Crime & Punishment

Question 1

Why do people commit crimes?

Answer 1

self-defence
poverty
influence
anger
protection

Question 2

Crimes committed due to poverty/upbringing

Answer 2

stealing
drug abuse
GBH
vandalism
sexual harassment

Question 3

Crimes committed due to mental health/addiction

Answer 3

drug abuse
theft
GBH
sexual harassment 
man slaughter

Question 4

Crimes committed due to greed/hate

Answer 4

murder
theft
GBH
sexual crimes
genocide/hate crime

Question 5

How do we punish people who commit crimes?

Answer 5

imprisonment
mental health unit
community service
fines
parole

Question 6

Why do we punish people?

Answer 6

protection
duty to the law
justice/equality
deterrent
revenge

Question 7

Different aims of punishments

Answer 7

deterrence
protection
reformation
reparation
vindication 
retribution

Question 8

Christian attitudes on reformation

Answer 8

not always their fault
forgiveness
learn from mistakes
God can help people to change

Question 9

Christian attitudes on hope

Answer 9

there’s more to life than prison - see beyond prison
give a sense of hope for a new life
spreading Christian message offers future hope

Question 10

Christian attitudes on justice

Answer 10

restorative justice - helps to right the wrong
God can forgive and offers justice
belief that people should be punished but not excessively
God is fair so punishments should be

Question 11

Christian attitudes on love

Answer 11

God loves everyone unconditionally
Christians should reflect this in their actions
Jesus seen as a symbol of love & hope

Question 12

Is it acceptable to break the law if it helps to change a bad law? (Christian View)

Answer 12

Christians believe in defending the weak and oppressed
Show Agape Love - treat everyone with respect
Commanded by Jesus to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” - (Luke 10:27)
These beliefs conclude that it’s acceptable to break the law to change a bad law as long as the change is in line with teachings in the Bible

Question 13

Is it acceptable to break the law if it helps to change a bad law? (Christian View)

Answer 13

Many Christians are pacifists and follow Jesus’ teachings that “all who live by the sword, die by the sword” - (Matthew 26:52)
They’re likely to claim any opposition to law should be done without violence
However some follow a school of thought called “Liberation Theology” which claims Christians have a duty to overcome justice even if it means using violence
In this case it’s only acceptable to break the law if it helps to change a bad law

Question 14

Is it acceptable to break the law if it helps to change a bad law? (Buddhist View)

Answer 14

Buddhism is a pacifist religion
The Noble Eightfold Path contains instructions about not harming people - Ahimsa (the principle of non-harm)
They might support opposition to bad laws but would oppose any violence deliberately causing harm to others
Any opposition to injustice must be done peacefully

Question 15

Reasons to oppose capital punishment

Answer 15

death is final - may make a mistake in conviction
murderers deserve to suffer - easy way out
all life is sacred
against the 10 commandments - “Do not murder”

Question 16

Reasons to oppose corporal & capital punishment

Answer 16

hypocritical response
everyone deserves a second chance
2 wrongs don’t make a right
violence is never the answer

Question 17

Exodus 21:23-25
“But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise”

Answer 17

Conservative View - context is a response to an unlawful society without clear laws, aims to establish fairness

Question 18

For capital punishment

Answer 18

if court are 100% sure then they deserve to die
gives family/friends sense of relief to move on
guilty people should pay - prison isn’t enough
we shouldn’t let people who murder have a right to life

Question 19

Against capital punishment

Answer 19

you could kill an innocent person
being in prison for life is a better punishment as your human rights are taken from you
only God has the right to take life

Question 20

What is forgiveness

Answer 20

moving on
letting go of blame
acceptance
not necessarily forgetting

Question 21

Christian attitudes to forgiveness

Answer 21

JESUS TELLS US TO FORGIVE OTHERS
Jesus forgives criminals
forgiveness is not a one time thing - it’s an everyday process
the bible says “70 x 7” - forgiveness is unlimited

Question 22

Reasons to oppose corporal punishment

Answer 22

Hypocritical response
Can lead to bitterness and anger - leads to further crimes
Limits opportunities for reform
Prevents full potential being reached

Question 23

Forgiveness: a trade or a gift?

Answer 23

TRADE - both parties benefit; closure or financial/social benefit for victim; two way attitude/action
GIFT - given freely by victim; nothing is expected in return

Question 24

What is the principle of unity?

Answer 24

The right action is one which creates the greatest happiness or pleasure for the most amount of people