Capital Punishment

Question 1

What is capital punishment?

Answer 1

The legal punishment of particular crimes by death

Question 2

Arguments for capital punishment

Answer 2

ULTIMATE DETERRENCE - stops re offence of criminal and puts others off
RETRIBUTION - ultimate revenge: ‘a life for a life’
PROTECTION - society is safe from dangerous criminals
RELIGION (THE OLD TESTAMENT) - the Old Testament sounds in favour of capital punishment: ‘if a man kills anyone, he must be put to death’ from Leviticus 24

Question 3

Arguments against capital punishment

Answer 3

DOES NOT DETER - Texas has capital punishment and more murders than states without capital punishment
HYPOCRITICAL/INHUMANE - cruel, unnecessary suffering in some forms of execution, killing a killer to show it’s bad
CONCESSION - ‘easy way out’ for criminals: they should be made to suffer in jail for the rest of their lives
HUMAN DIGNITY - everyone has a right to life: ‘imago dei’

Question 4

Imago Dei

Answer 4

Christian teaching which means life is holy and we shouldn’t mess with it

Question 5

Protection

Answer 5

Society needs to feel safe from harm

Question 6

Deterrence

Answer 6

Consequences to crimes will put people off

Question 7

Vindication

Answer 7

Punishment for not upholding/respecting the law

Question 8

Reformation

Answer 8

Punishments should try to change criminals so they will not commit crimes again

Question 9

Retribution

Answer 9

Punishments should make criminals pay for what they have done

Question 10

Countries with capital punishment

Answer 10

China, Iran, Bangladesh

Question 11

Countries without capital punishment

Answer 11

France, Germany, UK

Question 12

Forgiveness

Answer 12

A process where the victim makes a conscious decision to not feel resentment towards someone who has wronged them

Question 13

How might it be easier for someone to forgive?

Answer 13

They have been forgiven themselves
The crime was against property rather than a person
There are examples from their faith of forgiveness
The offender is apologetic

Question 14

Issues with forgiveness

Answer 14

It is countercultural (uncommon) to forgive others today. Many want to get revenge instead (retribution)

Question 15

Examples of forgiveness in the Bible

Answer 15

The prodigal son, the unmerciful servant, Jesus

Question 16

Restorative justice

Answer 16

The problem-solving approach to justice; victim and offender being reconciled. 75% of people in the UK have found it helpful

Question 17

Why might Christians support restorative justice

Answer 17

Christianity promotes forgiveness - sin is a part of human nature and criminals should be treated fairly
Restores the relationship between God and sinful people
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” - Ephesians 4:31-32

Question 18

Issues of restorative justice

Answer 18

Relies on voluntary cooperation
If both parties are unwilling they must go through formal justice in court
For some victims the crime committed has been too severe that they dont want to meet the offender
Some offenders are not sorry for their crimes and might not want to meet the victim

Question 19

What is the Old Testament’s view on capital punishment?

Answer 19

AGREES - what someone has done to another will be done back to them

“Humans are made in God’s image so if you murder them then you life will be taken” - Genesis 9:6

Question 20

What is the New Testament’s view on capital punishment?

Answer 20

DISAGREES - all people can be forgiven, we should love unconditionally and have empathy

“Do not take revenge on those you have wronged you” - Matthew 5:38-39

Question 21

What is the Presbyterian Church’s view on capital punishment?

Answer 21

DISAGREES - in 2008 it was decided Christians from this church should work for a system of criminal rehabilitation based on restorative justice and an end to the death penalty

Question 22

What is the Catholic Church’s view on capital punishment?

Answer 22

IF NECESSARY - if criminals can be punished by other means and is effective then capital punishment shouldn’t be used. It should only be used if it is the only way society can be protected from an unjust aggressor