Good and Evil Flashcards
what does utilitarianism mean
the belief that a good act is one that brings the greatest good for the greatest number
what did Volitaire state
“it is better to risk saving a guilty person than condemn an innocent one”
what was volitaire
a Deist
what is restorative justice
justice that enables the criminals to make amends for their behaviour by meeting the victim and apologising
what is justice
fairness ; where everyone has equal provisions and opportunity
what do christians believe about JUSTICE
-they’re a religion of forgiveness
-don’t support the ideas of retribution as a punishment
- believe in restorative justice
- should follow Jesus who forgave those who betrayed him
what do Muslims believe about JUSTICE
- punishment is seen as central to justice and keeps people from straying from what is Just
- believe in the shari’ah law which means ‘straight path’
- shari’ah is used to deter and protect
- they hope offenders will repent, reform and seek forgiveness
- believe in forgiveness but it is more important to protect society
what is a prison chaplain
a person whose role it is to meet the religious needs of a prisoner
what is a parole officer
helps prisoners on their release and their return to society
what is a prison chaplains job
- introduce themselves to new prisoners - induction programme
- deal with major events in the prisoners life
- make sure they’re available at lunch times so prisoners can go to them if needed
what are some arguments FOR the death penalty
- life terms are expensive (£40,000 a year)
- only way to protect society
- life sentences only amount to 15 years in Britain
- only way victims can get closure
what are some arguments AGAINST the death penalty
- innocent people being executed
- only God has the right to end a life
- doesn’t deter murders
- 2 wrongs don’t make a right
- forgiveness is important
- death penalty is just a state sanctioned murder
what do liberal christians believe about the death penalty
- only God has the right to take a life
- ‘thou shall not kill’
follow the teachings of Jesus to be compassionate and forgiving - ‘turn the other cheek’
what do conservative christians believe about the death penalty
- advocate it because of the teaching ‘an eye for an eye’
- believe ‘thou shall not kill’ shows murder is wrong and so, the death penalty should be carried out
what do Muslims believe about the death penalty
-you can forgive someone
- ‘an eye for an eye’
- you can get ‘blood money’ which repents for what the criminal did - worth half a million pounds or 100 camels
what is forgiveness
the act of pardoning a wrongdoing
what 2 kinds of forgiveness do muslims believe in
gods forgiveness
humans forgiveness
what do Christians believe about forgiveness
- catholics God forgives their sins if they confess them and acts of atonement
- Jesus told his disciples that they should forgive people ‘not 7 times but 70 times 7’
- Jesus said (cruxifiction) ‘father forgive them for they know not what they do’
- evangelical - comes through faith Christ and his Atonement on the cross
what do Muslims believe about forgiveness
- humans need both God’s forgiveness and other humans forgiveness
- according to the Qur’an, there is no limit to God’s forgiveness
- ’ He pardons much’
- Muhammad helped a woman who had fallen sick even though she had repeatedly pushed dust in his direction
what is good
considered morally right, beneficial and to our advantage
what is evil
something that is considered extremely immoral, wicked and wrong
what is suffering
pain or distress, caused by injury, illness or loss
what do Christians believe about good
- God made the earth and ‘it was good’
-people were given the choice to do good and bad - God has shown people how they should live a good life through behaviour followed in the bible
what do Muslims believe about good
- everyone is born with a natural instinct to be able to choose between good and evil (fitrah)
- all humans have free will
- God will judge each person individually
- the Qur’an and Muhammad outlined the qualities required for good
why do Christians believe we suffer
- life is a test, makes people suffer to see their faith
- life is soul making
- original sin
- makes us understand Jesus
why do Muslims believe we suffer
- Al-Qadr means hardship and suffering is part of God’s plab for humanity
- life is a test (good and bad deeds written down by angels)
- good can come from suffering and evil - greater good when we resist temptation
- Muhammad suffered so we should to feel how he felt
what is soul making
God allows evil to exist because suffering through evil is necessary for individuals to develop moral souls
what did St Iranaeus believe
humans were not created perfectly, we require spiritual growth to become perfect and moral
interfering with human would mean interfering with free will
how is John Hick’s belief different to this
It is within God’s plan which we can never truly understand
how do Catholics respond to suffering and evil
- seek to choose to do good things and confess for bad things they have done
- try to understand God better through Jesus Christ
how do Liberal Christians respond to suffering and evil
- try to show agape to all people
- although God has a plan for everyone, we can help those that are suffering
how do Sunni’s respond to suffering and evil
-believe God has a ‘preserved tablet’ stating what will happen
-we can’t always understand natural evil but we need to help people
- we have free will but choose to follow Muhammad’s path of good
how do shi’as respond to suffering and evil
- don’t believe in predestination and God’s plan changes all the time
- we have the power to respond to suffering in a positive way
how do humanists respond to suffering and evil
- it isn’t a punishment, test or part of a divine plan
- lots of evils are caused by greed and war
- some evils just happen as that’s the way the world is
- up to humans to fight evil and suffering
what is fate
the idea that the outcome is predetermined or unchangeable
what is predestination
the belief that all events have been willed by God
what is free will
the belief that humans have free choices in life and God doesn’t get involved
what do Methodists believe about free will
- everyone has free will
- methodists believe God is omnipotent but gives us the ability to choose
what do Lutherans believe about free will
- everyone has it
- humans can choose and act in regard to everything except for the choice of salvation
what do Catholics believe about free will
- it exists but it exists alongside grace
what do Muslims believe about free will
- everyone has it
- Allah knows the outcome
- free will helps people learn from their mistakes
- people will be Judges on how they used their free will
