Crime And Punishment Flashcards
Christians for (drugs and) alcohol
- The Wedding at Cana
‘The master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine’ - The Last Supper
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood’ - St Pauls tells Timothy to drink wine for digestion
‘Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illness’ - Alcohol is a symbol of a blessing in the Old Testament
‘A jar of wine vinegar was there… and lifter it to Jesus’ lips… with that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit’
Christians against drugs and alcohol
- The Salvation Army
Very religious, ‘Alcohol, tobacco and other addictive drugs can be harmful… the SA freely and willingly refrain from the use of these substances in their own lives’ - The Temple of the Holy Spirit
‘Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit’ - Greig House, London
Rehabilitation centre run by SA, ‘we provide a quality, holistic service, respecting the rights of individuals and supporting them to achieve’ - Causes harm to society and Christians wouldn’t want this
Muslims against drugs and alcohol
- Taking drugs and alcohol is ‘haram’ so totally forbidden as Allah owns bodies and only He has the right to harm them
- Teaching of the Qur’an
‘Satan stirs up hatred among you by means of wine and gambling… will you not abstain from them’ - Teachings of Muhammad
‘Alcohol is not a medicine, but a disease’ - Causes harm to society
Antisocial behaviour- Promiscuity, violence, etc
Why does the UK have drug and alcohol laws
- Current laws stop younger people drinking to prevent damage of cognitive development
‘Alcohol consumption can have a detrimental effect on young people’s short term educational performance’ - Prevents further drug use as there are penalties when you’re found in possession- Selling class a drugs= life imprisonment
- Have a detrimental effect on people’s health
Cannabis lowers IQ by 8 points and brings antisocial behaviour - 33,000 die already from drugs and alcohol
Drugs and alcohol should be illegal
- Causes harm to society, antisocial behaviour e.g. vandalism
- Body belongs to God, should be respected ‘Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit’
Drugs and alcohol shouldn’t be illegal
- Prohibition in the U.S.A lead to a massive surge in alcoholism and alcohol related crimes e.g. gangs supplying ‘speakeasies’
- Would be religiously intolerant because wine is important in church service- included in communion
Sin/Crime?
Sin is an action against the law of God
Crime is an action against ‘the law of the land’
What do laws do?
- Govern human relationships and society
- Made by parliament, enforced by police, governed by courts
- Forces people to take responsibility for their own behaviour
How are laws made in the UK?
- First reading- bill is debated in House of Commons
- Second reading- debated in Parliament
- Committee go over it in detail
- Third reading- debated again and vote is taken, passed to the House of Lords
- House of Lord debate and vote
- Sent to Queen and Royal Assent
- Is passed it becomes an act of Parliament and a law
Justice is important to Christians
- Bible says it believes in retribution, ‘life for life, eye for eye’
- God is just and expects Christians to act with the same compassion’ Golden Rule
- Jesus fought against injustice, turning of the tables, and taught love overcomes injustice, retribution is wrong
- Many Christians but their belief into practise with charity work
Justice is important to Muslims
- Zakah, Muslims share 25% of their income with the less fortunate
- Actively take part in charity work such as campaigning in marches such as ‘Make Poverty History’
- Shari’ah law- Muslims should follow the Qur’an which states ‘believers, conduct yourselves with justice and bear true witness before God’
- Allah created everyone equal and we should respect this and he will punish injustice on the Last Day
Justice is important to Christians
- Bible says it believes in retribution, ‘life for life, eye for eye’
- God is just and expects Christians to act with the same compassion’ Golden Rule
- Jesus fought against injustice, turning of the tables, and taught love overcomes injustice, retribution is wrong
- Many Christians but their belief into practise with charity work
Justice is important to Muslims
- Zakah, Muslims share 25% of their income with the less fortunate
- Actively take part in charity work such as campaigning in marches such as ‘Make Poverty History’
- Shari’ah law- Muslims should follow the Qur’an which states ‘believers, conduct yourselves with justice and bear true witness before God’
- Allah created everyone equal and we should respect this and he will punish injustice on the Last Day
What is Reparation theory
The criminal is made to pay for their crime by doing something for society or the victim of their crime
Pros and cons of Reparation theory
Victim and community gain from wrong doing
Not as harsh so doesn’t prevents reoffending effectively
What is Retribution theory
Punishing a criminal in order to make them pay for their actions
Pros and cons of Retribution theory
Sever crime is less likely to happen if relative punishments are given
There are moral issues with capital punishment
What is Reform theory
Aims to prevent criminals reoffending by offering education and training for them in
Pros and cons of Reform theory
Helps criminals improve lives so they feel they don’t need to commit crimes
May be very expensive and not harsh enough punishment
What is Deterrence theory
Offering a sufficiently harsh punishment in order to prevent people from offending or criminals from reoffending
Pros and cons of Deterrence theory
Can be effective in preventing first time offenders
May not be particularly effective as there are many criminals in prison who committed crimes despite the punishments
What is Protection theory
Punishing a wrong doer in order to prevent harm to society
Pros and cons of protection theory
Creates a safer society with the criminal not being in it
It is difficult to establish the extent to which someone should be punished relative to their crime
Capital punishment can be fair
- Equal punishment ‘eye for an eye’
- People have to pay taxes for others to be in prison
- Takes wrongdoer away from society which protects good people
Capital punishment is never fair
- Hypocritical
- Easier punishment
- Disrespects God and sanctity of life
Death penalty strengths (5)
- Cheaper
- Satisfaction to victims family
- Ultimate retribution
- Deterrent
- Society safe
Death penalty weaknesses (6)
- Inhumane
- Easier sentence
- Human life should be taken
- Terrorists can be seen as martyrs
- Innocent people wrongfully executed
- No evidence it’s an effective deterrent
Christians for Capital Punishment
- St Paul and Obedience to a state’s legal codes
‘Everyone must obey the state authorities’ - The Ten Commandments
‘Thou shalt not kill’ so relative punishment is acceptable - Old testament teachings
‘Whoever murders one of them, will be killed by someone else’ - Thomas Aquinas
‘If a man be dangerous and infectious to the community, on account of some sin, it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed’
Muslims against Capital Punishment
- Teachings of the Qur’an
Says death penalty is an option however it isn’t necessarily considered - Qur’an conditions
There are very specific conditions which the Qur’an sets out in order for it to be acceptable and these are hard to meet - Scholars views
There are serious disagreements between scholars of the Shari’ah law on when/how the death penalty should be used - Sakineh Mohammadi Case Study
Death penalty has been applied unfairly, Amnesty believe that she is being held solely in connection for having had consensual sexual relations and has a sentence to stoning
Christians against Capital Punishment
- The Sanctity of Life
Life is holy and belongs to God - Jesus came to save and reform
Christianity is a message of love and reform, Jesus was against retribution - Sixth commandments
‘Thou shalt not kill’, hypocritical to punish someone with the crime they have committed - Matthew 5:38
‘Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn him to the other also’
Muslims for Capital Punishment
- Teachings of the Qur’an
‘Whoever killed a human being… shall be deemed as though he has killed all mankind’ - Shari’ah Law
Permits the death penalty for certain crimes for deliberate murder and threatening to undermine authority - Islamic Philosophy
Harsh punishments act as a deterrent - Saddam Hussein Case Study (2208)
He was hanged publicly for the murder of 148 Shias from the town of Dujail
Muslims against Capital Punishment
- Teachings of the Qur’an
Says death penalty is an option however it isn’t necessarily considered - Qur’an conditions
There are very specific conditions which the Qur’an sets out in order for it to be acceptable and these are hard to meet - Scholars views
There are serious disagreements between scholars of the Shari’ah law on when/how the death penalty should be used - Sakineh Mohammadi Case Study
Death penalty has been applied unfairly, Amnesty believe that she is being held solely in connection for having had consensual sexual relations and has a sentence to stoning
