Religion Crime and Punishment Flashcards
What is a crime ?
A crime is n offense which is punishable by law , e.g stealing for murder .
What is a punishment ?
Something legally done to somebody as a result of being found guilty for breaking the law .
What are buddhist views on the law ?
Buddhists believe that it is to correct to follow the law , but even more to cultivate skilful actions an dabadon unskilful ones . There ma e circumstances where buddhists feel complled to disobey the law that they consider unjust but prbbaly not in a violent way - .
Buddhist teavhing about views on law explained ;
The principal of karmaa teaches what is most important is the intention that dirves acction . it is difficult sometimes to differentiaite if in action is unskilful or skilful - teh five moral precpets can help identify ifi ti seither .
Buddhist views on punishment ;
Punishment goes against buddhist ethics as it involves causing sufferng , they believe punishmengt has a degree of vengeance which is a form of hatred , that goes against the three poions . However they do belive that a person who acts in an unskilful way will recieve in consequences s- the priciple of kamma reaches that unskilful actions can lead to suffering both now and future lives . (quall skilful - good life also in futur .)
Relationship between law and police
Police catch people suspected of breaking the law .
Difference between magistrate court and crown court
Magistrate court deal with less serrious crimes crown court more serious (judge , jury )
True or alse - coporral punishemtn and capial punishment are allowed in the uk
False
in what countries are capital punishetn permtied , the examples
china , usa , saudi arabia
difference between criminal law and civil law
Criminal law seeks to punish for an offence. Civil law seeks to achieve a remedy such as compensation for the injured party. … Civil law cases are filed by private parties, while criminal cases are usually filed by the state. The decision of the court in a criminal case is guilty or not guilty.
What do christians belive by evil
The oppostion of good ; a force or the personification of a negative power that is seen in many rraditions as destrucitve and agaisnt god .
Example of christian scriputre warning us about having thoughts that are evil and wrong
“You have herd it was said to the poeple long ago , you dhsll not murder and none who murders will be subject to judgement “Mathwer 5:21
action that is not illegal but is wrong (christians say )
adultery
Christins attitudes to crimes
Believe crimes involving violenve agaisnt people are sinful and agaisnt god , they believe evil can be linked with the devil , who is considred the sourvce of evil .
Chrisitans attiuted to crhimes
they belive adam and eve;s disobedience caused sin , so all humans have tendency of doing evil even if they arent veil themselves. However , ifg od created poeple to do good , they are unlikely to do anything unspekable unless there was a specific reason like psychological ilnnes , if thid s case they will recieve treatment while beign ounished .
Why could pverty be a reason for crime
If you are in poverty , you cannot afford basic essentials to survive so this can lead people to steal food and other essential as they do not have the money to buy. People born into poverty have less opportunity to succeed legitimately (i.e. through legal work) and start off in life further from the goals constructed by society. The avenues for legitimate success are narrower: so the temptation to choose illegitimate paths to success (crime) is greater.
what buddhists thing about poverty being a reason for crime ,
Eventhough poverty is one of the underlying problems of crime , they belive stealing is likely to cause harm to others , nd it breaks the second moral precept to abstain from taking what is not freely given .
Why would upbringing be a reason for crime
If a childl has trouble upbrining , for example violence or additicon this could effect them neagtiely and they might turn to crime themsleves . Once started it is difficult to stop even if they know what their doing is right .
How woud mental illness cause crime ?
Series health problems can lead to violent behaviour, however i belive that tereatment such as theraphy or medication can bring control and thos epopele are no more violent than the rest of us .Kleptomania causes people to steal - they will receive treatment +sentenced differently .
Addiction - example meaning of being addicted
Addiction to drugs means that soemone becomes dependent and cannot cope without drugs . Addicts know what they are doing is badd but cant help it , spending money to acquire more durgs , they may commit crimes to fuel their addiction . Example alchol - loose control commit acts of violence
buddhist attiudes for addiciton
It breaks the fith moral precept tht buddhist should abstain from taking drugs (alchol too ) as people under the influence of drugs lose thier awareness and less sensitve than others so more likel yto commit crimes . Could break the fourth moral precept of using harmful speech as ur mind is clouded .
How would greed cause crime
If the matrial gained by comimiting a crime are much greater than any possible punishemt , then poeple may be tempted to break the law . Especially in placs where wealth and possesions is seen as a sign of staus .
Buddhist attiuted towards greed
Greed is one of the three poions - acting out of greed is unsilful and leads to suffering .
How would hate cause crime
Hatred is angeaive feeling or reaction that can lead to prejudice , and violence agaisnt whoever or whatever the offender hates .
Buddhist attitued to hatred
According to buddhism , hatred is one of the three posions and one of the main causes of sufffering . Buddhist believe it is importnant not to feel hatred ords others even when provoked .
Opposition to an unjust law - cause crime ?
Lots of people have broken lawas that they belived to be unjust - rosa parks - sitting at the front of the bus and not givig it up for a white person. .If you be;ive a lwa is unjust n breaking a law bring change . it is acceptable .
Chrisitan attiduesd to poverty
Chrsitians condemn stealing - ten commandement , thou shall nopt stelal , they re keen to make surenobody is so poor that they use poverty as an excuse fo rstelaing .
Christian attidued to addiction
Most cchrsitians , alochol is not forbiddent, but fro catholics drunknesss is a sin and encourgae excessive drinking . dp not be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals - corintihians :33
Christian atitued to greed
Ten commandemtns , Christians are tuaght not to covet - meanig they should be jaulous of somebody esle .
Envy is also one of the seven deadl sins .
Hate christians atttitudes.
golden role in christanty “love our enemies”
explain why a person suffering for mental illness cannot stand in a trial ?
people with mental health problems may be found unfit to stand trial, or not guilty due to their mental impairment.
wht drug causes more crime than any other in the uk
alcohol
What do buddhists mean by skilful and unskilful actions ?
skilful - genrosity kindness
unskilful - selfishnss , hatred and ignorance .
What is hate crime ?
Crimes often includign violence , that are usually targeted at a person ecause of their race , religion , sexuality , disability or gender .
Buddhist attiuted to hate crime
Hatred is one of the three poisons , there is no justification for acting on the basis of hatred or intolerance . , they believe that cuasing harm to someone will make happier is wrong . It causes suffering for both tohers and themselves instead . Buddha says that hate crime can lead to unskilful speech which could lead to breaking the fourth moral precept - harmful speech . “Ehoeer is not hostile among the hostile and is at rest among the violent , him i call a holy man “ The Buddha Dhammapadvers406
What can theft do to someone
theft can cuse great upet to the person whose property is stolen , but the crime is more bout the propety not the victimm , Greed and poverty are two main causes of theft .
Buddhist attitudes to theft
theft breaks the second moral prcept , batsain from taking what has not been freely given , it strengthens the abit of greed which is oen of the three poions and weakens the tendency of geneorosity , Theft just expresses delusions of being happier , they will suffer so (prinicple of karma ) in their afterlife .
What is murder
In amny peopes eye most serious is murder , muder means the unlawful and deliberate killing . Murderign somone involves not only inflicitng pain on the victim , but also ont heir familt and friends .
Buddhist attiudes to murder
It breaks the first moral precpt - abstain from tking life , however sometiems can be jsutifed , principle of utility , greatest happiness for the greatest number , story in buddhist scriptures there was a badnit and there ws a captain of shup 500 merchants , ahd to ill the bandit for the safety of the people .
Chrisitians attiitudes o different types of crimes
christians codemn both hate cires and murder . God creted akk huamsn with equa value and no individuals or groups should be singled out for inferior treatment from others , Jesus taugjy “Love your neighbour”Mark12:31 and “Your are all oen in Jeus Christ”Galatians3:28
Eventhough christians may be understadning of people comitting theft out of need rather than greed they belive that the needy should be cared for so they have no need to commit crimes , They teach the golden rule “Do to others what you want them to d to you “
exampe of criminal law
murder
What are the 7 reasons for commtiting crimes
mental illness greed poverty uprbinging hate greed opposition to an unjust law .
Biblical teaching htat chrisi=tians should uphodl the law
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities , for there is no authorty expet that which god has established “ Rimans 13:1
why might some religous people opose an unjst law
becaue if it intervens with their religion e.g if buddhist were told to stop meditiating .
Why might muder be considered one of the most serious crime
as murder means unlawafuly and deliberately killing a human being , it could be weel argued hat tthere is no greater harm that can be done thn to take a persons life .
What does “innocent until proven guilty mean ?”
Consider someone accused of a crime to be innocent until he or she is proven to be guilty in a court of law.
What is retribution
Getting revenge and giving someone hat they deserve
Why might someone agree with retribution
People who belive that retribution is improtnt tend to thinkt hat criminals should be amde to suffer in proportion to how serious their crimes are . It could be argued also , that without lawful retribution , vicitms and people my want to punish the crimincal themselves , possibly more seriously than they deserve , so lawful retribution helps to reduce the urge towrds vengenac on the prt ofthe victims .
Buddhist attitudes towards retribution (and what i will say too )
Retribuition -Buddhists belive in ahimsa - meaning nonviolence , retribution is a form of violence , commtiing violec=nce agaisnt the offender does not wipe away the sufering causes by a crim nor does it encurgae the criminal to ccept responsibility for their actions . It usuallly creates bitterness nd further violence for crime . According to the principal of karma - a personss unskilful acts will causse them to suffer anyay so its unencessary .
What is deterrence
to put people off from comiting crimes because they fear the ppunishemnnt they will receive .
Why may someone agree with deterrence
As if someone knows they will be punished for what comiting a crime , they maybe less likely to commit it .
Why agaisnt detterence ,
reasons to commit crimes are more complrxed thn a simple fer of punishemtn , so it wot=nt be efffective on every crime . Buddhists have their own detterence , karma , which people could fer for their future ives .
Reformation
Programmes in pirison that help the prisoner reform and vecome law-abiding citizens
Why might someone agree with reformation
It encourgaes offeners to change and beome law -abiding meber sof the coomuniry . In order for this to wor offender needs to realise what hey have done - thing like thrpay sessions or cousnessling or community servive helps .
Buddhist attitudes for reformation
Buddhist belive a criminal should be encourged to recognise hier suffering .This will rehabilate the criminal int hier own eyes and of society and of the victim , We should show karuna to the criminal and spread metta ,
Christian attitudes to retirbution
An early form of retributio Lex Talionsis (the law of retaliation) Mens a criminals shuld receive he sanme injuries and damage that they damage that they caused by the victm , “eye for an eye tooth for tooth”exodus 21;23
but that was old , people like to focus on different ims of punishment .
Christian attitudes to deterrence
Christians believe that that every human should eb treated with respect regardless of what they have done , “You are on in Jesus Christ”Galatioans , and secondly , christians have thier own detrence , heaven and hell .
Christians attitudes to retribution
Chritins belive not to seek revenge , but set an example by showign compassion , a more positive respone , is to work with the offender , “Do not take revenge my friends but leave space for gods warth” romans 12:19
We should forgive them for what they have done -“Foegibe those who trespaass agaisnt us” Mathew
What is a prison
A secureb uilding where offedners arekept for a period of time set by a judge .
Buddhist attiudes to prision
for buddhists the primary purpose for putting someone in prision is to protect society from them . If someone is a serial killer , it is irresponsible to allow them to live freely in society . Another reason is that prisions might give the person some space to rehabillate themsleves .
What is coroporal punishment
Punishment of an offender by causing them physical pain
Buddhist attitudes to coporal punishment
Coproal punishment expresses violence and is likely to caue further ressnemtntrather thna reformation , does not solve underling motvis forthe crime s- ahimsa nonviolence .
Community service
A way of punishing offenders by making them do unpaid work in the community .
examples of community service
removing graffiti , litter picking , decorating buildings,
might do treatmen programmes , alcholics for example , or counseliing and basic eduaction .
why may someone agree on community service
As community service helps someone reform , and it could directl adress needs of the victimt o be more ffective . Could acta s a detrrence nd it is embarrassign walking aroundin in a high vis orange that says community paybacok.
What do buddhist think about community service
Most buddhists approve of community srvice , it helps to rehabilitate the crimina , community sevice should adress the crime direcctly , The sanga can keep you safe and supervise you and enocurage you to rehabilate and help the community .
What is Capital punishment
a form of punishment in which a prisioner is put ot death for crimes commited .
What are problems with prision
it is expensive for ciziens , social netowrk for gangs , offdeners fmilies are punished ,criminals become hardened criminals
Why may someone agree with capital punishemt
somone who has taken a life must pay by taking thier own life away . Definite protection for the society - no chnce of reoffedning , peace for the family , works as a deterrence for retriubution , PRINCIPAL OF UTILITY - THE BEST ACTION US ONE THAT CREATES THE GREATESRT AMOUNTOF HAPPINESS FORTHE GREATES AMNT OF PEOPLE could say the only ones that sufer are crimanls fmily and some extent friends that it , however death will be better for future victims andthier fmaily asnd friends .
Buddhists attitudes to captal punishment (and miy opinion why it is bad)
Againt t , it breaks the first mroal prcpt - abstain from tking life , and does not alow the possibilt of rehabiliation . Inn addition it makes revenge prt of the system which is unskilful . Some people are wrongly convicted , Three poisons - hatred , it si an unequal more balck people in the us get put on death rown than whites .
What do christians say about prisons ?
Chrisitians agree that prision should be used as a punishment for serious crimes , man strong suppor trying to support prisones while in prison and are keen to see education and training facilitie swell used .
What do christians belive about corporal punishment
for most christians it is wrong , however they do not disagree with disciplline “He who spares the rod hates their children , but the one who loves thier children is careful to discipline them “ provers 13:24 Hwoever , jesus teachings rule out physical punishemnt , isntea dfocus o positive sanction to help the offedner reform and relaise heir wrong doings as jesus alwasy tretd everyoen w repect they should folllow his example .
is corporal punishemtn allowd in schools
no
what is the aim of community service
it always the person to reformand realise what they have done , and receive help for their behaviour
What do christians say about community service ?
Chrisitians gree thatt it is a suitbale punishemnt for failry minor crimes .
how many hrs is community service between
40-300hrs
what crimes result in community serv ice
vandalism , benefit fraud
What is the meaning of forgiveness ?
Shadowing compassion and parrdonig someone for what they have done .
Buddhist attitued to forgivness
Forgiving involves letting go of these resentful feelings and the desire to se the other person being ounshed or suffering for what they have done - this dosent make wht the criminal hs done justifable tho
They belive if epoeple do not forgive , then they will sudder because they wll continue to be anrgy and resentful -people should forgive for the sake of their own health “He abused me , he struck me , of those who wrap themselves up , hatred is not quenched “ The buddha from the dhammapada .
HOWEVER apology and forgiveness can somtimes bring aout reoncillaiton , however if the offender doestn recognisne that they have done wrong thre can be no reconicialtion .Hatred is part of the three poisions , if you do not forgive u are posioning your own karma , we should show karuna to the criminals .
Christians attitudes to forgiveness
Forgivenes is a core bleief in christinity anf id emphasised in jesus teachign , chrsitains are xpected to forgive regardless of hwat they have doen , in turn god will forgive them “Forgive us for our sisn as we forgive those who trespass against-Lords prayer” However , they would argue that forgiveness is not a replaceement for punishemt , can forgive someone and believe justiice is done when they are setenced to imprisonment . But the purpous of imprisonment is to reform . Forgive regardles of what the have done , “Lord how many times should i forgive 7 times ? , not seven but 77 timez” \m\zthew 18:21 - 77 interpetted s unlimted maount . Even when jesus was crucified he told god “lor forgive them they dontknw what theya re doing”
What did maureen greaves do in referenc eto fogiveness chrisitainity
she fogave her husabnds kilers as she thought bout wht her husbnd would do and said he would forgive them too .
Your beliefs about forgiveness
I believe you should forgive someone for your own sake , to remobe tha burdern and be able to move on with your lfe , but they should still get a ounishment showing justice is served .
When was capital punishemtn abolished in the uk
1969
What is another name for capital punishment
death penalty
Why may chrisitians be fore the detah penalty
those who agree with the deatj penalty use teachings from the old testaent “whoever sheds human blood , by humans shall their bloodbe shed “Genessi 9:6 , “eye for an eye , tooth for thooth “ exodus , they sau ot os a kustifible retirubution for serious acts like murder
why my chirstians bea gaisnt death penalty
the sancitiy o life is a techign tha god gave life and only he has the right to tak eit away . Executing is ddneying gods right in taking away a life is wrong , however he do agreE HTAT TAKING A LFIE IS WRONG AGAISNT TEN COMMANDENTS , THOU SHALL NOT KILL , AND “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked , but rather that they turn away from thier ways and live.” Ezeiel
more arguments againt death penalty
some ma say death pnealty can ensure definite protetion for society - it could be argued that protection is also achived by imprisonment , they can repent and become useuful mebers to society .
five types of punishment
capital corporal prision community service fine
definition of fine
when paymrnt id imposed as a penalty to a criminal .
meaning of law
the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.
reformtion is the mos timprotna tiam of punishment , “(12marker) to what extent do you agree
refercne to book for nse r
explain twp constrasting beliefs about the ffective ness of prisosns (4 marks)
reference to book
sending people to prision should be alst resort (12marks)
reference to book
why is forgivesn improtna tmaking referrecnes to holy scriptures (5 marks )
reference to book