Theme E - Religion, Crime and Punishment Flashcards
1
Q
Christian beliefs about intentions and actions
A
- Evil actions are sinful and against God
- Original sin causes all humans to have a tendency to do evil things
- Christians believe they should follow the law of the land, unless it is unjust
- intentions are significant and teachings warn against evil thoughts and intentions
2
Q
Buddhist beliefs about intentions and actions
A
- Idea of skilful and unskilful actions
- Buddhists follow the law, unless this restricts them to act skilfully
- Kamma teaches that intentions behind an action is important
3
Q
Christian attitudes towards suffering
A
- Suffering is a result of human free will
- Christians have a duty to help those who are suffering
- They should avoid causing others suffering
- Unavoidable suffering may strengthen a person’s character and faith
4
Q
Buddhist attitudes towards suffering
A
- Main goal is to overcome suffering
- First moral precepts teaches not to harm others
- Bodhisattvas choose to stop others’ suffering
- Eightfold Path teaches right livelihood
5
Q
Reasons for crime
A
- poverty
- upbringing
- mental illness
- addiction
- greed
- hatred
- opposition to an unjust law
6
Q
Attitudes towards poverty
A
- Christians believe they should work to help people out of poverty so that they are not in a position to commit crimes
- Buddhists believe poverty may lead to stealing, which contradicts the second moral precept
7
Q
Attitudes towards upbringing
A
- Christians believe parents should teach children the right way to behave through their own words and actions
- Buddhists believe people need a supportive upbringing to help develop sensitivity to others
8
Q
Attitudes towards mental illness
A
- Christians believe you should demonstrate compassion by treating the cause of illness
- Buddhists believe they should treat those suffering with mental illness with compassion
9
Q
Attitudes towards addiction
A
- Christians are against taking illegal drugs and support rehabilitation to overcome addiction
- the fifth moral precept encourages Buddhists not to take drugs
10
Q
Attitudes towards greed
A
- The Ten Commandments forbid envy, which often causes greed
- Buddhists believe that acting out of greed is unskilful and leads to suffering
11
Q
Attitudes towards hatred
A
- Jesus taught Christians to love everybody, including their enemies
- hatred is one of the three poisons and one of the main causes of suffering
12
Q
Attitudes towards opposition
A
- some Christians may agree with this but only if no violence is involved and nobody is harmed
- Buddhists may disobey a law that expresses prejudice and hatred
13
Q
Different types of crime
A
- theft
- murder
- hate crimes
14
Q
Attitudes towards theft
A
- Goes against the Ten Commandments
- Breaks the Second Moral Precept
- Expresses a lack of empathy and respect for others
15
Q
Attitudes towards murder
A
- Only God can take life
- Goes against the Ten Commandments
- Breaks for First Moral Precept
16
Q
Attitudes towards hate crimes
A
- Unjust because God created all humans equally
- ‘Love your neighbour’
- Hatred is one of the three poisons
17
Q
Retribution
A
Getting even. The idea that criminals should be made to suffer in proportion to their crimes.
18
Q
Deterrence
A
The threat of punishment as a way to put a person off committing crime
19
Q
Reformation
A
To change someone’s behaviour for the better. May involve counselling, therapy, meeting victims and educating.
20
Q
Attitudes towards retribution
A
- Agree because justice is done. Christians may argue ‘an eye for an eye’
- Disagree because ‘two wrongs don’t make a right’. Buddhists believe that a person will suffer anyway due to kamma, and that retribution is a form of violence
21
Q
Attitudes towards deterrence
A
- Agree because it may prevent people from committing crimes in the first place
- Disagree if punishments are excessively harsh and humiliate offenders. Buddhists suggest deterrence may not work if offenders are in the grip of the three poisons
22
Q
Attitudes towards reformation
A
- May Christians favour this over others as it positively influences offenders’ lives
- Buddhists encourage offenders to recognise the suffering they have caused and make amends
- Some may disagree as it may be too lenient or do little to deter others from committing crime
23
Q
Christian attitudes on forgiveness
A
- key belief
- Jesus taught that we should forgive ‘seventy-seven times’
- The Lord’s Prayer tells Christians to forgive others as they expect forgiveness from God
24
Q
Buddhist attitudes on forgiveness
A
- helpful
- involves letting go of anger and resentment
- criminals will still be punished by kamma
- apology and forgiveness can sometimes bring about reconciliation
25
Aims of punishment
- prison
- community service
- corporal punishment
26
Attitudes on prison
- some support imprisonment for serious crimes as it protects others, but believe prisoners should be treated well and reformed
- disagree as reoffending rates are too high and some prisons are costly to run
27
Attitudes on community service
- some support as it allows offenders to make up for their actions and be rehabilitated
- disagree as it may be seen as too soft on criminals
28
Attitudes on corporal punishment
- may be seen as an effective deterrent and ultimate form of retribution
- considered to be a breach of human rights, illegal in the UK and many other countries. Does not treat the offender with respect.
29
Arguments for the death penalty
- Some Christians think it's acceptable as the Bible teaches that murder is punishable by death (“If a man kills anyone, he must be put to death.” - Leviticus)
- Principle of utility suggests that killing a murderer may benefit the majority
- protects society from dangerous criminals
- Some Buddhist countries (e.g. Thailand) have capital punishment
30
Arguments against the death penalty
- Sanctity of life (even lives of murderers are sacred)
- Breaks first moral precept
- chance of killing innocent person
- little evidence it is an effective deterrent
- Ezekiel (priest) teaches that wrongdoers should be reformed, not killed
31
Community service
A way of punishment that requires offenders to do unpaid work in the community
32
Corporal punishment
Punishment that causes physical pain to an offender
33
Crime
An offence that breaks the law set by the government
34
Prison
A secure building where offenders are kept for a period of time set by a judge
35
Buddhist attitudes to lawbreakers
- does not favour punishment as it is a form of vengeance and causes suffering
- rehabilitation and reformation of the offender is important (story of Angulimala)
36
Christian attitudes to lawbreakers
- offenders must be punished by law according to how serious their crime was
- offenders have basic rights so should not be given inhuman punishment
- offenders should be helped to become responsible members of society
37
Ten Commandments quotes
"You shall not steal"
"You shall not commit adultery"
"You shall not murder"
- Exodus 20
38
Non-violence quotes
"All tremble at violence; all fear death... one should not kill nor cause another to kill"
- Dhammapada
"We should not seek revenge on those who have committed crimes against us"
- Dalai Lama
"Whoever is not hostile among the hostile... I call a holy man"
- The Buddha
39
Retribution quotes
"But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth"
- Exodus
'leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”'
- Romans
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed"
- Genesis
40
Quotes for punishment
"Whoever spares the rod hates their children"
- Proverbs
"For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality."
- Colossians
