Ch7 - Religion, Crime and Punishment

Question 1

What is the Principle of Utility?

Answer 1

The Principle of Utility suggests that an action is right if it provides the maximum happiness for the maximum amount of people

Question 2

Give 3 disadvantages of prison

Answer 2

Ropes people into gangs - schools for crime
Prisons breed resentment, bitterness and revenge
Most reoffend on release - prison doesn’t reform many
A prison record makes it difficult for people to get a job on release
Offenders families suffer through no fault of their own
Relationships can break down

Question 3

Give 3 advantages of prison

Answer 3

Prisons protect society from dangerous criminals
Prisons help to show that the government has a tough stance against crime
Prisons reform many and stop people from committing crimes
Prison acts as a deterrent and ensures that the law is respected
Prison gives criminals a chance to reflect on their actions
It punishes people by separating them from their friends and family

Question 4

Define civil law

Answer 4

Civil law concerns disputes between private individuals or groups. This includes matters such as: settlement of a divorce, disputes between landlords and tenants, and disputed wills

Question 5

Give 3 disadvantages of corporal punishment

Answer 5

It is uncivilised and inhumane
Corporal punishment goes against the teachings of Jesus
Miscarriage of Justice can result in some being wrongfully accused and punished
The person who carries out the punishment may feel bad
Physically hurting people often causes resentment
Does not deter all criminals from committing crime

Question 6

Give 2 advantages of capital punishment

Answer 6

Keeps people safe from criminals
Retribution for bad crimes
It deters people from committing crimes - they are scared of the consequence
It gives people closure - nobody will ever be affected by that criminal again
Some people are simply evil, so they need to have their life taken

Question 7

What is the Sanctity of Life?

Answer 7

The Sancitity of Life is a teaching that God gave life and only he has the right to take it away. Human life is sacred and holy, therefore it shouldn’t be misused or abused.

Question 8

Define corporal punishment

Answer 8

Corporal punishment is a physical punishment that is intended to cause pain

Question 9

Give 4 features of a civilised country

Answer 9

Laws that protect citizens
Ways of getting regular food
Democracy
Culture
Teaching young people the knowledge they need
Emancipation of women
Low birth rate
Regard healthcare as a basic human right
Free press that can criticise the government sensibly
Opposure torutre and the death penalty

Question 10

Give 4 features of a barbaric country

Answer 10

They have few, if any laws that protect their citizens
They have to fend for themselves
Don’t get to vote for who’s in charge
Often destroy culture they don’t like
Women not free to pursue education or career they want
Often have the death penalty, corporal punishment, and toture
Citizens can’t fully express themselves if they have different genders/sexualities

Question 11

Define community service

Answer 11

Community service is a way of punishing offenders by making them do unpaid work in the community

Question 12

Give 2 disadvantages of capital punishment

Answer 12

Innocent people can get wrongly convicted and executed (Miscarriage of justice)
Everyone has a right to life (Sanctity of Life)
It degrades human life
The criminal has no chance to reform their character
It doesn’t deter some people

Question 13

What are the 4 aims of punishment?

Answer 13

The 4 aims of punishment are:
Reformation
Deterrence
Retribution
Protection

Question 14

Give 2 advantages of community service:

Answer 14

It helps to reform offenders
It’s a good way to improve community links
It’s a way of punishing people without taking away their freedom

Question 15

Give 3 advantages of corporal punishment

Answer 15

Stops people from reoffending
Deters people from committing crimes - makes them afraid of the physically painful consequences
Disciplines people
Helps to show people that their previous action was wrong

Question 16

What are the 3 types of corporal punishment?

Answer 16

The 3 types of corporal punishment are:
Judicial
Domestic
Educational

Question 17

Give a quote that supports capital punishment

Answer 17

‘An eye for an eye’
‘Whoever takes a human life shall be put to death’
‘Whoever sheds human blood, shall have their blood shed’
‘You shall not allow a sorceress to live’

Question 18

Give 2 examples of civilised countries

Answer 18

The UK
Sweden
USA
Japan

Question 19

Give 2 examples of barbaric countries

Answer 19

Saudi Arabia
Afghanistan
Russia

Question 20

Define criminal law

Answer 20

Criminal law concerns more violent, physical or serious crimes. Such as murder or rape

Question 21

Define civil disobedience

Answer 21

Civil disobedience is the refusal of a citizen to obey certain laws, demands, orders, or commands of a government

Question 22

What is a prison?

Answer 22

A prison is a building in which people are legally held as a punishment for a crime they have committed or while awaiting trial

Question 23

Give 3 reasons for crime

Answer 23

Reasons for crime:
Poverty, upbringing, mental illness, addiction, greed, hate, opposition to an unjust law

Question 24

What can you be asked to do during community service?

Answer 24

Community service can include: cleaning up after people, filling potholes, gardening, decorating houses, environmental work, picking up litter

Question 25

Give a quote that opposes capital punishment

Answer 25

‘Do not return evil with evil’
‘If someone hits you on the right cheek, turn to them the left cheek’
‘Blessed are the peacemakers’
‘Thou shalt not kill’

Question 26

Define capital punishment

Answer 26

Capital punishment is the legal process whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime

Question 27

Define a crime

Answer 27

A crime is an offence which is punishable by law

Question 28

Give 2 disadvantages of community service

Answer 28

Doesn’t reform everyone’s character
Some offenders might deserve a harsher punishment
May not deter people from committing crime, as the punishment is not too severe
It’s a way of punishing people without fully taking away their freedom
If criminals are surrounded by other offenders, they are likely to get roped into a gang

Question 29

Define moral relatism

Answer 29

Moral relatism is the view that positions of right or wrong are based on people’s own experiences and decisions

Question 30

Define moral objectivism

Answer 30

Moral objectivism is the view that some moral acts are always wrong

Question 31

Give 2 Christian beliefs on suffering

Answer 31

Good can come from suffering and it has an instrumental value in our lives
Suffering can test us, strengthen us, and help us become better people
Suffering can teach us important lessons
It is a test of faith from God
It is part of God’s greater plan for us
Some suffering is the result of Free Will, Catholics believe it is the result of Original Sin

Question 32

Give 2 ways that Christians respond to suffering

Answer 32

Praying and asking God for strength
Doing good to help alleviate suffering
Showing compassion to those who are suffering
Trust in God’s plan, have faith and hope
Look for the lesson they can learn from their suffering
They could lose faith in an omnibenevolent God - could maybe not understand why an all loving God would cause them to suffer

Question 33

Give 1 instance when causing suffering could be justified

Answer 33

In self-defence/protecting others
Punishing a criminal - part of the justice system
If the end justifies the means
If it is the Lesser of Two Evils
To prevent future suffering

Question 34

Define forgiveness

Answer 34

Forgiveness is letting go of blame against a person for wrongs they have done; moving on

Question 35

Give 1 Christian belief about forgiveness

Answer 35

Chrirstians believe that everyone is sinful and needs forgiveness. ‘All have sinned and fall short’ (St Paul)

Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to bring forgiveness and reconciliation between God and humanity.

Christians should try to forgive others, even when it is difficult - this means they will also be forgiven.

Jesus teaches that Christians should not tired of forgiving others - ‘forgive not seven but seventy-seven times’.

By forgiving, Christians show mercy and compassion.

Question 36

Give 1 quote that shows forgiveness

Answer 36

‘Forgive not seven but seventy-seven times’ (Jesus)

‘Forgive and you will be forgiven’ (Jesus)

‘Forgive them Father, for them do not know what they are doing’ (Jesus - on Good Friday)

Question 37

Give a quote that supports corporal punishment

Answer 37

‘Do not withold discipline from a child’
‘Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities’

Question 38

Give a quote that opposes corporal punishment

Answer 38

‘Love thy neighbour’
‘Forgive not seven, but seventy-seven times’
‘There is nothing in the Catechism of the Catholic Church which supports the right of parents to use corporal punishment’

Question 39

Give a quote that opposes hate crimes

Answer 39

‘Treat others as you would like to be treated’
‘You are all one in Jesus Christ’

Question 40

Give a quote that opposes murder

Answer 40

‘Thou shalt not kill’

Question 41

Give a quote about suffering

Answer 41

‘Suffering produces perseverance’