RS&L Y09 Spr1 Flashcards
4.1 Why Christians believe committing crime is wrong
The Bible teaches “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”
Christians don’t agree with committing crime in almost any circumstances, especially as they believe that God has put law making authorities in place.
4.2 Christians attitude to hate crimes
The Bible teaches ‘Love thy neighbour’
Christians believe that God created all humans with equal value and no individuals or groups should be singled out for inferior treatment from others. This means that everyone should treat everyone they meet with respect.
4.3 The Golden rule
‘Do to others what you want them to do to you.’
Christians believe we should treat others in the same way we would want to be treated.
4.4 Musilm attitudes to hate crimes
Stand out firmly for justice Qur’an 4:135
Most Muslims believe that if a person commits a crime they should be punished by law, but they will also have to answer to Allah on the Day of Judgement.
4.5 Christian attitudes to the aims of crime
The Bible teaches ‘An eye for an eye’
Some Christians and Musilms believe that the law has a responsibility to punish criminals and so focus on the justice element of punishment e.g. if you take a life, your life will be taken.
4.6 Muslim attitudes to the aims of crime
‘Cut off the hands of thieves’
The punishment happens in public so the victims can feel they have seen justice (retribution).
4.7 Do muslims agree with corporal punishment?
The Qur’an teaches “Lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them”
Yes, because they believe: It scares people into behaving (deterrent). Better than prison as the criminal’s family will not suffer loss of wages. The punishment happens in public so the victims can feel they have seen justice (retribution).
4.8 Do Christians agree with corporal punishment?
The Bible teaches“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
No. because they believe:
Does not reflect forgiveness.
Does not help a person change (reformation).
Jesus taught non violence.
You can not take it back, if the wrong person is punished.
4.9 Why do Christians believe in sanctity of life?
The Bible teaches: “So God created mankind in his own image”.
Christians believe that all life is precious and only God has the right to take life. This appears to show that the death penalty is wrong.
4.10 What do Christians believe about forgiveness?
“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” The Lord’s Prayer.
The Bible teaches “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
This is a core belief within Christianity and one that Jesus emphasised in his teachings.
Christians are expected to forgive others, regardless of what they have done, and Christians believe that in turn, God will forgive them.
4.11 How many times do Christians believe they should forgive?
“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother? Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
The church interprets the teaching of Jesus to forgive ‘seventy-seven times’ as an unlimited amount. Christians believe that as there is no limit on the forgiveness God bestows on humans, there should be not limit on the forgiveness we give each other
4.12 Do Christians support the death penalty?
The Bible teaches: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’
‘Do not kill’ .
Christians believe it is a breach of the commandment ‘do not kill’ because a life is being deliberately ended. It also denies the sanctity of life as the life of the criminal can be taken and is against their human dignity. There is no chance of reform of the person as death is too final.
4.13 Do muslims support the death penalty? Yes.
The Qur’an teaches: ‘Take not life, which God has made sacred, except by way of justice and law’
Although capital punishment is allowed in the Qur’an they do not think it is compulsory.
This verse teaches that although murder is considered a sin, it is acceptable to use the death sentence when required by law
4.14 Do muslims support the death penalty? No.
The Qur’an teaches:‘If the deceased’s family demand murder for murder but the murderer requests them to forgive his sin and take blood money instead then it should be accepted’.
Shari’ah law states that the family of a murder victim can accept money as reparation rather than enforce the death penalty. This verse says that the family can take money and the murderer does not face the death sentence.
4.15 What do ultilitarians think about the death penalty?
“The greatest good for the greatest number”
The principle of utility suggests that an action that promotes the maximum amount of happiness for the largest number of people is the right action to take. You might think that this suggests that the death penalty is acceptable, but it doesn’t. As the death penalty doesn’t protect society from murder, it doesn’t provide happiness for the largest group of people and is therefore unacceptable.
