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Religious Studies > Religion, crime and punishment > Flashcards

Religion, crime and punishment Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a crime?

A

A crime is an offence that breaks the law set by the government. People who commit crimes face legal consequences

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2
Q

What are Christian views towards good and evil intentions and actions?

A

Teachings in the Bible warn against having any evil or wrong thoughts and intentions

Evil actions such as using violence are considered to be sinful and against God

Many Christians would claim there is no such thing as an evil person because God created people to be good

However, because of original sin, all humans have a tendency to do evil things even though they are not evil in themselves

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3
Q

What are Buddhist views on good and evil intentions and actions?

A

Buddhism doesn’t generally speak of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ but rather skilful and unskilful actions and intentions

Not all unskilful actions are illegal (for instance, it is not illegal to be unkind to someone)

Equally, not all skilful actions are legal (there are some countries where it is illegal to practise Buddhism, for instance)

The principle of kamma teaches that the intention behind an action is very important

Whether an action causes harm to someone or agrees with the 5 moral precepts can help to determine if it is skilful or not

Buddhists believe it is correct to follow the law unless this seriously restricts their capacity to act in a skilful way

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4
Q

Give three ways in which a crime might eb punished in the UK

A

Prison

Community service

Fine

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5
Q

‘Intentions are more important than actions’

FOR

A

Intentions are the reason for actions

Loving and compassionate intentions usually bring about good actions

Buddhist ethics suggest the intention behind an action is very important and determines its moral quality

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6
Q

‘Intentions are more important than actions’

AGAINST

A

Nobody is helped nor harmed by intentions but they may be by actions

‘Faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action is dead’

Buddhism teaches that skilful actions lead to happiness, unskilful actions lead to suffering

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7
Q

What are some Christian quotes which refers to good and evil intentions and actions?

A

‘You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart

‘Everyone sins and falls short of the glory of God’

‘People sin when they fall into the temptations of their own evil desires’

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8
Q

What are some reasons as to why people commit crimes?

A

Poverty

Upbringing

Mental illness

Addiction

Greed

Hate

Opposition to an unjust law

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9
Q

Explanation for poverty

A

There are millions of people in the UK who live in poverty, who cannot always afford to buy food

Some believe the only way out of this is to steal

However, stealing for any reason is against the law and those who steal food or other essentials can be arrested and punished

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10
Q

What are Christian views on crime due to poverty?

A

Stealing is wrong, but people should do what they can to help make sure nobody finds themselves in the position of having to steal because of poverty

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11
Q

What are Buddhist views on crime due to poverty?

A

Stealing contradicts the second moral precept (to abstain from taking what is not freely given) and causes harm to others

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12
Q

Explanation for upbringing

A

Some people grow up in a household where crime is a part of life. A troubles upbringing (for example because of neglect or abuse) might also lead a person to turn to crime

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13
Q

What are Christian views on crime due to upbringing

A

Parents should teach their children the right way to behave through their own words and actions

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14
Q

What are Buddhist views on crime due to upbringing?

A

People need supportive conditions growing up in order to develop sensitivity to others and to learn how to behave ethically

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15
Q

Explanation for mental illness

A

Some forms of mental illness may lead to crime eg anger management problems may lead to violence

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16
Q

What are Christian views on crime due to mental illness?

A

Treating the causes of the illness is the most loving and compassionate way of dealing with people with mental illness

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17
Q

What are Buddhist views on crime due to mental illness?

A

Everyone sees reality in a distorted way, which leads people to inflict suffering on themselves and others

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18
Q

Explanation for addiction

A

Taking illegal drugs is in itself a criminal act. A person’s addiction may make them commit further crimes to be able to buy drugs

Legal drugs such as alcohol can also cause crime such as violence, rape and drunk driving if taken to excess

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19
Q

What are Christian views on crime due to addiction?

A

Christians are against taking illegal drugs and support rehabilitation as a way of defeating an addiction

Most Christians believe alcohol is acceptable in moderation

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20
Q

What are Buddhist views on crime due to addiction?

A

People under the influence of drugs lose awareness and so are less sensitive to others

The fifth moral precept encourages Buddhists not to take drugs (inc. alcohol)

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21
Q

Explanation for greed

A

Some people want personal possessions they do not need and cannot afford. Their greed may lead them to steal them

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22
Q

What are Christian views on crime due to greed?

A

The Ten Commandments forbid envy, and it is envy that often causes greed

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23
Q

What are Buddhist views on crime due to greed?

A

Acting out of greed is unskilful and leads to suffering

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24
Q

Explanation for hate

A

Hate, the opposite of love, can lead to violence or aggression

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25
Q

What are Christian views on crime due to hate?

A

Jesus taught Christians to love everybody, including their enemies

‘Love thy neighbour’

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26
Q

What are Buddhist views on crime due to hate?

A

Hatred is one of the the three poisons and one of the main causes of suffering

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27
Q

Explanation for opposition to an unjust law

A

Sometimes people break a law they believe to be unjust in order to protest against it

These could be laws based on inequality or that deny basic human rights

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28
Q

What are Christian views on crime due to opposition to an unjust law?

A

Some Christians may agree with this but only if no violence is involves and nobody gets harmed

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29
Q

What are Buddhist views on crime due to opposition to an unjust law?

A

Buddhists might disobey a law that expressed prejudice and hatred

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30
Q

‘Addiction is the only good excuse for committing crimes’

FOR

A

Addiction takes away choice

A person may need to commit crimes to fund their addiction

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31
Q

‘Addiction is the only good excuse for committing crimes’

AGAINST

A

Addicts should be helped to defeat their addiction so they do not commit crimes

Christians and Buddhists believe crime is very rarely justified

Taking drugs goes against the fifth moral precept in Buddhism

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32
Q

Give two religious responses to the reasons why people commit crimes

A

In response to poverty, Christians believe stealing is wrong and they should help to create a society where it is not necessary to steal because of poverty

Buddhists believe stealing is wrong because it contradicts the second moral precept and causes harm to others

33
Q

What is a hate crime?

A

A crime that is usually targeted at a person because of their race, religion, sexuality, disability or gender

34
Q

What is theft?

A

Less serious than some crimes but still results in the victim suffering a loss

35
Q

What is murder?

A

Viewed by many as the most serious crime

36
Q

What are Christian views on hate crime?

A

Christians condemn hate crimes because they believe God created all humans equal and no one should be singles out for inferior treatment

When Jesus taught his followers to ‘love your neighbour’ (Mark 12:31), he meant showing compassion, care and respect to everybody

37
Q

What are Buddhist views on hate crime?

A

Hatred is one of the three poisons and the direct opposite of the emotions that Buddhists aim to develop: loving-kindness and compassion

This means there is no justification for hatred or intolerance

A person who acts from hatred causes harm to themselves and others

38
Q

What are Christian views on theft?

A

Theft goes against the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:15)

Christians do not agree with any theft, including theft caused by need rather than greed

39
Q

What are Buddhist views on theft?

A

Theft breaks the second moral precept

It also strengthens the habit of greed (one of the three poisons)

It expresses a lack of respect and empathy for others

40
Q

What are Christian views on murder?

A

Murder is wrong because only God has the right to take life

It goes against the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13)

41
Q

What are Buddhist views on murder?

A

Murder breaks the first moral precept

It inflicts suffering not only on the victim but also on their family and friends

42
Q

Explain the similarities and differences between a hate crime and murder

A

Hate crimes usually involve violence and possibly killing

Murder is unlawful killing

Hate crimes result from prejudice, murder can have other reasons

Murder is generally considered to be the worst

Some murders are considered as hate crimes

43
Q

‘Religious believers should hate the crime but not the criminal who committed it’

FOR

A

Hatred of a criminal is not constructive

Reasons why the criminal committed the crime should be considered

Love and compassion are religious teachings that should extend even to criminals

Christians and Buddhists believe in the importance of rehabilitation

44
Q

‘Religious believers should hate the crime but not the criminal who committed it’

AGAINST

A

Criminal actions can cause great harm and upset

Some victims never fully recover from a criminal action

Crimes break Christian and Buddhist teachings and morality

Buddhism teaches that hatred is never justified as it only creates more suffering

45
Q

Explanation of retribution

A

Society, on behalf of the victim, is getting its own back on the offender

Criminals should be made to suffer in proportion to how serious their crimes are

In the case of murder, the murderer should be killed as a punishment

46
Q

What are Christian views on retribution?

A

Paul teaches ‘do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’

Many Christians focus on other aims of punishment which they believer are less harmful and more positive

Some Christians support the death penalty by quoting ‘life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth’ But most think this means, for example, that murderers should be punished severely but not killed

47
Q

What are Buddhist views on retribution?

A

Retribution is a form of violence and therefore wrong

A person will suffer anyway, because of the principle of kamma

‘we should not seek revenge on those who have committed crimes against us, or reply to their crimes with other crimes’

48
Q

Explanation for deterrence

A

The idea of deterrence is to use punishment as an example and warning to others

If the punishment is harsh, it may deter the offender from repeating the crime and others copying it

In some countries, punishments are carried out in public as a form of deterrence

49
Q

What are Christian views on deterrence?

A

Although most Christians have no real problem with the idea of deterrence they do not support punishments that are excessively harsh

They oppose carrying out punishments in public as these could humiliate offenders rather than treating them with respect

50
Q

What are Buddhist views on deterrence?

A

Deterrence may not work if people are in grip of the three poisons

Buddhists might agree it is important to protect society from certain criminals by imprisoning them, but the motive here is the protection of society-not punishment or deterrence

51
Q

Explanation for reformation

A

Reformation aims to use punishment that helps offenders to give up crime and realise their behaviour is harmful

This may involve therapy and counselling, community service and meeting the victims

It is hoped that offenders will change their attitude and becoming law-abiding members of society

52
Q

What are Christian views on reformation?

A

Most Christians favour reformation over other aims of punishment

This is because it is positive rather than negative and works with individuals to improve their life chances

It should not be a replacement for punishments but should happen alongside punishment

53
Q

What are Buddhist views on reformation?

A

A criminal should be encouraged to recognise the suffering they have caused, apologise to their victims and even undertake corrective action

Buddhism favours a justice system where criminals are encouraged to change and become more responsible and sensitive to others

54
Q

What are Christian attitudes towards suffering?

A

Whatever the cause, Christians believe they have a duty to help those who are suffering

Christians try to follow the example of Jesus since he helped people and encourage people to do the same

Try not to cause others to suffer

Apologise and try to repair the damage when you have caused suffering

Suffering may strengthen a person’s character and faith

55
Q

How can a loving God allow people to suffer?

A

Christians believe it is wrong to blame God for the suffering that results from humans actions

This is because God gave humans free will: the ability to make decisions for themselves

God has also given plenty of guidance on how to use free will responsibly

The teachings and example of Jesus will reduce suffering if followed

The role of the law is to give more ‘compulsory’ guidance about the best way to use free will, together with punishments for those who cause suffering by committing crimes

56
Q

What are Buddhist attitudes towards suffering?

A
  • Inevitable part of life
  • To overcome suffering, you must accept that suffering is a fact of existence
  • Following the eightfold path
  • Buddhists try to avoid causing others to suffer
57
Q

Features of prison

A

The main punishment is a loss of liberty

Prisoners are locked in cells for some of the day, and have to do manual work for little money

Reserved for more serious crimes

58
Q

Christian views on prison

A

Many Christians support the use of prisons for more serious crimes

They also believe prisoners should be treated well, and involved in positive activities and education that help them to reform

59
Q

Buddhist views on prison

A

The primary aim of prison should be to protect society from dangerous criminals

Prison may also provide time and space for rehabilitation

60
Q

Corporal punishment features

A

Punishes offenders by inflicting physical pain

Considered to be a breach of human rights laws

Illegal in the UK and many other countries

Muslim countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia use corporal punishment for offences such as gambling and sexual promiscuity

61
Q

Christian views on corporal punishment

A

Christians do not support corporal punishment. It does not seek to reform an offender, so can be seen as a negative and harmful punishment. It does not show respect for the individual

62
Q

Buddhist views on corporal punishment

A

Corporal punishment expressed violence and encourages resentment rather than reformation. It does not solve the underlying cause of crime

63
Q

Features of community service

A

Includes work in the community, such as cleaning graffiti, decorating or clearing wasteland

Used for more minor offences such as vandalism or benefit fraud

May include treatment for addiction or medical conditions, counselling and education

In some cases, a meeting may be set up so the victim can tell the offender the impact their crime had and the offender can apologise

64
Q

Christian views on community service

A

Most Christian approve of community service as it allows offenders to make up for what they have done wrong, deters them from committing future offences and reforms them by making them realise the consequences of their actions

65
Q

Buddhist views on community views

A

Most Buddhists approve of community service that helps to rehabilitate the criminal

It needs to directly address the crime and help the criminal see the impact of their actions

To be most effective, it also should address the needs of the victims

66
Q

‘Criminals should not be treated well’

FOR

A

‘eye for eye’ suggests offenders who commit serious crimes should receive severe punishments

67
Q

‘Criminals should not be treated well’

AGAINST

A

‘love your neighbour’ suggests criminals should be treated well

All humans are deserving of respect as they are created by God

The parable of the Sheep and the Goats teaches that showing kindness to prisoners is good

Buddhist teachings emphasise compassion and loving-kindness

Harming criminals goes against the first moral precept

68
Q

What is the main Christian belief about forgiveness?

A

Forgiveness is a key belief in Christianity as Jesus taught forgiveness and showed it in his actions

Many Christians argue that forgiveness should not be a replacement for punishment. They believe the offender should be forgiven as far as possible, but should also be punished to ensure justice is done and to help the criminal reform themselves

69
Q

What are some examples of Jesus showing forgiveness?

A

When he was dying on the cross, Jesus forgave those who crucified him

‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’

When asked how many times a person should be forgiven, Jesus said ‘not seven times but seventy-seven times’

Christians interpret this to mean there should be no limit to the amount of forgiveness they show to someone

In addition, The Lord’s prayer shows that Christians believe God expects them to show forgiveness to others. In turn, they will forgive them for the sins they commit (‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’)

70
Q

What are Buddhist attitudes towards forgiveness?

A

For Buddhists, forgiveness involved letting go of anger and resentment, as well as the desire for the offender to suffer through punishment

Buddhism teaches that if people do not forgive they will suffer, because they will continue to be angry resentful. This means people should forgive others for the sake of their own health and welfare

Criminals should still be punished by the law or because of the principle of kamma

71
Q

What is the story of Angulimala?

A
  • One day, while on a trip to a nearby village, the Buddha meets Angulimala, a terrifying robber who everyone fears. He cuts people’s fingers off and uses them to make a necklace
  • Angulimala tries to chase the Buddha after he walks past his den but no matter how fast he ran, he could never catch the Buddha-this is because he never harms, nor does he ever kill, and the Buddha explains this concept to Angulimala
  • The Buddha offers to be Angulimala’s friend and takes him on an ‘adventure’ where Angulimala decided to change for the better after he realises that he is tired of robbing people and having no friends
  • The King comes to see the Buddha alone because he is scared that if he was with guards, he would attract the attention of Angulimala. He was surprised to find out that Angulimala had been sitting next to the Buddha the whole time since he was unrecognisable
72
Q

Give two ways in which Christian beliefs about forgiveness are different from Buddhist beliefs

A

Many Christians believe that while forgiveness is important, it is still necessary to punish the criminal

Buddhists emphasise the importance of apology and forgiveness and, when this happens, punishment is no longer necessary

Christians practise forgiveness as an act of mercy because God expects them to forgive

Buddhists practise forgiveness because if they continue to hold on to anger and resentment they will continue to suffer

73
Q

Death penalty FOR

A

The principle of utility states an action is right if it produces the maximum happiness for the greatest number of people affected by it

If the use of the death penalty is proven to protect society - therefore creating happiness for a greater number of people - it can be justified

It is justified retribution for people who commit the worst possible crimes

It protects society by removing the worst criminals so they cannot cause harm again

74
Q

Death penalty FOR

A

The principle of utility states an action is right if it produces the maximum happiness for the greatest number of people affected by it

If the use of the death penalty is proven to protect society - therefore creating happiness for a greater number of people - it can be justified

It is justified retribution for people who commit the worst possible crimes

It protects society by removing the worst criminals so they cannot cause harm again

It could be used as a deterrent

75
Q

Death penalty AGAINST

A

There is a chance of killing an innocent person

Eg. three people executed in the UK in the 1950s have since been pardoned, because new evidence has cast serious doubt over their guilt

There is little evidence the death penalty is an effective deterrent

Eg. the UK murder rate is no higher than in countries that have the death penalty

Often the threat of punishment does not enter into the murderer’s thinking

It is not right to take another person’s life. This does not show forgiveness nor compassion

Society can still be protected by imprisoning criminals instead of executing them

76
Q

What are Christian views towards death penalty?

A

The sanctity of life is the idea that all life is holy as it is created by God, and only God can take it away. This teaching is used to oppose the death penalty

Ezekiel 33:11 teaches us that wrongdoers should be reformed (not executed)

Some Christians agree with the death penalty and use teachings from the Old Testament to support their views

‘Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed’

77
Q

What are Buddhist views towards the death penalty?

A

Most Buddhists oppose the death penalty because it goes against the first moral precept and does not allow the possibility of rehabilitation

It also makes revenge part of the criminal justice system

It is not possible to relieve the suffering of the victim by making the offender suffer

Thailand, a largely Buddhist country, has capital punishment for more than 30 crimes. This shows that Buddhist principles don’t always impact on government policy

78
Q

‘There is no good reason why anyone should commit a crime’

FOR

A

Committing a crime is wrong whatever the reason/ all crime causes someone to suffer

People should obey the law

Christians and Buddhists believe it is wrong to commit crime because of poverty and that people should focus on creating a fairer society where the need to steal because of poverty is removed

Those who commit crime through illness or addiction should be provided with treatment so they have no reason to commit crimes

People who want to protest against an unjust law can do so legally eg through a peaceful protest

79
Q

‘There is no good reason why anyone should commit a crime’

AGAINST

A

Society is not fair so crimes because of need/poverty are justified in some circumstances eg it is better to seal food than allow a child to starve

Some laws are unjust and the only way to change them is to break them/peaceful protest is not always powerful enough to change the law

All humans have a tendency to do bad things, including crime, because of original sin

Those who commit crime because of addiction/mental illness cannot help it

Religious Studies (17 decks)

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