Religion, crime and punishment Flashcards
what is a crime?
an offence punishable by law
what is a punishment?
something done legally as a result of someone being found guilty of breaking the law
what is the UK legal system all about?
- Govt must get approval from parliament ot make new laws
- magistrates and crown courts (more serious) hear cases for someone charged with a crime
- decide if someone is guilty or not guilty - if guilty impose a sentence as punishment
- most severe punishment is life in prison - reserved for murder, rape and terrorist activity
What is the legal system like in Islamic countries?
- many follow Shari’ah law
- some Muslim countries (eg. Egypt, Saudi Arabia) - most severe sentence = death penalty
what is Shari’ah law?
Islamic law derived from the Qur’an, Hadith and Sunnah
what can be interpreted as a good action?
- something that doesn’t break the law
- good things not specifically mentioned in the law - eg. generosity, love
- good things with no law dictating they be down - eg. supporting charities
- actions encouraged or required by genuine religious faiths
what can be interpreted as an evil action?
- things against the law
- things that are legal but morally wrong - eg. adultery, abortion
- things that cause suffering and, injury or death
- may not be from evil intentions - just the influence of their situation
what is evil?
- the opposite of good
- a force of negative power seen in many traditions as destructive and against God
how do different legal systems decide on punishment for offenders?
- intention is taken into account when setting punishment
- Shari’ah law - severity of punishment depends on seriousness of religious value breached
what do Muslims believe about evil acts?
- humans are immoral and wicked as a result of temptation (blame evil actions on not resisting temptation)
- evil intention is just as wicked as an evil crime
what do Christians believe about evil acts?
- evil actions are immoral and wicked
- crimes against people are as sinful as crimes against God
- people aren’t evil - they are created in the image of God - there is a reason why they do evil things
why do people commit crimes (7 reasons + development)?
- Poverty
- there are millions in the UK who can’t afford food so try to steal food for their family to survive - Upbringing
- some grow up in households where crime is a way of life/they are encouraged to do it - Mental illness
- can lead people to crime
- eg. Anger management problems and depression may = violence + drug abuse - Addiction
- taking illegal drugs is a crime
- may commit other crimes to keep getting drugs
- legal drugs also cause issues eg. drink driving, rape, violence - Greed
- some people want things they don’t need/can-t afford - leads to them stealing - Hate
- opposite of love, leads to violence/aggression - Opposition to an unjust law
- break unjust laws to protest against them
- could be laws based on inequality or deny basic human rights
what do religious people think about people committing crimes due to poverty?
Christians:
- society should make sure no one has to steal for food - support foodbanks, campaign for living wage, improve public services
Muslims:
- Zakah = no one lives in poverty
- BUT it can’t help everyone so community should help too
what do religious people think about people committing crimes due to upbringing?
Christians:
- parents should teach children right way to behave through their example
Muslims:
- strong extended family should make sure Muslims are guided to follow the law through example
what do religious people think about people committing crimes due to mental illness?
Christians:
- treating the causes of illness is the most loving + compassionate thing to do
Muslims:
- illness should be treated, but punishment is still justifiable
what do religious people think about people committing crimes due to addiction?
Christians:
- against taking illegal drugs
- support rehabilitation to defeat addiction
- alcohol allowed but not in excess
Muslims:
- illegal drugs + alcohol forbidden
- addiction isn’t an excuse
what do religious people think about people committing crimes due to greed?
Christians:
- “You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighour” - Exodus 20:17
- envy forbidden in the Ten Commandments
Muslims:
- “Competing for more distracts you until you go into your grave” - Qur’an 102:1-2
- greed = temptation - AVOID
what do religious people think about people committing crimes due to hate?
Christians:
- Jesus taught to love everyone, even enemies
Muslims:
- against Muslim morality
what do religious people think about people committing crimes due to opposition of an unjust law?
Christians:
- some may agree but only of there is no violence and no one is harmed
Muslims:
- Shari’ah law = God’s law - cannot be unjust so not a good reason
Bible quote on obeying the law
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established” - Romans 13:1
what is a hate crime?
a crime motivated by racial, sexual, gender or other prejudice, typically involving violence
what is murder?
the unlawful killing of one human being by another - one of the worst crimes. Sometimes classified as a hate crime
what is theft?
the action or crime of stealing and the victim suffering loss - less serious than other crimes but still bad
what is a religious offence?
any action which offends religious sensibilities and arouses serious negative emotions in people with strong belief - usually associated with sin
What do Christians believe about lawbreakers?
- law should be respected
- must be punished by the law according to the seriousness of the crime
- believe in restorative justice - enable criminals to make amends for their behaviours by meeting victims and apologising
- they have basic rights - no inhuman/harmful punishment
- punishment should help them become a useful member of society and prevent reoffending
Bible quotes on attitudes to lawbreakers
- “I was in prison and you came to visit me” - Matthew 25:34-36 - helping prisoners is helping Jesus
- “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” - Matthew 5:38-39 - Forgiveness
What do Muslims think of lawbreakers?
- law must be obeyed, esp Shari’ah law
- most Muslims support UK legal system even though it’s not Shari’ah but might still disagree with some laws
- Shari’ah law gives punishments based on seriousness of crime - severe for crimes prohibited in the Qur’an
- most severe punishments not used in the UK
- Shari’ah punishments are meant to be severe enough to deter reoffending
Qur’an quotes on lawbreakers?
- “God commands justice… And prohibits wrongdoing and injustice” - Qur’an 16:90
- “The law of equality is prescribed in case of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave” - Surah 2:178
What do religious people think of different types of crime?
Hate crimes:
- Christians + Muslims both against
- Jesus taught to love your neighbour - treat with compassion, care + respect
- he would condemn criminal actions - no crime shows love for the victim
Murder:
- worn for both Christians and Muslims
- only God has right and authority to take life
Theft:
- not justifiable for Christians or Muslims to steal to supply food for family
- theft not allowed in the Ten Commandments
Bible + Qur’an quotes on murder
- “You shall not murder” - Exodus 20:13
- “Do not take life which God has made sacred, except by right” - Qur’an 17:33
Why do we punish criminals?
- if society has laws, there should be punishments for breaking them
- deter them from reoffending
- protect people and law and order
- make the criminal a better person
- reduce crime levels
- provide compensation for victims
Give 5 types of punishment
- police warning
- community service
- prison
- fine
- death penalty
What are the 3 aims of punishment?
Retribution
- to get your own back
- criminals should receive the same (not greater) injuries and harm that they inflicted
- murder: murderer should be killed
Deterrence
- put people off committing crimes - punishment received is an example and warning to others
- harsh punishment = less likely people will copy the crime + deter offender from reoffending
Reformation
- change someone’s behaviour for the better
- eg. counselling + community service to understand what was wrong
- hope that offenders will change their attitude and return to society as a responsible law abiding citizen
what is the Christian attitude to retribution + quote?
- eye for eye teaching shouldn’t be taken literally but punishment should be severe enough to match seriousness of crime
- murderers shouldn’t necessarily be killed for murder
- most prefer other aims that are less harmful and more positive
- “Do not take revenge… but leave room for God’s wrath for it is written “It is mine to avenge I will repay,” says the Lord” - Romans 12:19
What is the Muslim attitude to retribution + quote?
- criminals should receive back same injuries that they caused
- murderers shouldn’t always be killed - victim’s family can accept compensation for showing mercy to the murder and preventing execution
- favoured aim - actions against Shari’ah law = actions against God
- “We prescribed for them a life for a life, an eye for an eye” - Qur’an 5:45
What is the Christian attitude to deterrence?
- agree with deterring people from crime but not punishments that cause mental/physical harm or infringe offender’s rights
- against public punishments - offenders should be treated with respect despite their actions
what is the Muslim attitude to deterrence + quote?
- Shari’ah punishments done in public - deter onlookers from committing crime
- punishments: amputation of hand of thief, execution of murderer
- “Cut off the hands of thieves, whether they are man or woman, as punishment for what they have done - a deterrent from God” - Qur’an 5:38
what is the Christian attitude to reformation + quote?
- preferred aim of punishment - positive + works with individuals to improve their life chances
- not a replacement for punishment but happens alongside it even for the worst offenders
- “if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… overcome evil with good” - Romans 12:20-21
what is the Muslim attitude to reformation?
- offenders need to seek forgiveness from God and become purified
- more likely if the offender is reformed - from educational and financial assistance
- not a replacement for punishment but happens alongside punishment even for the worst offenders
what is suffering?
- it is an unfortunate part of life that no one can avoid
- caused by natural events or human behaviour
what do Christians believe about suffering?
- they have a duty to help those who are suffering and recognise the good that can come from suffering
- they try to follow Jesus’s example - he helped many who were suffering and told his followers to do the same
- “We also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” - Romans 5:3-4
what do Muslims believe about suffering?
- God allows suffering for reasons unknown to people
- it may be a test from God but he doesn’t make people suffer more than they can endure
- Iblis causes temptation and suffering
- they have a duty to help those suffering and recognise the good that comes out of it
- “You are sure to be tested through your possessions and persons; you are sure to hear much that is hurtful… if you are steadfast and mindful of God, that is the best course” - Qur’an 3:186
why does a loving God allow suffering?
- wrong to blame God for suffering caused by human actions - he could control them and stop them
- God gave humans freewill and gave guidance to use it responsibly
- humans can’t do whatever they want whenever because this would probably increase suffering
- law - guidance about the best way to use freewill + punishments for those who cause suffering
what do Christians believe about causing suffering to others?
- Jesus - love + respect others + don’t use violence for self defence - may increase suffering
- doesn’t always work - may accidentally increase suffering
- if this happens - apologise + repair damage caused to restore relationship
- eg. when Jesus was arrested Peter cut off the high priest’s servant’s ear - Jesus rebuked him + fixed the ear
- try to heal the wrong done and suffering caused
what do Muslims believe about causing suffering to others?
- share identity with the whole Ummah (community) - care + provide for those in need
- no human is perfect - may accidentally cause suffering
- if this happens - be honest with themselves + God + repair damage they have caused to repair relationships
- God will forgive any Muslim who tries to correct their wrong and is sincerely sorry
- eg. Allah forgave Adam and Hawwa when they were tempted by Iblis
what are the 3 forms of punishment?
Prison:
- punishment for serious crimes
- loss of liberty - no choice on how they spend their time - everything is controlled
- locked in cells, fed and allowed exercise and interaction in other prisoners at set times
- work in prison for little money or join training or education programs
Corporal punishment:
- punish offenders by inflicting physical pain
- illegal in the UK + many countries
- allowed in some Muslims countries eg. Iran and Saudi Arabia - caning or amputation for theft
- often in public
- considered a breach of human rights
Community service:
- punishment for minor offences
- gives a chance for reform
- community payback - do supervised community work like cleaning graffiti off buildings
- treatment for addiction, counselling, education opportunities
- sometimes victim-offender meeting - victim tells their point of view, offender apologises
what do Christians believe about prison as punishment?
- prisoners should be treated well in prison
- support them to make their time in prison useful by encouraging positive activities
- prison conditions should be human and civilised
what do Muslims believe about prison as punishment?
- used less as a punishment, more as a place to keep people awaiting trial or punishment
- prison may be a greater penalty than inflicting pain through corporal punishment
what do Christians believe about corporal punishment?
- most don’t support it
- doesn’t try to reform the offender + physically harms the person
- negative and harmful punishment
What do Muslims believe about corporal punishment?
- used in some Muslim countries
- often in public - acts as a deterrent (?)
- laid down in Shari’ah law- used for offences like gambling, adultery and drinking alcohol (80 lashes)
what do Christians believe about community service as punishment?
- support it for offenders who might benefit from it
- they can make up for what they’ve done wrong (repatriation), deters them from reoffending and reforms them - they realise the consequences of their actions
- no harm done - positive
what do Muslims believe about community service as punishment?
- not used much in Shari’ah law - not seen as enough of a deterrent
- nothing in Shari’ah law about punishments for community crimes like fraud and antisocial behaviour - can include rehabilitation
what is forgiveness?
showing mercy and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong
what do Christians believe about forgiveness?
- people who commit crimes should be forgiven if possible but also punished for justice to be done
- punishment should benefit the offender in order for reformation
- God expects Christians to forgive others no matter what they have done and in return will forgive them for what they’ve done
- there is no upper limit to forgiveness
Bible quotes on forgiveness?
- “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” - Luke 23:34
- “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” - Our Father prayer
- “‘Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother if he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times’” - Matthey 18:21-22
what do Muslims believe about forgiveness?
There are 2 types of forgiveness:
1. Forgiveness from God
- only God can truly forgive
- he only forgives those who are truly sorry and intend to follow the faith properly
- links to compassionate + merciful God
2. Forgiveness from humans
- people should forgive each other - establish good over evil
- offender should seek victim’s forgiveness before God’s forgiveness
- if they repeat the act unknowingly it should be forgiven again
Qur’an + Hadith quotes on forgiveness?
- “Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not wish that God should forgive you? God is most forgiving and merciful” - Qur’an 24:22
- “Pardon each others faults and God will grant you honour” - Hadith
What is capital punishment?
it is the death penalty - a prisoner is put to death for their crimes
what is the principle of utility?
does it support the death penalty?
- the idea that an action is right if it promotes maximum happiness for the maximum number of people
- sometimes its right
- but if the death penalty is used as retribution it is wrong
- if it is proven to protect society then it is justified since it has been proven that many people will benefit
what is the sanctity of life?
does it support the death penalty?
- the idea that all life is holy as it is created and loved by God - it shouldn’t be misused or abused
- no - death penalty is wrong since it is taking away human life
- but sometimes justice can override this - eg. “eye for an eye”
what is the legal perspective on the death penalty?
- abolished in the UK in 1969 - no criminal has been executed since then
- illegal in the European Community
- legal in some US states, China, and some Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia
are people who receive the death penalty always guilty?
- no - 3 people executed in the 50s in the UK were pardoned because new evidence came that cast doubt over their guilt
- several people who have faced the death penalty have later been freed from prison because they were innocent
Why would a Christian agree with the death penalty?
- Genesis 9:6 and Exodus 21:23-24 teach retribution - justified for those who commit the worst crimes
- deters people from committing horrific crimes because they could lose their life for it
- protects society by removing the worst criminals from reoffending - 39.3% of inmates reoffend with 12 months of release
why would a Christian disagree with the death penalty?
- Ezekiel 33:11 teahces that wrongdoers should be reformed - that can’t happen if the criminal is dead
- not much evidence the death penalty is a deterrent - US murder rate is 3.9 per 100000 people whereas UK rate is 0.9 per 100000 people
- many murders are done in the spur of the moment - the death penalty doesn’t cross the murderer’s mind
- God gave life and only God has the authority to take it away
What do Muslims believe about the death penalty?
- teachings favour the death penalty and Shari’ah law says it should be used for crimes like murder and rape - deterrent + fair retribution
- but victim is also encouraged to show mercy by accepting compensation from the murderer
- not all Muslims support the death penalty - some see it as a misinterpretation of the Qur’an’s teachings
Qur’an quotes about the death penalty?
- “Do not take life, which God has made sacred, except by right” - Qur’an 6:151 - murder is wrong
- “But if the culprit is pardoned by his aggrieved brother, this shall be adhered to fairly, and the culprit shall pay what is due in a good way” - Qur’an 2:178
