Religion, crime and punishment Flashcards
What is a crime?
A crime is an offence that breaks the law set by the government. People who commit crimes face legal consequences
What are Christian views towards good and evil intentions and actions?
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
What are Buddhist views on good and evil intentions and actions?
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
Give three ways in which a crime might eb punished in the UK
Prison
Community service
Fine
‘Intentions are more important than actions’
FOR
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
‘Intentions are more important than actions’
AGAINST
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
What are some Christian quotes which refers to good and evil intentions and actions?
‘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’
What are some reasons as to why people commit crimes?
Poverty
Upbringing
Mental illness
Addiction
Greed
Hate
Opposition to an unjust law
Explanation for poverty
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
What are Christian views on crime due to poverty?
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
What are Buddhist views on crime due to poverty?
Stealing contradicts the second moral precept (to abstain from taking what is not freely given) and causes harm to others
Explanation for upbringing
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
What are Christian views on crime due to upbringing
Parents should teach their children the right way to behave through their own words and actions
What are Buddhist views on crime due to upbringing?
People need supportive conditions growing up in order to develop sensitivity to others and to learn how to behave ethically
Explanation for mental illness
Some forms of mental illness may lead to crime eg anger management problems may lead to violence
What are Christian views on crime due to mental illness?
Treating the causes of the illness is the most loving and compassionate way of dealing with people with mental illness
What are Buddhist views on crime due to mental illness?
Everyone sees reality in a distorted way, which leads people to inflict suffering on themselves and others
Explanation for addiction
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
What are Christian views on crime due to addiction?
Christians are against taking illegal drugs and support rehabilitation as a way of defeating an addiction
Most Christians believe alcohol is acceptable in moderation
What are Buddhist views on crime due to addiction?
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)
Explanation for greed
Some people want personal possessions they do not need and cannot afford. Their greed may lead them to steal them
What are Christian views on crime due to greed?
The Ten Commandments forbid envy, and it is envy that often causes greed
What are Buddhist views on crime due to greed?
Acting out of greed is unskilful and leads to suffering
Explanation for hate
Hate, the opposite of love, can lead to violence or aggression
What are Christian views on crime due to hate?
Jesus taught Christians to love everybody, including their enemies
‘Love thy neighbour’
What are Buddhist views on crime due to hate?
Hatred is one of the the three poisons and one of the main causes of suffering
Explanation for opposition to an unjust law
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
What are Christian views on crime due to opposition to an unjust law?
Some Christians may agree with this but only if no violence is involves and nobody gets harmed
What are Buddhist views on crime due to opposition to an unjust law?
Buddhists might disobey a law that expressed prejudice and hatred
‘Addiction is the only good excuse for committing crimes’
FOR
Addiction takes away choice
A person may need to commit crimes to fund their addiction
‘Addiction is the only good excuse for committing crimes’
AGAINST
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
Give two religious responses to the reasons why people commit crimes
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
What is a hate crime?
A crime that is usually targeted at a person because of their race, religion, sexuality, disability or gender
What is theft?
Less serious than some crimes but still results in the victim suffering a loss
What is murder?
Viewed by many as the most serious crime
What are Christian views on hate crime?
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
What are Buddhist views on hate crime?
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
What are Christian views on theft?
Theft goes against the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:15)
Christians do not agree with any theft, including theft caused by need rather than greed
What are Buddhist views on theft?
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
What are Christian views on murder?
Murder is wrong because only God has the right to take life
It goes against the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13)
What are Buddhist views on murder?
Murder breaks the first moral precept
It inflicts suffering not only on the victim but also on their family and friends
Explain the similarities and differences between a hate crime and murder
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
‘Religious believers should hate the crime but not the criminal who committed it’
FOR
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
‘Religious believers should hate the crime but not the criminal who committed it’
AGAINST
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
Explanation of retribution
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
What are Christian views on retribution?
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
What are Buddhist views on retribution?
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’
Explanation for deterrence
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
What are Christian views on deterrence?
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
What are Buddhist views on deterrence?
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
Explanation for reformation
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
What are Christian views on reformation?
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
What are Buddhist views on reformation?
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
What are Christian attitudes towards suffering?
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
How can a loving God allow people to suffer?
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
What are Buddhist attitudes towards suffering?
- 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
Features of prison
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
Christian views on prison
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
Buddhist views on prison
The primary aim of prison should be to protect society from dangerous criminals
Prison may also provide time and space for rehabilitation
Corporal punishment features
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
Christian views on corporal punishment
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
Buddhist views on corporal punishment
Corporal punishment expressed violence and encourages resentment rather than reformation. It does not solve the underlying cause of crime
Features of community service
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
Christian views on community service
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
Buddhist views on community views
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
‘Criminals should not be treated well’
FOR
‘eye for eye’ suggests offenders who commit serious crimes should receive severe punishments
‘Criminals should not be treated well’
AGAINST
‘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
What is the main Christian belief about forgiveness?
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
What are some examples of Jesus showing forgiveness?
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’)
What are Buddhist attitudes towards forgiveness?
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
What is the story of Angulimala?
- 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
Give two ways in which Christian beliefs about forgiveness are different from Buddhist beliefs
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
Death penalty FOR
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
Death penalty FOR
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
Death penalty AGAINST
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
What are Christian views towards death penalty?
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’
What are Buddhist views towards the death penalty?
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
‘There is no good reason why anyone should commit a crime’
FOR
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
‘There is no good reason why anyone should commit a crime’
AGAINST
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
