Relgion Crime And Punishment

Question 1

What is crime?

Answer 1

An offence punishable by law .

Question 2

What are some of the reasons why people commit crime?

Answer 2

• poverty
• upbringing
• mental illness
• addiction
• greed
• hate
• opposition to an units law.

Question 3

What is the Shari’ah law?

Answer 3

This law occurs in Islamic states. This ensures the severity of the punishment depends on the seriousness of the religious vales breached.

Question 4

Why may poverty cause people to commit crimes?

Answer 4

Millions of people in the UK live in poverty and cannot afford to but food, so they may steel food and resources to provide for their families.

Question 5

What is the religious view of people committing crimes due to poverty?

Answer 5

Society should ensure nobody has to steel food. Christians support food banks and may campaign for higher living wages.

Zakah exists to ensure no one has to live in poverty. However, it cannot help everyone so the community needs to help as well.

Question 6

Why may some people commit crimes due to their upbringing?

Answer 6

Some people grow up in a household where crime is a way of life and may be encouraged to commit crimes.

Question 7

What is the religious view of people committing crimes due to their upbringings?

Answer 7

Christians: parents should teach their children the right way to behave through their words and actions.

Muslims: the string extended family should ensure Muslims are guided to respect the law.

Question 8

Why do some people commit crimes due to a mental illness?

Answer 8

Some forms of mental illness may lead people into crime. Anger management problems and depression may lead to violence and drug abuse.

Question 9

What is the religious view of people committing crimes a metal illness?

Answer 9

Christians believe that treating the cause of illnesses is the most loving and compassionate thing to do.

Question 10

Why do some people commit crimes due to greed?

Answer 10

Some people want personal possessions that they don’t need or can’t afford. Their greed for them may lead them to steel.

Question 11

What is the religious view of people committing crimes due to greed?

Answer 11

The Ten Commandments forbid envy, which often causes greed.
“You shall not covert…anything that belongs to your neighbour.”

Greed should be avoided is what Muslims believe.
“Competing for more distracts you until you go in your grave.”

Question 12

Why do some people commit crimes due to what they believe is opposition against an unjust law?

Answer 12

Some break laws that they believe to be unjust in order to protest against them. These could be laws on equality or laws that deny human rights.

Question 13

What is the religious view of people committing crimes due to opposite against an unjust law?

Answer 13

Some Christians may believe in this if no violence is involved and it causes no harm.

Shari’ah law is believed to be Gods law so it is not unjust. Therefore this is not a good reason.

Question 14

Christians believe that God put a system of government in lace to rule every citizen. What quote shows this?

Answer 14

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities.”

“You shall not murder”

Question 15

What is retribution?

Answer 15

Getting your own back. This is society getting its own back on the offender. Supported by the old testaments way of life. “life for a life ,eye for eye, a tooth for tooth.”

Question 16

What is the Christian attitudes to law breakers?

Answer 16

• laws should be respected and offenders must be punished depending on the seriousness of their crime.
• offenders have basic human rights and should not be given a punishment that is inhumane.

Question 17

What is the Muslim attitudes to law breakers?

Answer 17

• law must be obeyed especially those living in countries who live by the Shari’ah law?
• in Britain Muslims follow the UKs legal system.
• Shari’ah punishments fit the seriousness of the crime and are aimed so the person does not re offend. The most severe punishments are jot legal in the UK.
• “God commands justice…and prohibits wrongdoing and injustice.”

Question 18

What religious quotes show religious attitudes towards crime?

Answer 18

• “you shall not murder”
• “Do not take a life which God has made sacred, except by right.”

Jesus said “love thy neighbour” and taught people to love and respect each other so would have condemned hate crimes and murder. To thieve goes against the 10 commandments.

Question 19

What is the Christian attitude towards retribution?

Answer 19

“Do not take revenge but leave room for Gods wrath for it so written: ‘it is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the lord.”

Christians don’t take an eye for an eye saying literally they believe that they have less harmful punishments that are more positive. This means murderers should not necessarily be killed as punishment.

Question 20

What is the Muslim attitude towards retribution?

Answer 20

Muslims favour retribution because they believe in the Shari’ah law. They believe they should revive the same harm (not greater) that they caused the victim.
“Do not take a life unless for a just cause”

Question 21

What is deterrence?

Answer 21

To put people of committing a crime. The idea is to put others off committing the same crime as well. It also deters the offender from repeating the crime.

Question 22

What is the Christian attitude towards deterrence?

Answer 22

Christians agree with this. They do not support punishment that causes physical or mental harm to the criminal of infringe their rights. Oppose public punishment as they believe offender should still haves certain amount of repeat shown.

Question 23

What is the Muslim attitude towards deterrence?

Answer 23

Some Shari’ah punishments are carried out in public to deter people watching who may commit the same crime.

“Cut off the hands of thieves…as punishment for what they have done”

Question 24

What is reformation?

Answer 24

To change someone’s behaviour for the better. Offenders may be given counselling, community service (etc) to help them understand their wrong and reform. It hoped they change their attitude and become a law abiding citizen.

Question 25

What is the Christian attitude towards reformation?

Answer 25

Most Christians favour reformations over any other form of punishment. Helps improve the individuals life chances. It is not a replacement for the punishments the offender receives but occurs alongside the punishment.

Question 26

What is the Muslim attitude towards reformation?

Answer 26

Necessary for offender to seek forgiveness from God and become purified. Does not replace punishment but happens along side the punishment.

Question 27

What is the Christian attitude towards suffering as whole?

Answer 27

“We also glory is our sufferings, because we know perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Christians try to follow the teachings of Jesus. He helped those who were suffering and encouraged his followers to do the same. They understand good acan co e from suffering and it’s a part of life that can’t be avoided.

Question 28

What is the Muslim attitude towards suffering?

Answer 28

Suffering happens for reasons unknown to humans. It may be a test from God. God will never allow a person to suffer more then they can endure.
“You are sure to be tested through your possessions and persons.”
Muslims feel they should help others suffering and accept its part of life.

Question 29

Why would a loving God let people suffer?

Answer 29

-it is wrong to blame God for human actions.
-God have humans free will and have guidance of how to use free will responsibly so he can’t control their actions because that would be taking away free will.
-

Question 30

What are the different forms of punishment forms criminal?

Answer 30

• prison
• corporal punishment
• community service

Question 31

What is prison and how is it a punishment?

Answer 31

It involves being isolated from society to protect them. The punishment is a loss of liberty - they have no choices everything is controlled for them. They are locked in cells, fed and allowed controlled exercise time.

Question 32

What is the Christian view of prisons?

Answer 32

They believe prisoners should be treated well in prisons and keen to support them to make their time in prison positive and productive. They believe the conditions inside a prison should be humane and civilised.

Question 33

What is the Islamic view of prisons?

Answer 33

In Muslim states prisons are used less for punishments and more as a place to keep those awaiting trial or or a corporal punishment (e.g caning) or death. Some Muslims argue that prison may be a greater punishment than inflicting pain through corporal punishment.

Question 34

What is corporal punishment?

Answer 34

Punishes offenders by inflicting physical pain. Not legal in the UK. Some Muslim states like Iran and Saudi Arabia use it. E.g canning or amputation of the hand for theft. Carried out in public but many consider it to be a breach of human rights.

Question 35

What is the Christian attitude to corporal punishment?

Answer 35

They don’t support this. It does not seek to reform an offender and it physically harms the persons. It is seen as negative and harmful. Jesus taught times to forgive not hurt.

Question 36

What is the Muslim view on corporal punishment?

Answer 36

It is used in some Muslim countries and carried out in public, it serves as a deterrent. Makes others aware not to commit the same crime. It is allowed because of the Shari’ah law and can be imposed for offences like such as, gambling, adultery and drinking alcohol. (80 lashes).

Question 37

What is community service?

Answer 37

A punishment for minor offences and allows them to reform. It includes ‘community payback’ so litter picking and cleaning up buildings or graffiti.

Question 38

What is the Christian view of community service?

Answer 38

They agree with it for offenders who are likely to benefit. It allows them to make up for what they have done wrong (reparation). It also deters them from doing it in the future and reforms them by making them realise their actions have consequences.

Question 39

What is the Muslim view of community service?

Answer 39

The Shari’ah law makes little use of community service because it is not seen as a sufficient deterrent to protect society from future criminal behaviour.

Question 40

Christian quotes that shows forgiveness:

Answer 40

“Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34 (Jesus said this during his crucifixion).

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” The Lords Prayer.

Question 41

What is the Christian attitude to forgiveness?

Answer 41

• the offender should be forgiven as far as possible but should be punished to ensure justice has been served.
• when Jesus was being crucified he forgave those who who found him guilty and sentenced him to death.
• God expects the, to forgive others and in return they believe God will forgive them for their sins.

Question 42

Muslim quotes that show forgiveness:

Answer 42

• “pardon each other’s faults and God will grant you honour”

- “Let them pardon and forgive…God is most forgiving and merciful” - Qur’an 24:22

Question 43

What is the Muslim attitude to forgiveness?

Answer 43

There are only 2 types of forgiveness in Islam:
Forgiveness from God: only God can gruels forgive and will only forgive those who are truly sorry and intent to follow faith properly in the future. This shows God is all loving, knowing(etc). Fits nature of God.

Forgiveness from humans:people should forgive each other to allow goodness to be established over evil. Offender should seek forgiveness from the victim before seeking forgiveness from God.

Question 44

What is the death penalty?

Answer 44

A form of punishment in which the prisoner is put to death for their crimes.

Question 45

What is the principle of utility?

Answer 45

The idea that an action is right if it promoted the maximum happiness for the maximum amount of people.

Question 46

What is the sanctity of life?

Answer 46

The idea that all life is holy as it is created and loved by God. Human life should not be misused or abused.

Question 47

What are the arguments against the death penalty?

Answer 47

Innocent people make die. 3 people on the UK in the 1950s have since been pardoned because new evidence had proved their innocence. There are servers people who would have faced the death penalty in the UK but have since been freed because of their innocence.

Sanctity of life suggests death penalty is wrong. States all life is sacred.

Question 48

What are the arguments for the death penalty?

Answer 48

Principle of utility. If it protects society it is justified because many people will benefit.

The old testament said ‘an eye for an eye’.

Question 49

Christian arguments that agree with the death penalty?

Answer 49

• justified for people who commit the worse crimes possible.
• deters people from committing horrific crimes because they know they may die as well.
• protects society but removing the worst criminals so they will not cause harm again.

Question 50

Christian attitudes against the death penalty:

Answer 50

• wrong doers should be reformed.
• a dead criminal cannot reform and be given a second chance.
• little evidence that the death penalty is a deterrent. The UK’s murder rate is just as high as countries with the death penalty.
• God have life only he has the right to take it away.
• May have been done in self defence or to protect someone.

Question 51

Muslim attitude against the death sentence and quote:

Answer 51

Some see the it as a misunderstanding of the Qur’an’s teachings. The victims may be encouraged to show mercy and accept money instead of letting the persons die.
“If the culprit is pardoners by an aggrieved brother…the culprit shall pay was is due in a good way.”

Question 52

Muslim attitude for the death sentence and quote:

Answer 52

“Do not take a life, which has been made sacred, except by right.”

The Shari’ah law is in favour of the death penalty and many Muslims support this in Muslim states. It is seen as a deterrent and a fair retribution.