Religion Crime Punishment

Question 1

What are the different types of crime?

Answer 1

• Against person (causes direct harm to anyone, eg. Hate crimes, assault)
• Against property (damage/ deprives people of their property, eg. Burglary, arson, etc)
• Against state (potentially endangers everyone/ prevents society running smoothly, eg. Fraud, film/ music piracy, etc)

Question 2

Explain the difference between evil and good

Answer 2

Evil - opposite of good, force of negative power which is seen in many traditions as destructive against God

Good- doesn’t break the law, opposite of evil

Question 3

Define Crime and Punishment

Answer 3

Crime - an offence which is punishable by law

Punishment - a consequence legally done to someone after being found guilty of breaking the law

Question 4

What are the 7 reasons people commit crimes

Answer 4

Poverty 
Upbringing
Mental illness
Addiction
Greed
Hate
Opposition to unjust law

Question 5

Poverty

Answer 5

A person might commit a crime because they see no other alternative way out of poverty so must steal for example, to survive

Christian view - condemn stealing but society should ensure nobody has to steal to survive, Christians support food banks and may campaign for living wage and improvement of public services

Muslim view - Zakah exists to ensure no one lives in poverty however it cant help everyone who needs it so community should become involved as well

Question 6

Upbringing

Answer 6

Some people grow up in households/ areas where crime is the way of life and it may be encouraged

Christian view - parents should teach children the right way to behave by setting an example

Muslim views - the strong extended family should ensure that Muslims are guided to respect the law

Question 7

Mental Illness

Answer 7

Some forms of mental illness lead people to crime eg. Anger management issues, depression can lead to violence and drug abuse

Christian view - treating the causes of the illness is the most loving and compassionate thing to do

Muslim view - mental illness should be treated although punishment is still justified

Question 8

Addiction

Answer 8

Taking illegal drugs is a crime. Becoming addicted means they may commit crimes to be bale to buy drugs. Legal drugs like alcohol can also lead to crime like drink driving

Christian view - against taking drugs and support rehabilitation as a way to beat addiction, alcohol is permitted but not in excess

Muslim view - illegal drugs and alcohol is not allowed so addiction is no excuse for criminal behaviour

Question 9

Greed

Answer 9

Some people want possessions they don’t need/ cant afford. Greed may lead to stealing

Christian view - Ten Commandments forbid envy which often causes greed
- “you shall not covet…anything that belongs to your neighbour”

Muslim view - greed is a temptation that should be avoided
- “competing for more distracts you until you go to your grave”

Question 10

Hate

Answer 10

The opposite of love, can lead to violence/ aggression

Christian view - Jesus taught love everybody, even enemies

Muslim view - hatred is against Muslim morality

Question 11

Opposition to unjust law

Answer 11

Break unjust laws to protest against them eg. Laws based on inequality or deny basic human rights

Christian view - may agree but only if it’s peaceful, no violence and no one is harmed

Muslim view - shar’iah law is believed to be gods law so it cant be unjust. Therefore its not a good reason

Question 12

Retribution

Answer 12

Society gets its own back on offender, punishment should match severity of the crime

Christian view

• ‘an eye for an eye’
• Christians believe eye for an eye teaching shouldn’t be taken literally but severity of crime should match that of punishment
• prefer other aims that are less harmful and more effective as this promoties death penalty

Muslim view

• murderers shouldn’t always be killed
• victims family can accept compensation by showing mercy to murderer and preventing his execution
• retribution is favoured because actions against shari’ah law is actions against god

Question 13

Deterrence

Answer 13

Put people off committing crimes

Christian view - agree with deterring others but disagree with physical or mental harm to offender or anything that infringes their rights, oppose public punishment as they still deserve respect

Muslim view - some shari’ah law punishments take place in public to deter those watching, eg amputation of thieves hands
-“cut off the hands of thieves, weather they are man or woman… a deterrent from god”

Question 14

Reformation

Answer 14

To change someone’s behaviour for the better so they can return to society as a law abiding citizen

Christian view - favoured as a punishment aim as its positive and improves criminals life chances, should happen alongside punishment

Muslim view - offenders must seek forgiveness from God and become purified which is likely if criminal reforms, happens alongside punishment

Question 15

Christian views on criminals

Answer 15

• law should be respected
• offenders must be punished by law based on severity of the crime
• offenders have basic human rights is shouldn’t be given a inhumane or harmful punishment
• punishments should help them become useful members of society and not reoffend
• sheep and goat parable shows helping prisoners is helping Jesus

Question 16

Muslim attitudes on criminals

Answer 16

• law must be obeyed especially in countries living under shari’ah law
• shari’ah law

Question 17

Christian attitudes to suffering

Answer 17

Have a duty to help those suffering no matter the cause
“We also glory in our suffering as we know suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope”

Follow example of Jesus- he helped many he saw suffering and told his followers to do the same

Question 18

Muslim attitudes to suffering

Answer 18

God allows suffering to happen for reasons unknown to people
May be a test from God as Satan tempts people to cause suffering
God never allows a person to suffer more than they can endure
Muslims have a duty to help those suffering
Recognise good can come from suffering
“You are sure to be tested through your possessions and persons”

Question 19

Why does a loving God allow suffering

Answer 19

You cant blame god for suffering caused by humans actions
God gave humans free will + given guidance on how to use it responsibly
Free will doesn’t mean people can do whatever they want
The law provides guidance on how to use it
Hence punishment is given to those who cause suffering through crimes

Question 20

Christian beliefs about causing suffering

Answer 20

• Jesus taught to love + respect each other

- When accidentally causing suffering Christians must apologise + try to repair damage to restore relationships

Question 21

Muslim beliefs on causing suffering

Answer 21

• Muslims share identity with whole of Muslim community, the ummah
• no human is perfect so Muslims may cause suffering accidentally
• they must be honest with themselves and God to repair damage + restore relationships
• god will forgive any Muslim who rights their wrong and sincerely repents

Question 22

Prisons

Answer 22

• loss of liberty for serious crimes
• locked in cells, allowed exercise and interactions at set times, may take part in education or training programmes

Christian view

• prisoners should be treated well + Christians are keen to support them by encouraging positive activity to make their time useful
• conditions should be humane and civilised

Muslim view

• in Muslim countries prisons used to hold criminals awaiting trial or punishment like death penalty or corporal punishment
• Muslims argue prison may be a greater punishment that inflicting pain

Question 23

Corporal punishment

Answer 23

Punishment by physical pain inflicted\
Illegal in uk and more countries
Some Muslim countries eg Saudi Arabia use it still
Often take place in public
Often considered breach of human rights

Christian view
Most don’t support it as it doesn’t seek to reform offender
Negative and harmful as it physically pains offender

Muslim view
Used in some Muslim countries
Often carried out in public and believed to serve as a deterrent
Laid down in shari’ah law to be imposed for offences like gambling and adultery

Question 24

Community service

Answer 24

For minor offences

Allows offender to reform

Can include supervised work in the community

Christian belief

Agree for criminals who are likely to benefit from it
Can deter while allowing them to payback society
Helps them reform + realise consequences of their actions
No harm so its positive

Muslim belief

Shari’ah makes little use of community service
Not sufficient to protect society from future criminal behaviour
Ta’azir crimes = community crimes are not specified in shari’ah law

Question 25

Christian attitudes to forgiveness

Answer 25

Criminal should be forgiven as much as possible
Punishment should still be given to ensure justice
God expects Christians to show forgiveness no matter what
In turn, God forgives them for their own sins
Jesus said there us no upper limit to number of times you should forgive

Question 26

Muslim attitudes to forgiveness

Answer 26

From God

• only god can try forgive those who are sincerely sorry and intend to follow faith properly in the future
• in nature with the compassionate and merciful nature of God

From Humans

• people should forgive each other to allow good over evil to be established
• offender must receive forgiveness from victim before god

Question 27

Principle of utility and sanctity of life

Answer 27

Principle of utility
An action is right if it promotes the maximum happiness for the maximum number of people

Sanctity of life
Life is holy as its created by God so human life shouldn’t be misused or abused

Question 28

The death penalty debates

Answer 28

Innocent people may die
3 people executed in uk in 1950s have since been pardoned due to new evidence casting doubt over their guilt
Several people who would’ve faced the death penalty who were later freed because they were innocent

Principle of utility
It seems likely the principle should support the death penalty
However if its used as retribution its wrong
If its proven to protect society it is justified as many benefit

Sanctity of life
Sanctity of life suggests death penalty is wrong
Some believers think justice overrides sanctity of life
An eye for an eye can be used to support this view

Question 29

Christian attitudes to death penalty

Answer 29

Agree

• Retribution is justified for those who commit the worst possible crimes
• It deters people from committing horrific crimes\
• Removes worst criminals and protects society

Disagree

• The best aim of punishment is reformation, a dead criminal can’t be reformed
• Little evidence that death penalty is a deterrent
• Uk murder rate is no higher than countries which have the death penalty
• Many murders are spur of the moment so fear of punishment doesn’t register
• God gave life so only has the power and authority to take it

Question 30

Muslim attitudes to death penalty

Answer 30

• Muslim teachings favour death penalty
• Shari’ah law suggest it should be used for some crimes like murder/ rape
• Seen as a deterrent and fair retribution
• Victim is encouraged to show mercy by accepting money from the offender to save their life
• Some Muslims see death penalty as a misinterpretation of the Qur’ans teaching