Good and Evil Flashcards
Why do Fundamentalist Evangelicals support Justice, Retribution and Vindication?
Because of the Bible
- “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”, Leviticus
- “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”, Genesis
- “Let justice roll down like a river”, Amos
- “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”, Jesus
Why might some Christians argue that forgiveness is not always appropriate?
Ie Julie Nicholson, her daughter was killed in a terrorist bomb attack in London
- Sometimes, only God can forgive crimes-> Jesus on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
- Mary never openly forgave Jesus’ killers
- Repentance is a key part of forgiveness and reconciliation-> If the criminal is not sorry, may be they should not be forgiven
ie in the Parable of the Prodigal son, the father forgives the son because he was sorry
Why do Buddhists believe you should always forgive?
- The law of Karma
- Pratitya
- Metta and Karuna
- “We are not punished by our anger but for our anger”
Why do Fundamentalist Christians support Capitalist Punishment?
Because of the Bible
- “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”, Leviticus
- “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”, Genesis
- “Let justice roll down like a river”, Amos
- St Paul said that authorities had been put there by God, so if it was lawful, then it shouldn’t be questioned
- There are 36 Capital Punishments in the Old Testament
Why are Liberal Christians against Capital Punishment?
Because of the Bible:
they believe criminals should be given the chance to reform because
- Jesus forgave the adulterous woman and told her, “Go and sin no more”
- Lord’s Prayer, “If Christians want to be forgiven, then they must forgive others and give them a second chance-> “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us”
- Jesus, “Hate the sin, lover the sinner”
- Jesus, “Forgive 70 x 7”
- “Man is made in the image of God”
- “I knit you in your mother’s womb”
- “If we live, we live to the Lord”
Why do Buddhists disagree with Capital Punishment?
- The turtle analogy: life is precious
- Pratitya
- Metta and Karuna
- Anatta: no fixed self, can always change-> change in mental perception, ie conditions change
Why do Liberal Christians support reform?
Because of the Bible
- Jesus forgave the adulterous woman and gave her a second chance, “Go and sin no more”
- Jesus, “Forgive 70 x 7”
- Lords prayer, If Christians want to be forgiven, they must forgive and give others a second change, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us”
What are the aims of punishment?
Deterrence
Reparation
Vindication
Reform
Retribution
Protection
What makes an Act wrong?
- breaks society’s laws/rules
- goes against conscience
- Doesn’t bring the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people (utilitarianism)
- Not the most loving thing to do in a situation (Situation Ethics)
- Doesn’t show virtues but follows vices (Pride, greed instead of bravery)
- Goes against Natural Moral Law precepts (preservation of the innocent + self)
- Goes against the 10 commandments (Do not kill, lie steal)
What does ‘Deterrence’ mean?
to stop perpetrators of crime + others from repeating crimes
What does ‘Reformation’ mean?
To change a criminal for the better
What does ‘Retribution’ mean?
To ensure revenge/punishment is equal to the crime committed
What does ‘Justice’ mean?
To ensure fairness
What does ‘Vindication’ mean?
To uphold the law
What are biblical quotes to support the Aims of Punishment?
Justice: “Let justice flow down like a river, righteousness like a never ending stream”
Retribution: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”
Reformation: Jesus and the Adulterous woman, “Go and sin no more”
Deterrence: “he whoever shed the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”
What is the example of forgiveness: Amy Biehl?
- Amy Biehl’s parents
- Amy was murdered in a racist attack whilst helping to fight for equality in South Africa
- Parents spoke up at the trial and pardoned the men of their crimes
- They talked to some of the convicted men, allowed them to apologise, befriended their families-> restorative justice
- Set up a charity under their daughters name to give black youth after school activities and opportunities to stop them falling into gangs
What is the example of forgiveness: Anthony Walker?
- Anthony was killed in a racist attack and stabbed to death
- Mother and sister forgave the killers
- Mother felt she had to forgive the killers as she couldn’t carry the unforgiveness around any longer
- Followed the bible (Jesus, “Forgive 70x7”)
What is the example of forgiveness: Linda Nicholson?
- Priest
- Daughter killed in terrorist bomb attack
- unable to forgive
- As a priest she could forgive, but as a mother she couldn’t
- Mary never publicly forgave Jesus’ killers (her son)
Why do Liberal Christians believe in forgiveness?
- Jesus, “Blessed are the peacemakers”
- “love your neighbour”
- “treat others as you would like to be treated”
- Jesus, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Because of the Bible - Jesus forgave the adulterous woman, gave her a second chance, “Go and sin no more”
- Lord’s prayer, If Christians want to be forgiven, then they must forgive others and give them a second chance, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us”
- Jesus, “Forgive 70 x 7”
- Jesus’ parables show the importance of forgiveness: Parable of the Prodigal son
What is Relative Morality?
The idea that what is seen as the right or wrong way to behave, changes depending on time, culture, or the situation
- what makes an act wrong is relative to the time or situation
What is Utilitarianism?
The greatest amount of happiness to the most amount of people
What is Situation Ethics?
To always do the most loving thing in any situation
