SHHS Sin and Forgiveness Content GCSE Flashcards
Paper 2
What is a crime?
- When someone breaks the law
Why do we have laws?
- Laws are there to show what acceptable behaviour is so that people can live safely without fear.
- Laws are made by the government and can vary from country to country (Alcohol age in Uk is 18, 21 in America)
- What is Lawful can change over time (capital punishment used to be legal in the UK)
What is a sin?
- A sin is an action which goes against the will of God
- Some sins are also crimes E.G murder and stealing.
- Other sins are not against the law E.G Adultery
What is absolute morality?
- When a person holds an idea that something is always right, or always wrong.
- For example murder is always wrong.
What is relative morality?
- Something is right or wrong depending on the situation.
- Stealing is wrong in principle, but to save a starving child it would be acceptable.
What is deterrence?
The punishment should put people off committing the crime.
What is the aim of deterrance?
- Criminals should think more carefully about breaking the law as they know they will be punished
- Punishments must be proportionate to the crime
- Seeing people be punished puts other people off doing the crime
What is rehabilitation?
helping criminals reform through education, counselling and training so they dont reoffend.
What is the aim of rehabilitation?
- Criminals are less likely to commit the crime again as they become productive members of society.
Why might people be against rehabilitation?
- Some people see it as being ‘soft on criminals’
- Studies have found that factors like poverty and poor parenting mean poeple are more likely to turn to crime. Unless these are addressed people will continue to commit crimes.
What is retribution?
Making the criminal pay for what they have done.
What is the aim of retribution?
People get what they deserve
‘An eye for an eye’ - Old Testament
Why would a Christian disagree with retribution?
Punishments should be motivated by justice not revenge.
What do Christians teach about forgiveness?
- Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel.
- Christians should treat others with compassion, love, mercy and forgiveness.
- Jesus makes it clear there is no limit to forgiveness ‘ You should forgive 77 times’
What do Christians follow that shows forgiveness?
- The Lords Prayer ‘ Forgive us our sins’
- The Parable of the Prodigal Son - The father forgives and welcomes back his son.
- Jesus forgave the people who put him to death ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’
How do forgiveness and justice/punishment work together?
- It is up to God to judge people and he will forgive those who are truly sorry for what they have done.
- Christians see the main purpose of punishment to be able to help the person involved to reform.
What Catholic views are there FOR capital punishment?
- Jesus never taught that CP was wrong.
- In the Old Testament it teaches that CP should be used for some crimes.
- Some people argue that it upholds the commandment ‘do not kill’ as it shows the seriousness of murder as a crime.
- St Paul teaches that you should obey the law of your country - CP is legal in some.
- The Catholic Church has not cancelled their statements that CP can be used by the country.
What Catholic views are there AGAINST capital punishment?
- Jesus came to reform sinners - you cant reform a dead person.
- The 5th Commandment says ‘do not kill’
- Jesus said revenge is wrong ‘turn the other cheek’
- Christianity teaches all life is Sacred and only God can give and take away life.
- The message of Christianity is love and forgiveness - CP goes against this.
- The wrong person might be killed.
- Pope Francis stated he is against CP.
What non-religious views are there FOR capital punishment?
- Retribution is a major part of punishment - the only retribution for murder is CP.
- Human life is valuble and the worth of it will be shown by giving those who take a life the worst punishment
- it acts as a good deterrant.
What non-religious views are there AGAINST capital punishment?
- No court can be sure the correct verdict is given - you could kill an innocent person.
- It is proven that countries without CP have a lower murder rate - so it doesnt work as a deterrant.
- Murderers regard life in prison as worse than CP.
- Humanists say that all people have Human Rights and CP takes away this.
What is the meaning of salvation for Catholics?
- Catholics believe Salvation is part of God’s plan.
- Original Sin brought the need for salvation to repair our broken relationship with God.
- Jesus offers salvation and we were saved by his life on earth, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.
- ‘Dying he destroyed our death, in rising he restored out life’
- ‘lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world’
What do Christians believe about Salvation?
- Humans rejected God by their sins; humans are so important to God that God sent Jesus to free humans from the effects of sinfulness.
- Their relationship with God depends on Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Without it, they cannot be close to God or obtain forgiveness for their sins.
- They need to repent of their sins, asking God for forgiveness, and accept Jesus Christ as Son of God and saviour of the world.
What is the role of grace in redemption/salvation?
- grace is the love and mercy shown by God because God wants people to have it, not because they have done anything to earn or deserve it, because he WANTS to give it.
- Christians believe they do not deserve it but they are given it freely and they must freely accept it from God.
What does Jesus teach us about what God is like and how to live?
- God is a loving Father
- Love is at the heart of the gospels
- God has a special place for the poor and needy
- Jesus showed God’s care by healing the sick
- Jesus spent his whole life with the poor and needy.
What happened at the death of Jesus?
- after the Last Supper, Jesus went with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Jesus prayed at the Garden and shortly after was betrayed by Judas and arrested.
- He was tried by the Jewish religious leaders and found guilty of blasphemy (insulting God)
- He was put to death on the cross by pontious pilate.
- He was mocked and beat by the soldiers before his crucifixion.
What does Jesus’ death have to do with sacrifice?
- We explain Jesus’ death through sacrifice.
- Jesus hoped to mend our relationship for God.
- The animal making the sacrifice takes balem for something it did not do - Jesus did not commit everyones sins yet he freed human beings from the sins they had committed.
- Jesus total obedience to God was so powerful taht it made up for the sins of human beings in a way that other sacrifices could not.
What is the importance of the resurrection?
- it is the central belief to Christianity.
- Catholics believe Jesus obercoming death proves he was the Son of God - only God can conquer death.
- The resurrection demonstrates that Jesus is our saviour.
What is the ascension?
When Jesus was taken up to heaven 40 days after his resurrection.
Why is the ascension important to Catholics?
- Jesus’ mission on the earth was complete
- He had completed everything God the Father wanted him to.
- Jesus returns to heaven to prepare a place for his followers.
- Jesus’ ascension prepared the way for the Holy Spirit to come.
Can a loving God send people to hell?
- God can only offer salvation.
- If people choose to do wrong, it is up to the individual of whether to accept Gods salvation or not.
- If they don’t accept it, God can’t force it.
What is the difference between Church with a capital C and church with a small c?
c= The building where Christians come to pray
C= everyone who is a member of the Church all the people together.
What are the ‘four marks’ of the Church as named in The Creed?
- One
- Holy
- Catholic
- Apolostolic
‘I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church’