Crime And Punishment Flashcards
What is sin?
Sin is acting against the will or laws of God.
Examples of sins include murder, stealing, adultery, and pride.
What is absolutism?
Absolutism is the belief that there are certain actions that are always right or always wrong.
Moral laws exist eternally and are not just human inventions.
What is relativism?
Relativism is the belief that there is no moral law and that rules governing right and wrong are human inventions that change over time and place.
Moral principles can vary from culture to culture and from era to era.
What constitutes a crime?
A crime is committed when someone breaks the law.
Laws define acceptable behavior for safety and can vary by country.
How do laws vary in different countries?
Laws can differ; for example, the legal age to buy alcohol is 21 in some states of America and 18 in Britain.
This shows how legal definitions and regulations can change between regions.
What is morality?
Morality is the process of deciding what is right or wrong.
It involves understanding behaviors related to sin and crime.
What is absolute morality?
Absolute morality is the principle that certain actions, like stealing, are always wrong regardless of context.
Examples include the belief that it is wrong to take innocent life in any situation.
What is an example of absolute morality?
Stealing is always wrong, even if one is starving.
The principle applies universally without exceptions.
What is relative morality?
Relative morality is the idea that moral principles can be adapted based on specific situations.
For instance, stealing may be acceptable if one has no other means to obtain food.
How can relative morality justify an action?
It allows for flexibility based on circumstances, such as killing in self-defense.
This contrasts with absolute morality, which does not permit exceptions.
What is the relationship between sin and crime?
Some sins are also crimes, like murder and stealing, while others, like adultery and pride, are not against the law.
This highlights the distinction between legal and moral transgressions.
Explain the difference between sin and crime with examples.
Sin is a moral wrongdoing against God’s laws, while crime is a violation of societal laws.
For example, murder is both a sin and a crime, but pride is only a sin.
What does the term ‘lawful’ refer to?
Lawful refers to actions that comply with the law, which can change over time.
For example, homosexuality was once illegal but is now lawful in many places.
What are the options available to a judge when sentencing a criminal?
Prison, fines, community service
Judges consider the advantages and drawbacks of various punishment options.
What is the purpose of deterrence in punishment?
To make a criminal think twice before breaking the law
Punishments must be proportionate to the crime to effectively deter.
Define punishment in the context of criminal justice.
The decision and a penalty imposed by a person in authority on the person who has committed wrong-doing.
How does seeing criminals punished affect society?
It puts other people off committing the same crime.
What should motivate punishments according to Christians?
Justice, not revenge.
What is the aim of rehabilitation in the context of punishment?
Helping criminals reform through education, counselling, and training.
What does retribution mean in the context of punishment?
Making the criminal pay for what they have done.
Fill in the blank: ‘An eye for _______’
an eye.
What societal factors contribute to criminal behavior?
Poverty and poor parenting.
What happens if societal factors like poverty are not addressed?
People will continue to offend.
True or False: Punishments can be too harsh to effectively deter crime.
True.
What is a common perception about retribution?
That it can be seen as being ‘soft on criminals’.
What is a consequence of rehabilitation for criminals?
They are less likely to commit crime again and can become productive members of society.
What is forgiveness in Christian teachings?
Forgiveness is the act of pardoning someone for the offences they have caused you, of overlooking a person’s faults.
Why is forgiveness important in the Gospel message?
Forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel message, showing Christians they should treat others with compassion, love, mercy, and forgiveness.
What does the Parable of the unforgiving servant teach about forgiveness?
It makes it clear that there is no limit to forgiveness.
How is forgiveness emphasized in the Lord’s Prayer?
Christians ask God to ‘forgive their sins, as they forgive those who have sinned against them’.
What does the Lord’s Prayer imply about receiving forgiveness from God?
Christians can only expect to receive forgiveness from God if they are forgiving towards others.
What example did Jesus set when he forgave the woman caught in adultery?
He told her to ‘go and sin no more’.
Who was Zacchaeus, and how did Jesus interact with him?
Zacchaeus was a tax collector known for cheating; Jesus visited him, allowing him to change and reform.
What is the significance of the parable of the prodigal son?
It illustrates the theme of forgiveness, highlighting that the father forgives his son and welcomes him back despite his wrongdoings.
What did Jesus say while on the cross regarding forgiveness?
‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’
Is forgiveness just letting people off according to the Bible?
No, there is a tension between forgiveness and punishment, and Jesus also spoke about justice.
What will happen on judgement day according to Christian beliefs?
God will judge all humans based on their behavior and will forgive those who are truly sorry and want to change.
How do many Christians view the relationship between punishment and forgiveness?
Many Christians believe that punishment and forgiveness can go together, seeing punishment as a means to help individuals reform.
Fill in the blank: Jesus answered Peter, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but _______ times.’
seventy-seven
What do Matthew 6:14-15 teach about forgiving others?
If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; if not, your Father will not forgive your sins.
What is capital punishment also known as?
The death penalty
What does capital punishment mean?
A person is put to death or executed as a punishment for their crime
In which year was capital punishment abolished in the United Kingdom?
1965
Is capital punishment still legal in many countries?
Yes
What is a controversial aspect of capital punishment?
Whether it is ever justifiable
What do some people believe about capital punishment?
It is a form of just punishment
What evidence is there against capital punishment?
It does not deter crime, and innocent people can be killed for crimes they did not commit
What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church state about capital punishment?
‘Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)
What has traditionally been the Catholic Church’s stance on capital punishment?
Allowed, but not encouraged
What does St Augustine emphasize regarding punishments?
The need to seek other punishments if at all possible
What did Pope John Paul II suggest about capital punishment in Evangelium Vitae?
It should be avoided unless it is the only way to defend society from the offender
What principle does the new Catechism of the Catholic Church uphold regarding means of punishment?
‘If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means.’
What is Pope Francis’s position on the death penalty?
He is against it and states it is no longer justifiable
What biblical reference states, ‘Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed’?
Genesis 9:6
What does Exodus 21:24 state?
‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot’
What does Matthew 5:38-39 convey about responding to evil?
‘Do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.’
Fill in the blank: We pity the person, but hate the _______.
offence or transgression
What is the focus of Augustine’s letters regarding offenders?
Preference for reforming character over execution
Fill in the blank: ‘There is no space to reform character except in this ______.’
life
What does Augustine express about vengeance?
He would prefer to have offenders set free than to have the sufferings of others avenged by shedding their blood
