Theme E- Crime and Punishment đđ° Flashcards
What is a crime?
Hint: set by who?
- a crime, is an offence that breaks the law, set by the government
What does the word âpunishmentâ mean ?
Hint: legal
- a punishment, is a legal consequence given to someone, who is found guilty of breaking the law.
What are Christian and Buddhist attitudes towards actions and intentions
- the Bible warns against having any wrong thoughts or intentions, because in Matthew 5:27-28 it teaches âBut I tell you anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heartâ
- Evil actions (e.g- violence) are seen as sinful, and therefore against God.
- ; in Buddhism, actions are seen as unskilful and skilful, rather than good and evil
What is a Christian attitude to law breakers ?
Christian:
- the parable of the goat teaches that helping offenders is good
- offenders have basic rights, so shouldnât be given a humane punishment because, Jesus taught to âlove thy neighbour as yourselfâ in Mark 12
What are Christian and Buddhist teachings to murder ?
MURDER:
Buddhist:
- wrong because it break ahimsa and the first moral precept (which is a key teaching in Buddhism).
- causes suffering for the victim + families.
- contradicts the âright actionâ (which means to practise the five moral precepts).
HATE CRIMES:
Christian:
- God created everyone equally, so hate crimes are wrong.
- Jesus taught to âlove thy neighbourâ.
Buddhist:
- hatred is one of the three poisons and contradicts 3 emotions that Buddhist aim to develop: loving-kindness and compassion.
What are the three main aims of punishment?
1) deterrence
2) retribution
3) reformation
What are all the six aims of punishment?
Hint: reparation
1) vindication
2) reformation
3) protection
4) deterrence
5) retribution
6) reparation
How can a loving God cause people to suffer?
- Because God gave humans free will, therefore it is the misuse of that free will which makes peolle suffer
- If teachings and examples of Jesus are followed, this will reduce suffering.
Explain one religious beliefs about suffering
1) One contrasting Christian belief is that it is wrong to blame God for suffering. This is because Christians believe we suffer because of a misuse of free will, known as the original sin, which resulted in Adam and Eve being cast out from the Garden of Eve.
This is seen is Genesis 3:23 as it states âThe Lord God banished him from the Garden of Edenâ. Therefore this is a contrasting religious belief about suffering because Christians believe that suffering is because of an abuse of free will.
2) A second contrasting belief about suffering is that although it is not caused by anything, it is an unavoidable part of life which Buddhists accept, but then try to overcome it by following the Eightfold path + other teachings such as the five moral precepts.
What are Christian and Buddhist attitudes to prison ?
Hint: more
- Christians may support prisons for more serious crimes. [such as murder]
- ; Buddhists may argue whilst prison provides time and space for rehabilitation, the primary aim of prison is to protect society from dangerous criminals. [as it is the most compassionate thing to do]
Whatâs a Christian attitude to corporal punishment ?
Hint: mistakes
FOR:
- In proverbs 13:24 it states âspare the rod, and spoil the childâ- if you donât punish (children) someone for what they do wrong, they canât learnt.
- therefore in this view, itâs the most loving thing to do for oneâs personal development (because they can know and learnt to not do their mistake again) as Jesus taught to âlove thy neighbourâ
- evaluation-But they arenât learning, theyâre only afraid and it breeds hatred- itâs not loving to create an atmosphere of fear as Jesus taught that âGod is loveâ meaning we should also show love to each others- this includes those who have done wrong.
Whatâs a Christian attitude opposing corporal punishment ?
- corporal punishment is immoral because, we should not cause harm to anyone, including our enemies.
- this is because Jesus also taught to âlove your enemiesâ [Matthew 5: 43] and Christians aim to follow Godâs teachings in the Bible but how is causing someone physical harm loving?
- If it not only harms a person who is made imago dei but causes mental suffering (in the image of God)- as in Genesis it states âin his own imageâ, God made humans in his own image, so no one has the right to harm what God made.
What are Christian attitudes to community service?
Hint: Donât have to recite everything from this flashcard! Just two key points for Christianity
Christian:
- Christians might agree with community service, rather than corporal punishment. This is because it is the most loving thing to do as it treating people with kindness + respect rather than causing them physical and potentially psychological damage.
In addition to this, Jesus taught to âlove thy neighbour as yourselfâ and this strengthens the argument because treating people with kindness + love follows Gods teachings that are found in the Bible.
Furthermore this is a stronger argument than âspare the rod, spoil the childâ because although it is found in the Bible- (which the word of God, so Christians would take it very seriously), it directly contradicts the key teachings that Christians are taught to follow in the New Testament.
- THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND COMMENDS PROGRAMMES THAT REQUIRE UNPAID
What are Buddhist attitudes to community service ?
- community service can be the more compassionate thing to do for offenders because corporal punishment and prisons can breed hatred- which is one of the three poisons.
- ; community service reforms offenders and helps them to reform because, Buddhism teaches that everyone can change.
What are Christian attitudes to forgiveness?
Christian:
- Jesus forgave those who crucified him as in Luke 23:24 it says âFather forgive them, for they do not know what they are doingâ, likewise Christians should do the same if they want to be forgiven because in the Lordâs Prayer it says âforgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against usâ.
This teaches Christians that they must forgive others, otherwise God will not forgive them for their trespasses.
- Jesus said ânot seven times, but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21-22) therefore there should be no limit to how many times we forgive a person.
What are Buddhist attitudes to forgiveness?
Buddhist:
- Buddhism teaches that we should forgive others, otherwise we will suffer. This is because holding onto resentment + anger is not healthy because, it can harm peopleâs own [health and welfare] as constantly holding resentment + anger can take a toll one oneâs mental health.
- But this doesnât mean they wonât be punished because the principle of kamma/karma teaches that unskillful actions lead to suffering.
What does forgiveness mean?
- forgiveness, means to pardon and to show mercy, to those who have done wrong.
What is the death penalty?
- the death penalty, is whenba criminal is put to death for their crimes. [though this is now illegal in the UK]
What are two arguments for and against the death penalty?
FOR:
- Some Christians agree with the death penalty because of Old Testament teachings such as in Genesis 9:6, where it states âWhoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shedâ.
- retribution (one of the aims of punishment) can be justified for people who commit the worst of crimes such as murder.
AGAINST:
- However this is a flawed argument because most of Jesusâ teachings are about loving those who do wrong as he taught to âlove your enemiesâ.
- Furthermore, the death penalty contradicts core Christian teachings that are found in the Bible such as âthou shalt not killâ, so the death penalty is never right. In addition to this, some may argue that this is hypocritical because the death penalty is normally for criminals who commit the worst crimes such as murder + by taking their life, arenât we as bad as them?
What are two arguments for and against the death penalty?
FOR:
- it protects society from horrendous criminals, so they canât harm again + some may argue that the most loving thing to for everyone else would be to remove them from society.
- As the principle of utility states that an action is right if it produces, the maximum happiness for the greatest number of people, affected by it. This is because Jesus taught to âlove thy neighbour as yourselfâ.
AGAINST:
- the death penalty breaks the sanctity of life (life is God-given + sacred, so only he should take it), so it is wrong.
- Buddhism also teaches that the death penalty is wrong because it contradicts the ahimsa (non-violence) + the first moral precept
Give four arguments against the death penalty + refer to religion
- the death penalty breaks the sanctity of life (life is God-given + sacred, so only he should take it), so it is wrong.
- Buddhism also teaches that the death penalty is wrong because it contradicts the ahimsa (non-violence) + the first moral precept
- itâs makes revenge a part of the justice system which is what Buddhist aim to avoid as it is unskillful.
- itâs never possible to relive the suffering of the victim, by causing suffering to the offender
What are some argument against the death penalty?
- doesnât allow reformation. Reformation is important for Buddhists because Buddhism teaches that everyone can change. (Even murderers- story of Angulimala).
- other aims of punishment can (such as protection) suggest that criminals can be imprisoned, instead of executed.
- itâs not an effective deterrent because evidence has shown that the UK murder rate isnât as high in countries who use the death penalty a punishment.
- we are all made in Godâs image as Genesis it states âin his own imageâ so taking life is never right because God cares about every individual which is reinforced in Luke 12:6-7 as it states âYet not one sparrow is forgotten by Godâ.
Give a Christian reason that supports and opposes corporal punishment.
- life for life, eye for eye and tooth for toothâ- Leviticus 24:19-21. If someone (seriously) harms us, we should match what they have done to us- [this upholds retribution which is one of the aims of punishment].
- However this is a weak argument because a Christian may have differing views on this, because in Romans 12:17-19 it teaches Christians to not ârepay anyone evil with evilâ so even if someone does something evil that is worthy of corporal punishment, itâs never right because it doesnât show respect for the offender.
Give a reason why a Buddhist might have a different view about the death penalty.
- it prevents someone from escaping the cycle of samsaraâ.
What is a Buddhist attitude to law breakers ?
- Buddhism teaches that everyone can change.
- this is because, the story of Angulimala: a person who killed multiple people is a prime example of how Buddhists believe in reformation.
- therefore rather than punishment because it causes suffering to the offender, (which Buddhists aim to avoid, Buddhists may support reformation instead of retribution.
Whatâs a religious belief about suffering, in Buddhism ?
- a belief about suffering is that although it is not caused by anything.
- but it is an unavoidable part of life which Buddhists accept, but then try to overcome it by following the Eightfold path + other teachings such as the five moral precepts.
What are Christian attitudes to murder ?
- Christian:
- Jesus taught to âlove thy neighbourâ and taking a life, is always wrong because it breaks the sanctity of life
- humans are made âin his own imageâ (Godâs own image, so taking life is never right).
- breaks the ten commandment âthou shalt not killâ
hatred is one of three poisons which Buddhists aim to not have a grip because it leads to suffering as it keeps you trapped in the cycle of samsara (rebirth). [Corporal punishment causes hatred because it harms you physically which is not right
- Itâs not compassionate because it can lead to mental health issues such as depression or trauma, Buddhists are taught to show karuna (compassion) and aim to follow ahimsa (non-violence), it also doesnât have a loving-kindness (metta) mindset which is what Buddhists aim to have.
What is a religious reponse to theft ?
- theft contradicts the Ten Commandments, âThou shalt not stealâ.
- and theft is unskilful because, it contradicts the second moral precept (to refrain from taking what is not freely given).
- this then strengthens greed in people which can lead to further unskillful actions, which will generate bad karma. (Greed is one of the three poisons).
