Religion, Crime and Punishment Flashcards
islam on thieves:
As to the thief.. cut of their hands: a punishment by way of example
Christianity on forgiveness:
GOLDEN RULE: do unto others as you would have done to you
forgive not seven times but seventy times
“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, rather that they turn from their ways”
christianity on murder and thievery
thou shall not kill
thou shall not steal
islam on mercy
Be merciful to others and you will have mercy. Forgive others and Allah will forgive you
In the name of God. The Compassionate. The Merciful
islam on death penalty
Take not life, which God had made sacred except by way of justice
Playing God, shirk, God will punish them in hell “whoever kills a believer intentionally, his RECOMPENSE is hell”
arguments FOR prison:
- protects society from dangerous criminals
- time for criminals to reflect on their behaviour
- punishes criminals harshly by taking freedom
arguments AGAINST prison
- costs £60,000 to keep 1 person in prison for a year
- breeds resentment
- young mild offenders meet with serial killers and rapists
- 59% of prisoners who serve an under 12mo time reoffend within aa year of release
- hard to get a job with prison record
- many criminals have mental health issues, they need support not imprisonment
- families of prisoners are financially hopeless
Christian view on prison
Advocates reformation
forgive those who tresspass against us
Elizabeth Fry spread this message
Islam view on prison
Advocates retribution
eg stealing/death penalty quote
As to the thief.. cut off their hand
Take not life, which God has made sacred, except by way of justice and law
arguments FOR community service
- see value in work they do (Eg Wayne Rooney, who had 100 hours of unpaid work decided to continue working in a learning difficulties support centre)
- high vis jackets are embarrassing, people do not want to wear that
- punishment can fit the crime (eg cleaning grafitti)
- less dangerous criminals dont mix with hardened criminals
- can still contact family
arguments AGAINST community service
- Not a deterrent or true reform
- arent enough projects for criminals to participate in
- managing/monitoring of these schemes are often poor (criminals do not fill hours and act badly in public)
arguments FOR corporal punishment
- powerful deterrent
- fulfill aim of retribution
- if done in public, more embarrasing
- does not cost much
arguments AGAINST corporal punishment
- inhumane
- causes hatred and anger
- teaches the use of pain and violence in acceptable
Christian view on Corporal Punishment
goes against “love thy neighbour”
Discipline is necessary for good upbringing
“spares their child the rod” results in bad behaviour
Islam view on corporal punishment
Used frequently in Muslim countries “As for the thief male or female, cut off their hand”
Designed to support Retribution and Deterrence as well as bring about Reform quickly.