Religion, Crime and Punishment Flashcards
Define crime
- A crime is any action which is against the law.
Describe crime and punishment in contemporary society
- Offenders found guilt by a court face a legal
punishment. - Most serious offences include murder and rape
which carry a life sentence (25 years) - Under no circumstances can the UK impose a
sentence intended to cause physical harm (corporal punishment) or the death penalty. - In some parts of the world the death penalty is
permitted.
Define civil law
- Disputes between individuals or groups.
- e.g. Divorce, disputes between landlords and tenants and disputed wills. * Usually dealt with in small claim courts and some more serious cases will go to Crown Court.
Describe good and evil actions and intentions
- Some actions are good but are not specified in the law- e.g. generosity, charity and love.
- Many Christians and Muslims argue that although some actions such as adultery are legal, they are still wrong.
- Evil actions cause suffering, injury or possible death.
- Some actions are considered evil even know they are
not against the law. - Evil is linked to Satan but sometimes it can link with
being immoral rather than being linked to the devil. - Intentions can determine how sever the punishment
should be. Some argue that intention is not as important as the impact of the crime.
Describe Christian views on humans committing crime and punsihment
- Christians believe there is no such thing as an evil person.
- Humans are not perfect and make mistakes.
- Original sin means that all humans have a tendency to commit evil.
Describe Muslim views on humans committing crime and punishment
- Muslims believe there is no such thing as an evil person.
- It can be linked to Iblis tempting Adam and Eve to sin against God.
- Evil and wicked things in life are a result of someone giving into Iblis’ temptations.
- Humans are not perfect and do make mistakes
- Under Shari’ah law the severity of a punishment is related to the seriousness of the religious value that had been breached by the crime.
- Shari’ah law puts great emphasis on the beliefs and intentions of a person, and even if you have thoughts of committing a crime, it is considered as serious as committing the crime itself.
Why do people commit crime?
- Greed
- Hate
- Poverty
- Upbringing
- Mental illness
- Addiction
- Opposition to an unjust law
Why may people commit crime due to poverty?
- Cannot afford the necessities of life.
- Stealing for essentials that they cannot afford to buy.
- No alternative
Describe Christian views on poverty as a reason to commit crime
- Christians condemn stealing.
- Should help one another so they do not need to steal.
- “If Christians don’t dig deep and generously open up their wallets, they do not have genuine faith.” – Pope Francis
Describe Muslim views on poverty as a reason to commit crime
- Zakah is in place to help them.
- Muslims hope that community support will prevent Muslims turning to crime.
Why may people commit crime due to upbringing?
- May see crime as normal
- Growing up in home where crime is a way of life.
- Parents might
encourage them. - Knowing right from
wrong.
Describe Christian views on upbringing as a reason to commit crime
- “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority that which God has established.”
Describe Muslim views on upbringing as a reason to commit crime
- Muslims place emphasis on a strong extended family and that they should bring children up to follow the law.
Why may people commit crimes due to mental illnesses?
- May not understand right and wrong, may be vulnerable , may be disturbed
- Kleptomania is a mental
conditions that makes people steal. - Anger management
may lead to
violence - Sentencing can give them the help they need.
Describe Christian/ Muslim views on mental illness as a reason to commit crime
- Should get help for their illness but also have the punishment they deserve.
- Treat illness most loving thing
Why may people commit crime due to addiction ?
- Addicts may resort to
stealing to get what they need. - Alcohol can make people lose control of their thoughts.
- Crime can finance addiction
Describe Christian views on addiction as a reason to commit crime
- Alcohol is not forbidden but drunkenness is a sin and no denomination encourages excessive dinking.
Describe Muslim views on addiction as a reason to commit crime
- Muslims forbid the taking of illegal drugs and
alcohol. - They believe that they are temptations which will lead people to do wrong.
Why may people commit crime due to the opposition of an unjust law
- Laws that are biased or
prejudice or that breaches basic human rights is wrong and should be changed. - Example, Martin Luther
King, Rosa Parks, The Suffragettes.
Describe Christian views on opposition to an unjust law as a reason to commit crime
- Protests must be peaceful and not cause violence.
- Against discrimination.
Describe Muslim views on opposition to an unjust law as a reason to commit crime
- Shari’ah law is God’s law and therefore cannot be unjust.
- Against discrimination.
Why may a person commit crime due to hate?
- Can lead to violence or aggression towards whoever or whatever the offender hates.
Describe Christian / Muslim views on hate as a reasons to commit crime
- Hatred is against
Christian and Muslim morality
Why may a person commit crime due to greed?
- Wealth and possessions can be seen as a
sign of status. - Greed can lead to crimes such as theft or fraud
Describe Christian views on greed as a reason to commit crime
- The 10 commandments says do not be jealous of what others have
- Envy is seen as one of the 7 deadly sins.
Describe Muslim views on greed as a reason to commit crime
- “Competing for more distracts you until you go into your graves”
Describe the Muslims views to law breakers
- God has made it clear that Shari’ah law had to be obeyed and so should any just and fair laws in non-Shari’ah counties.
- All are presumed innocent until proved guilty.
- If they are found innocent they are able to resume their normal life without any punishment.
- Punishments under Shari’ah law are severe but they do not apply in the UK.
- Lawbreakers have rights that should be protected, even while they are being punished.
- “God commands justice and prohibits wrongdoing, and injustice.”- Qur’an
Describe Christian views to lawbreakers
- Christians believe that the offended should be helped so they do not offend again. * The parable of the sheep and goats shows that we should treat prisoners with compassion. “ For I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
- Christians believe that inhumane treatment of offenders is wrong.
- Law should be respected
Describe Christian views towards murder
- Condemned by Christians
- Jesus taught “Love thy neighbour”
- “Thou shalt not kill”
Describe Muslim views towards murder
- Against God
- “Thou shall not kill”
- “To kill one is to kill all mankind.”
Describe Christian views towards hate crime
- Hate crime makes a society without discrimination impossible to achieve.
- God created all humans equal
- Jesus taught “Love thy neighbour”
- “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, male nor female,
you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Describe Muslim views towards hate crime
- God created humans with equal value and none is inferior to others.
- Hate crime makes a society without discrimination impossible to achieve.
- Islam- means peace.
Describe Christian views towards theft
- Christians are sympathetic towards people committing theft our of need rather than greed.
- The needy should be cared for by the community, so they have no reason for resorting to crime.
- “Treat others how you want to be treated.”
Describe Muslim views towards theft
- Muslims are sympathetic towards people committing theft our of need rather than greed.
- The needy should be cared for by the community, so they have no reason for resorting to crime.
How does the Shari’ah law classify its crimes?
- Unforgivable crimes (Hadud)- crimes such as adultery, theft, drinking
alcohol or taking drugs, rebellion against the state- all of which are prohibited in the Qur’an. - Forgivable crimes (Al-Jynayaat)- Crimes against the right of the individual, such as bodily harm and murder, for which the victim or their family can gain credit by showing mercy.
- Community crimes (Al Ta’azir)- Crimes that affect the community such as
fraud and antisocial behavior. - Crimes against the state law (Al-Mukhalafat) –Crimes against a law of the state (rather than the Qur’an) such as parking offences and speeding.