection.

Jeff: Do you see any difference?

Abe: Not really, especially when we’re talking about the execution of these folks who are literally helpless. So often, we hear people talking about the future dangerousness of these guys. Benjamin Cole isn’t a dangerous to anybody. His mind is gone. He can hardly function. I can’t help but wonder if these executions are more about elections than they are about any legitimate government interest. And with the greased rail to the death house the is the US Supreme Court these days, indeed, it is all about politics. Not justice. Not fairness. Not the law.

Jeff: Right.

Lamentations is a series of short reflections derived from a reoccurring conversation that takes place before every scheduled execution in the United States between prominent abolitionists Death Penalty Action Executive Director Abraham Bonowitz and Clergy United Against the Death Penalty Convener Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood.

Politics and Religion

fresh writings

Thoughts

abolish the death penalty

Previous Post

October 17, 2022

Jesus' First Execution: Dirt, Oklahoma, Anthony Sanchez & The Struggle to End the Death Penalty

Next Post

October 22, 2022 Rigged: On the Partiality of the (a) Death Qualified Jury (or why Scott Eizember shouldn't be executed by Oklahoma in January)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Danny & Jeff fresh writings latest poetics north texas fellowship of reconciliation Sermon theology from death row Thoughts Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 July 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What items did Pharaoh give Joseph as a sign of authority?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ring and robe Chariot and whip Sword and shield Crown and sandals