Crime and punishment Flashcards
Give 3 reasons why someone might commit a crime.
Poverty, upbringing, mental illness and addiction.
Describe Christian and Buddhist views on hate crimes
Christians condemn hate crimes and everyone is equal since God created humans. “love your neighbour”.
Buddhists are against hate crimes as hate is one of the three poisons.
Describe Christian and Buddhist views on theft.
Christians: theft goes against one of the 10 commandments, “thou shall not steal”
Buddhism: theft breaks the second moral precept, “refrain from taking what is not given”. It links to greed, one of the three poisons.
Describe Christian and Buddhist views on murder.
Christians: Goes against the sanctity of life.
It goes against one of the 10 commandments “thou shall not kill”.
Buddhism: Breaks the first moral precept. It causes suffering (dukkha) to the person and people around them
Explain what retribution is and what some religious views are on it.
It is getting your own back on the offender.
Christians: Many Christians focus on other methods of punishment. “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”, Romans. Some Christians support retribution: “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”.
Buddhists are against retribution as it can sometimes be a form of violence, therefore breaking the first moral precept- do not harm and Ahimsa- no violence. A person will suffer because of Karma.
Explain what deterrence is and the religious view on it.
It is used to put people off committing a crime.
Christians: deterrence is not bad but they do not support punishments that are excessive.
Buddhists: deterrence may not work if people are in the grip of the three poisons.
Explain what reformation is and what some religious views are surrounding it.
Reformation is to change someone’s behaviour for the better.
Christians favour this type of punishment. It has a positive outcome rather than a negative outcome.
Buddhism: A criminal should be encouraged to recognise the suffering they have caused.
What are Christian views on suffering?
They have a duty to help those that are suffering.
Follow the examples of Jesus to reduce suffering.
Suffering is caused through free will.
What are Buddhist views on suffering?
It is inevitable in life.
Reduce suffering by following the eightfold path or other Buddhist teachings.
