It’s strange how society draws lines between different types of killing. For example, when a police officer kills someone, it’s often justified as ‘protecting the public,’ even if the circumstances are controversial. Similarly, soldiers in war are trained to kill on behalf of their country, even when innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire. On the other hand, an individual who kills outside of these contexts is condemned as a criminal, regardless of their motives.

This raises a difficult question: is killing truly about morality, or is it more about who gets to define the rules? One person’s criminal can be another person’s hero—freedom fighters, revolutionaries, and even historical leaders have often been celebrated for acts of violence that would otherwise be deemed unacceptable.

If a higher power, like God, exists, would they see a distinction between these types of killing? Or are these just human-made justifications to make sense of actions we otherwise know are wrong?”