CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Flashcards
Why are laws needed?
- All groups need laws that it’s members must follow
- Law in business allows everyone to be paid, treated fairly
- Protects the weak from the strong
- Keeps everything organised in advanced societies e.g. UK
Why do laws need to be just?
St. Thomas Aquinas
- If a law is unjust, people will feel it is right to break the law
- If some laws are unjust, people may feel all laws are unjust
- If some laws don’t give justice, people will take justice into their own hands
- If the legal system is believed to not work, it may lead to civil war,e.g. Kosovo
What are the Theories of Punishment?
- Retribution - The idea that punishments should make criminals pay for what they have done wrong
- Reform - The idea that punishments should try to change criminals so they will not commit crimes again
- Deterrence - The idea that punishments should be of such nature that they will put people of committing crimes
Protection - The idea that punishments should protect society from criminals from criminals and their actions
Why is justice important for Christians?
- Bible says God is just, reward the righteous and punish the sinful
- Jesus said rich should share with the poor
- Churches say to work for justice and fairness
- According to the Bible, God wants us to be treated fairly
Why is justice important for Muslims?
- Qur’an teaches God is just, reward good, punish bad
- Last Day, justice and fairness, rewarding
- Vice-gerants of God’s creation, behave justly share resources
- All people should have equal rights, pillar of Zakah works towards helping the poor
What are non-religious arguments for the death penalty?
- Deter people from killing
- Murderers and terrorists threat to society, cannot reoffend
- Life is most important, value of life shown by taking life from those who take life
- Retribution/compensation for taking a life is death
What are non-religious reasons against the death penalty?
- No court system can be sure of a correct verdict
- Executed terrorists are often hailed as martyrs, encouraging terrorism
- Murders don’t think about being caught, or their punishment
- Life in prison worse than death
What are Christian attitudes for the death penalty?
- Bible allows death penalty, allowed by God
- Roman Catholic Church/Church of England not taken back statements permitting capital punishment
- Christian Church used capital punishment for heresy, beliefs different from Church teachings
- Thomas Aquinas believed peace in society more important than reforming sinners
What are Christian attitudes against capital punishment?
- Christianity based on Jesus came to save sinners
- Jesus banned retribution, New testament overrules Old Testament
- Christianity teaches life is sacred, only God has the right to take life
- Most Christian Churches condemn capital punishment and groups such as Catholic Bishops Conference of the USA
What are Muslim attitudes against capital punishment?
- Recommended by the Qur’an, not compulsory
- Family of murder victim can accept blood money rather than retribution
- All life is sacred, capital punishment is just as bad as taking a life
- Life in prison can be regarded as worse than death
What are UK laws on tobacco (two)?
- Can’t sell to under 18s
- Adverts for tobacco are banned
What are UK laws on alcohol (two)?
- Supervised under 16s anywhere in a pub
- Over 16s can have alcoholic drink if supervised by parents with a meal
What are UK laws on illegal drugs?
Class A, e.g. Heroin, possession 7 years prison
Class B, e.g. Amphetamines, possession 5 years prison
Class C, e.g. Cannabis, possession 2 years prison
What are health and social problems caused by tobacco?
- Over 50 medical conditions, e.g. Dementia
- Can cause impotenece in men
- Makes people smell
- Watch loved ones die
What are health and social problems caused by drugs?
- Death through overdose
- major cause of mental illness
- Dealers are criminals
- Major cause of gang crime
What are health and social problems caused by alcohol?
- Liver and stomach problems
- Mental health problems
- Causes 41% of deaths through falls
- 65% of murder victims have been drinking
Why are Christians against all illegal drugs?
- Against the law for a good reason, obey the law
- St Paul taught that a Christian’s body is a temple of the Holy spirit, must not be abused
- Drugs cause mental effects, difficult to worship God properly
- All Christian Churches teach the use of illegal drugs is wrong
Why do most Christians believe that tobacco and alcohol is alright in moderation?
- Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine, must approve
- St Paul said that Christians can drink but in moderation
- Jesus drank wine during his life and even at death
- Most Churches use wine in communion
Why do some Christians believe in total abstinence?
- Alcohol and tobacco abuses God’s temple as much as illegal drugs
- Passages in the Bible warn against drunkenness
- Bible teaches alcohol impair judgement, inflames passions and invites passions
- Social and health problems connected with alcohol and tobacco
Why is alcohol and drugs prohibited by Muslims?
- Qur’an says that Satan uses intoxicants to keep people from God
- Prophet Muhammad says every toxicant is ‘khamr’, forbidden
- Islam forbids its followers from committing suicide, form of suicide is drugs
- Muhammad says that Muslims must not associate themselves with alcohol
