Crime and Punishment

Question 1

Which 2 religious laws coincide with state laws?

Answer 1

‘Do not kill’ and ‘Do not steal’

Question 2

Which 2 religious laws that don’t coincide with state laws?

Answer 2

Homosexuality and Working on the sabbath

Question 3

Give 2 Christian arguments against breaking the law

Answer 3

‘submit to governing authorities’ and ‘there is no authority except from god’ - it’s safer to abide by laws

Question 4

Give 3 christian arguments for breaking the law

Answer 4

‘loose the chains of injustice’, Martin Luther King, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Question 5

Why may Buddhists break the law?

Answer 5

Karuna ; if the law is unfair then it’s acceptable , Thich Nhat Hanh broke the law when freeing the Vietnamese

Question 6

Give 3 reasons why christians may agree to causing suffering

Answer 6

‘An eye for an eye’
‘Whoever sheds man’s blood by man shall his blood be shed’
If it’s for a good cause, Dietrich bonhoeffer

Question 7

Give 3 reasons why christians may disagree to causing suffering

Answer 7

‘Do not overcome evil with evil, but instead overcome evil with good’
‘love our enemies’
‘the one without sin cast the first stone’

Question 8

What are the 3 types of crimes?

Answer 8

Person, Property, State

Question 9

Why shouldn’t Buddhists commit crimes?

Answer 9

5 moral precepts, 3 poisons, 8 fold path

Question 10

What are the 7 causes of crime?

Answer 10

Upbringing, Poverty, Greed, Hate, Addiction, Mental illness, Protest

Question 11

What do Christians believe about why we commit crimes?

Answer 11

Original Sin

Question 12

What do Buddhists believe about why we commit crimes?

Answer 12

3 poisons

Question 13

What are the 4 aims of punishment?

Answer 13

Retribution, Reformation, Deterrence & Public Safety

Question 14

Why may Christians support retribution?

Answer 14

‘an eye for an eye’

Question 15

Why may Christians support deterrence?

Answer 15

More sacred human lives are saved

Question 16

Give 4 reasons why Christians prefer Reformation as an aim of punishment

Answer 16

Human life is sacred, we are all guilty, forgiveness, criminals come from difficult backgrounds

Question 17

Give 5 things a Christian may do to help criminals achieve reformation

Answer 17

Help with rehab programmes, Write letters to prisoners, Prison chaplains, Prison reform trust (campaigns for better treatment), Help criminals ‘find god’

Question 18

Give 3 alternative punishments to imprisonment

Answer 18

Community service, Probation, House arrest

Question 19

Give 4 reasons why Christians may oppose imprisonment

Answer 19

Universities of crime, Families are affected, business destructed, likely turn to crime when they’re released

Question 20

What is Corporal Punishment?

Answer 20

Physically harming the convict

Question 21

What is Capital Punishment?

Answer 21

Death Penalty

Question 22

Why might Christians support Corporal Punishment?

Answer 22

‘spare the rod and spoil the child’ ‘an eye for an eye’

Question 23

Why might Christians oppose Corporal Punishment?

Answer 23

‘turn the other cheek’

It’s more likely to make them angry and spiteful

Question 24

Give 3 Reasons why Fundamentalist Christians would support the death penalty

Answer 24

1. ‘whoever sheds human blood shall their blood be shed’
2. The victim was a sacred person, now the criminal won’‘t have the chance to kill again
3. Deterrent

Question 25

Give 4 Reasons why Liberal Christians wouldn’t support the death penalty

Answer 25

1. We’re all ‘made in the image of god’, they should get the chance to reform
2. Only God has the right to take a life
3. Death penalty no longer applies to breaking the sabbath, being homosexual etc.
4. ‘let the one without cast the first stone’

Question 26

What is the Utilitarian point of view on the death penalty?

Answer 26

Do whatever brings the greatest happiness for the greatest number, public safety argument

Question 27

Give 3 secular views against the death penalty

Answer 27

1. The death penalty isn’t a proven deterrent
2. What if they’re mistakenly accused?
3. The person who initiates the death penalty is technically a murderer too

Question 28

Which 2 aims of punishment do Buddhists prefer?

Answer 28

Public Safety & Retribution

Question 29

Give 2 Reasons why a Buddhist would oppose Retribution

Answer 29

Unskilful action, the offender will bring punishment upon themself

Question 30

Explain the story of Angulimala

Answer 30

A man who wore a garland with the fingers of victims, Buddha didn’t punish him for his actions but told him to live a better life