Serious problem wondering Stealing's Punishment.

[Azrael]

So I'm wondering...what is stealing in general and what's it's perfect punishment? Before you say go to jail or do the Christian thing and provide restitution. No. I'm talking about a punishment for people in Hell. You know that place where bad people go when they do bad things. I'm doing a project on Dante's inferno and I'm wondering what is stealing specifically (because it's a general topic) and what's the perfect punishment.

[Tenyasyugan]

Stealing? Hmm... You'd think it'd be the removal of one's hands and then to be faced with all of your hearts desires, never able to get them. But... It sound similar to greed, then again, Stealing is related to Greed.

I gotta find that book one of these days.

[Azrael]

Originally Posted by Tenyasyugan

Stealing? Hmm... You'd think it'd be the removal of one's hands and then to be faced with all of your hearts desires, never able to get them. But... It sound similar to greed, then again, Stealing is related to Greed.

I gotta find that book one of these days.

It's an awesome read. I mean stealing in general. It's impossible to be specific. Murder is a form of stealing in that it steals one's life.

The Inferno is an awesome read

[Teiku 5]

i wouldn't group stealing and murder. stealing, like Ten said, is a form of greed so that you can have what you want or think you deserve. murder is more having complete lack of compassion and putting no value in life. it's more stealing in a metaphorical sense.

i don't think stealing really is part of a "general category" except for selfishness and rebellion. all sin can be traced back to those two. you steal because its what you want, you kill someone because its what you want, you fornicate because its what you want and because you don't care what the laws or rules say about it.

as far as the "perfect punishment," besides the Christian idea of Hell to which there is no other comparison (dark, alone, eternal physical and spiritual pain, no sleep, burning), the greek myth of Tantalus comes to mind.....

Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology: Tantalus
Tantalus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

basically, he was put next to fruit tree and a pool and was given an eternal hunger and thirst. every time he went to drink, the pool dried up, and similar for the tree. this idea could be extended to lots of things being just out of reach.

another thing that comes to mind is a Twilight Zone episode. this would only apply to certain cases though i think. this gangster got shot and died, thought he went to Heaven. was given everything, a mansion of a apartment, money, food, women. he always won when he gambled. he always made it safe when he pulled heists. his angel set this all up for him and he told the angel that everything had lost its fun because it was always the same repetitive thing, it was no longer exciting, it was driving him crazy, and if this was Heaven why couldn't the angel do anything about it. the "angel" asked him "whoever said you were in Heaven?".