Originally Posted by Brad

Pergs, I would think that the penalty of stoning was intended to be bloody and horrific for a purpose that supercedes the need to be humane in that the sight of it impresses upon the witnesses the severity and horror of the sin it punishes. And perhaps that the one receiving the stoning is not deserving of a more humane type of execution. The 'most humane' thing to do would be NOT execute the offender, but that would be one of those tender mercies of the wicked that are cruel. I think the same is true of hanging or beheading of one who deserves stoning. God apparently thinks hanging's too good for them, and requires something more severe.