Crime and Punishment Flashcards
(Law)
Which Christian laws don’t coincide with state laws
Laws about homosexuality
(Law)
Which laws coincide with state laws
‘Do not kill’, ‘Do not steal’, ‘abstain from taking lives’, ‘abstain from taking what is not freely given’
(Should religious people break the law)
Saint Paul
‘Submit to the governing authorities’
To make society fair and safe
(Should religious people break the law)
Differing Saint Paul argument
‘There is no authority except from God’
The government would not be in power with out God
(Should religious people break the law)
Famous examples of Christians
Martin Luther King
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
How did Jesus break the law?
Healed people on the sabbath
(Should religious people break the law)
Buddhists apply compassion and wisdom
If breaking the law means ending suffering then sometimes it is necessary
(Is it ever right to cause suffering)
Bible verse which suggests criminals should suffer for their actions
‘Eye for and eye’
(Is it ever right to cause suffering)
Why would Christians support the death penalty?
‘Whoever sheds mans blood, by man his blood be shed’
(Is it ever right to cause suffering)
Saint Paul
‘Don’t overcome evil with evil, overcome evil with good’
(Is it ever right to cause suffering)
Jesus said
‘Love your enemy’s’
(Is it ever right to cause suffering)
What did Jesus tell the people before they stoned the woman to death?
‘Let the one without sin cast the first stone’
(Is it ever right to cause suffering)
Why was Dietrich Bonhoeffer right to cause suffering during ww2?
‘Silence in the face of evil is in itself evil’
(Is it ever right to cause suffering)
Angulimala
Man with the fingers of his victims on a necklace. Buddha was able to show peace and trust to him which lead to his reformation.
(Is it ever right to cause suffering)
Skilful actions are rooted in
Generosity, compassion, understanding
(Is it ever right to cause suffering)
Unskillful actions are rooted in
The three poisons (greed, ignorance and hate)
Types of crime
Crimes against a PERSON
Crimes against PROPERTY
Crimes against STATE
(Crimes are wrong)
Why are human lives sacred?
We are all ‘made in the image of god’ so to hurt someone it would be like hurting God himself
(Crimes are wrong)
Why are hate crimes wrong?
Jesus said ‘love your enemies’ and ‘turn the other cheek’
(All crimes are wrong)
Ten Commandments
‘Do not kill’ ‘Do not steal’
(All crimes are wrong)
Five moral precepts
‘Abstain from taking lives’ ‘abstain from taking what is not freely given’
(All crimes are wrong)
Three poisons
Greed ignorance and hate
(All crimes are wrong)
Eighth fold path
‘Right action’
(All crimes are wrong)
Why is it wrong that crimes target innocent people?
The aim of Buddhism is to end suffering for all
Causes of crime
UPBRINGING POVETY GREET PROTEST ADDICTION MENTAL ILLNESS HATE
(Christianity and the causes of crime)
The fall
Adam and Eve created ‘original sin’ so we are all guilty
(Christianity and the causes of crime)
Why shouldn’t we judge others?
We have all sinned
(Buddhism and the causes of crime)
What is dependent arising?
Everything is related
(Aims of punishment)
Reformation examples
Rehabilitation,education, probation,
(Aims of punishment)
Why is reformation effective?
Benefits prisoner and society
Less costly
(Aims of punishment)
What is deterrence?
Put someone off committing a crime
(Aim of punishment)
Examples of deterrence
Corporal/capital punishment
Harsh jail sentences
(Aims of punishment)
Retribution meaning?
(Eye for and eye) e.g death penalty for murder
(Aim of punishment)
Protection meaning
Protect society from the criminal acting again
(Attitudes to deterrence and retribution)
Why might a Christian agree with the death penalty?
It will deter criminals which could result in a scared life being saved
(Attitude to deterrence and retribution)
Which bible verse suggest retribution is acceptable?
‘Eye for an eye’
(Attitudes to reformation and forgiveness)
Why are we all guilty and shouldn’t judge others
Original sin
(Attitudes to reformation and forgiveness)
Part of the Lord’s Prayer which preaches forgiveness
‘Forgive us our trespasses’
(Forgiveness and reformation)
What do Christians do in order to get involved with work in prisons?
Help with rehabilitation programs, education, prison visits , write cards to prisoners
(Forgiveness and reformation)
What to prison chaplains listen to
Prisoners confessions
What does the prison reform trust campaign for?
Better treatment in prisons
(Prison alternatives)
Why don’t pretty criminals deserve to spend time in prison?
Prisons are universities of crime and they are more likely to reoffend when they get out
What is probation?
When a criminal is supervised for a period of time
Types of training programs
Rehab(for addicts), anger management, financial management
What happens when given an electronic tag?
Criminals are given a Curfew
Why would community service be a better aim of punishment than going to prison for someone who has a family/ business?
Because their family wouldn’t cope without them or their business will fail and this will effect other people’s jobs
Define corporal punishment
Corporal punishment involves hurting the offender
Beating/chopping off a hand in some cases
Which part of the proverbs supports corporal punishment?
‘Spare the rod spoil the child’
Why do Christians oppose corporal punishment.
It goes against reformation because it is simply revenge.
Which bible verses support reformation?
‘Turn the other cheek’ ‘love your enemies’
Define capital punishment
The death penalty
Why do fundamentalist Christians support the capital punishment
‘Eye for an eye’ (old testament)
The criminal took away a sacred human life and all humans are ‘made in the image of God’
Is the capital punishment a deterrent
Yes(fundamentalist Christians believe so)
But it is not statistically effective
Liberal view of the death penalty
Bible was written a long time ago so can’t be take literally.
Who do liberals think has the right to take lives
God and no one else
Why is it unreasonable to take the Old Testament into consideration when justifying the death penalty?
The death penalty was given to those who committed crimes that we no longer think of as serious. (Breaking the sabbath, homosexuality)
Which view do atheist humanists adopt?
Utilitarian- decisions should be made based on what will bring about the most happiness amongst most people.
What would the view of the victims and their family’s be?
Capital punishment
They would be for it because it brings justice and peace but however, they may believe it’s an easy way out to the offender
What would community’s view of the death penalty be?
They may feel safer but fear the wrong person will be accused
Why wouldn’t the victims family be happy about the offender being sentenced to death?
It doesn’t bring their loved one back.
Why is the death penalty ultimately wrong for humanists?
It brings about more unhappiness than happiness.
What are the Buddhist correct Aims of punishment?
Public safety and reformation
Why is wanting to punish a criminal ‘unskillful’
It is rooted in the 3 poisons (ignorance/hate)
Which law states that punishment will come to the criminal in its own way? (in their next life etc)
Laws of karuna/kamma
How do Buddhists show compassion to prisoners?
Monks will visit prisoners and teach them mindfulness meditation.
Why would a Buddhist accept that some people need to be sent to prison?
Compassion goes hand in hand with wisdom so they will understand that the prisoner being in prison will make other people safer(etc)
