Good and Evil

Question 1

What is absolute morality?

Answer 1

When an action is strictly either wrong or right, regardless of the situation. An example of this is “Do not kill”, one of the ten commandments.

Question 2

What is relative morality?

Answer 2

When a principle is held that an action is either right or wrong, but could be adapted in certain situations.

Question 3

What is crime?

Answer 3

Crime is an offence that is punishable by law, e.g. theft, murder, rape.

Question 4

What are the causes of crime?

Answer 4

• disorders that affect impulsivity (e.g. ADHD)
• addiction
• bullying
• discrimination, isolation and exclusion
• domestic violence, abuse and neglect
• parental dysfunction
• loss of a family member
• lack of educational/employment opportunities
• inadequate housing
• low income

Question 5

What are the aims of punishment?

Answer 5

Reformation: making the criminal a better person

Retribution: make the criminal pay for their wrongdoing and serve justice to the victim

Deterrence: making punishment severe so other people will see this and not want to commit crime

Reparation: compensating the victim

Vindication: making an example of the criminal to show that law should be followed

Protection: to protect society from criminals

Question 6

What are Christian attitudes towards punishment?

Answer 6

• Christians believe that God created everyone with free will to either accept or reject God’s way
• If people do sin (commit crimes) then justice should follow, but Jesus also taught forgiveness
• Most Christians believe that to gain justice, punishment must be given and forgiveness should be sought.
• Jesus taught compassion and not revenge

Question 7

What are Buddhist attitudes towards punishment?

Answer 7

• a sinful or wrong act can produce bad karma, so the person who has committed the crime will naturally be punished via rebirth in hell realms of Samsara
• the story of Milrepa shows that he realised his wrongdoings and turned to study under a dharma teacher, finally achieving enlightenment
• support should be given to help people out of negative karmic cycles

Question 8

What is a prison chaplain?

Answer 8

A chaplain is a minister, such as a priest or a pastor. They provide pastoral care in non-religious institutions, in this case prisons. You do not need to be religious to be a chaplain, and even Humanists have been engaging with prisoners to offer non-religious pastoral care.

Question 9

What do Christians think about the death penalty?

Answer 9

FOR:
- the bible states “an eye for an eye”
- if God wills someone to die, then they will
- the bible states that crime deserves the death sentence
- “Whoever sheds the blood of a man, his blood shall be shed”

AGAINST:
- most Christians believe that only God can take away a life
- the ten commandments state “Thou shall not kill”
- Jesus taught that “if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also”
- Jesus taught to “love your enemies”
- the Golden Rule states that “do to others as you would have them do to you
- Quakers believe that all life should be respected and have been campaigning against the death penalty for over 200 years

Question 10

What do Buddhists think about the death penalty?

Answer 10

FOR:
- some believe that killing one to save the greater good holds enough importance to sometimes allow death

AGAINST:
- the Dalai Lama signed a pledge against the death penalty
- the Dhammapada states