Theme 3: Good and evil

Question 1

What is morality?

Answer 1

Principles and standards which determine whether an action is right or wrong.

Question 2

what is meant by absolute and relevant morality?

Answer 2

Absolute morality is rules applied in every situation whereas relative morality are rules that may be broken in certain situations.

Question 3

What is conscience?

Answer 3

An inner voice that gives people a sense of right and wrong.

Question 4

What is sin?

Answer 4

Deliberate immoral action/ breaking a religious rule.

Question 5

What are virtues?

Answer 5

A quality thought of as right or good such as courage and kindness.

Question 6

What are the aims of punishment? (4)

Answer 6

1. Retribution- revenge on behalf of those harmed.
2. Justice- fairness. If someone harms someone, they should be punished.
3. Reform- helping the criminal change their life.
4. Deterrence- to discourage others from committing crimes.

Question 7

What do Christians think of the death penalty?

Answer 7

The roman catholic church is against the death penalty as the 10 commandments say ‘Thou shalt not kill’ and they believe all life is sacred. However southern Baptist Christians support the death penalty because of the teaching ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life’

Question 8

Christian reasons against the death penalty. (3)

Answer 8

1. Jesus said only God should take revenge ‘Vengeance is mine saith the Lord’.
2. Jesus said Christians should not follow the teachings of ‘An eye for an eye’, he said ‘Do not take revenge on someone that wrongs you.’
3. The bible teaches that people should be forgiving.

Question 9

Factual reasons against the death penalty used by Christians. (6)

Answer 9

1. The death penalty leaves no chance for reform.
2. someone would have to be the executioner, this could have a damaging effect on them.
3. The family would suffer more than the criminal would.
4. Innocent people may be executed.
5. The death penalty is rarely fair- most people on death row are poor and could not afford good lawyers.
6. The death penalty doesn’t serve as a deterrence, more murders occur in states with the death penalty.

Question 10

What does Islam teach about the death penalty? (2)

Answer 10

1. The Quran allows the death penalty, it states ‘Whoever killed a human being except as punishment for murder…’
2. Shariah law allows the death penalty for deliberate murder and undermining the teachings of Islam however the accused must be found guilty in a fair legal trial.

Question 11

Why does Islam allow the death penalty? (3)

Answer 11

1. It could act as a deterrent.
2. The death penalty shows justice ha been carried out (Al-Hakam, the just)
3. It gives revenge to the victims family- Qisas allow the victims family to take the life of the killer.

Question 12

Why do Christians believe there is suffering and evil? (6)

Answer 12

1. Moral evil and suffering is a result of humans exercising free will and making poor choices.
2. ‘Original sin’ is the idea that humans find it easier to choose selfishly.
3. Christians believe suffering was created when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. God said ‘Cursed is the ground because of you’ which explains natural evil.
4. The world is finite so there is bound to be death, accidents and decay.
5. Roman catholics believe when people suffer they are participating in Jesus’ saving work.
6. The story of Job teaches teaches christians not to question God as suffering is beyond human understanding.

Question 13

Christian beliefs about Jesus and suffering. (2)

Answer 13

1. jesus understands our suffering because he suffered on the cross.
2. Jesus is with people when they suffer.

Question 14

What do philosophers say about suffering?

Answer 14

Iranaeus and John Hick both taught that humans need to suffer in order to develop spiritually and say that without suffering we would not have virtues such as kindness. John Hick called this soul making.

Question 15

Why is forgiveness important for Christians? (5)

Answer 15

1. Jesus said ‘Forgive them father for they do not know what they are doing’ while nailed to the cross.
2. Jesus told others to forgive sinners, for example Jesus showed forgiveness to a hated tax collector, Zacchaeus.
3. The Lords prayer includes the word ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive the sins of others’.
4. Jesus taught that we should forgive ‘Not seven times but seventy times seven’
5. Famous christians such as MLK have spoken of forgiving those who hurt you.

Question 16

What does Islam teach about forgiveness?

Answer 16

Muhammad taught ‘Curb your anger and forgive your fellow men.’

Question 17

Who is Gee Walker?

Answer 17

Gee Walker is a christian who forgave the killers of her son Anthony, who was murdered in a racist attack in Liverpool 2005.