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Comment by narag | Hacker News Reader

As other people have mentioned, this is only strange because of our bizarre popular notions of crime and punishment in America.

I believe it's more of a Calvinism thing. I mean predestination as stronger than free will. If that person is a criminal, it's shocking that he will rehab and live a productive life later. In catholic countries this wouldn't be seen as strange.

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According to Calvinism, all are sinners who deserve eternal damnation and some are chosen to be given a new life and repent. So his case is not strange from a Calvinist point of view at all. Edit: Neither (in Calvinism) can one say "he was predestined to be a criminal". The blame for sin lies at the feet of the sinner. Sin is the sinner's choice. Grace, to give someone the heart to repent, is God's choice.

What you wrote can be rephrased to fit in my previous comment just the same. Or the other way around :)

as a protestant by cultural heritage I can't help but snark at this comment in light of the bail bonds discussion upthreat :)

That's... interesting. I have no idea what you mean, but it's intriguing anyway :)

BTW, I'm not really interested in Theology or in religion for that matter. Actually it seems that protestant countries are usually richer, so I would happyly admit it's a better solution for people that can't resist being Christians.

Anyway, don't disregard what your culture looks like from outside. If there's something you can't really see is the air you breath.

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