Unit 8: Section 4 Flashcards
1
Q
Why do we need laws and justice?
A
- So people know what kind of behaviour to expect, without laws their would be chaos.
- If there were no laws about business deals and work, modern society could not operate.
- We need laws to protect the weak from the strong.
- In an advanced civilisation such as the UK, we need laws to keep things organised.
2
Q
Why do some people say we don’t need laws?
A
- They restrict human freedom.
- Some countries that have experimented with removing traffic laws have found that there are fewer accidents.
3
Q
Why does there need to be a connection between law and justice?
A
- If a law is unjust, people may feel it is right to break the law and will campaign against it, causing trouble in society.
- If some laws are unjust then they are not fulfilling their purposes.
- If laws do not create a just society then people will think the legal system is not working and may start a civil war.
4
Q
What are the four theories of punishment?
A
- Deterrence - Putting people off.
- Retribution - Criminals should pay for their crime.
- Protection - Protects people by imprisoning criminals.
- Reform - Teach criminals not to commit crimes again.
5
Q
What are the problems with deterrence?
A
- Punishments have to be very severe.
- Criminals think they won’t be caught, so aren’t deterred by the punishment.
- Poor people may steal to feed their families so the cause of the crime may need solving.
- It may not respect Human Rights.
6
Q
What are the problems with retribution?
A
- Makes you as bad as the criminal as you are doing the same thing.
- May humiliate the offender.
- May not respect Human Rights.
- May cause the offender to become resentful.
7
Q
What are the problems with protection?
A
- The offender may not change when released.
- There is no proof that it works.
- May cause the offender to become resentful.
- There are some crimes that are not dangerous to other people.
8
Q
What are the problems with reform?
A
- It might not be seen as a real punishment.
- It might not work for dangerous criminals.
- Offenders may ‘pretend’ to be reformed.
- Reform methods can be expensive.
9
Q
Why is justice important to Christians?
A
- God is just and will reward the righteous and punish those who sin.
- The Bible says people should be treated fairly and God wants the world to be ruled justly.
- The Christian Churches have made many statements about the need for Christians to work for justice.
- Christian Aid is an example of a Christian organisation working for justice in the world.
10
Q
Why is justice important to Muslims?
A
- The Qur’an says God is just.
- The Qur’an says Muslims should treat people fairly.
- The Shari’ah is based on justice for everyone with everyone being treated equally.
- Islam teaches that it is unjust to charge interest because it takes money from the poor and gives it to the rich.
11
Q
Why may non-religious people be for capital punishment?
A
- If people know they will die if they murder someone, they will be put off and there will be fewer murders.
- Murderers/terrorists threaten society, and the best way to protect society from them is to take away their lives.
- Human life is the most important and valuable thing, and the value can only be shown by giving those who take human life the worst possible punishment.
- It will ease the pressure put on prisons as they are filling up with criminals.
12
Q
Why may non-religious people be against capital punishment?
A
- Someone may be wrongly convicted, and they could be released from prison but they could not be raised from the dead if they were executed.
- Statistics show that countries without the death penalty have a lower murder rate.
- Murderers who know they will be killed if they are caught are likely to kill more people to avoid being caught.
- Murderers often think life imprisonment as worth than death as some try to commit suicide.
13
Q
Why may Christians be for capital punishment?
A
- The Bible gives the death penalty.
- The Roman Catholic Church has not cancelled its statement to say that capital punishment can be used by the state.
- The Christian Church itself has used the death penalty in the past for heresy (not believing official church teachings).
14
Q
Why may Christians be against capital punishment?
A
- Jesus came to save/reform sinners, but you cannot reform a dead person.
- Jesus said ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ is wrong for Christians.
- Christianity says that all life is sacred, if abortion and euthanasia is wrong then so is capital punishment.
- Most Christian Churches have made statements condemning capital punishment.
15
Q
Why may Muslims be for capital punishment?
A
- It is a punishment set down by God in the Qur’an.
- The Shari’ah says capital punishment can be used for murder/adultery/rejecting Islam.
- Muhammad made several statements agreeing with capital punishment.
16
Q
Why may Muslims be against capital punishment?
A
- It is recommended in the Qur’an, but is not compulsory.
- Some agree with the non-religious arguments.
- The Shari’ah says that the family of a murder victim can accept blood money from the murderer instead of death.
17
Q
What are the UK laws on tobacco?
A
- Illegal to sell to people under 18.
- All tobacco packs must have large health warnings.
- All adverts/sponsorship for tobacco products are banned.
- You can not smoke indoors in public places, workplaces, football grounds or railway stations.
18
Q
What are the UK laws on alcohol?
A
- You cannot give an alcoholic drink to a child under 5.
- Children under 16 can go into a pub with adult supervision but cannot drink. They can be banned if the bar has had problems.
- People ages 16/17 can drink beer/wine/cider with a meal if it is bought by an adult, and they are accompanied by an adult.
- People under 18 cannot buy alcohol.
19
Q
What are the UK laws on illegal drugs?
A
- You must not possess a controlled substance unlawfully.
- You must not possess a controlled substance with intent.
- You must not supply or offer to supply a controlled substance.
- You must not allow your premises to be used for drug taking.
20
Q
What are the social/health problems caused by smoking, drugs and alcohol?
A
- Smoking - Bad health effects and death from smoking can cause problems for families/employers.
- Alcohol - Liver disease and alcoholism. Also causes major social problems as people behave irrationally when drunk.
- Drug abuse - Addiction and death. Also causes criminal gang problems and stealing to fund the habit.
21
Q
Why may people argue that alcohol, tobacco and drugs should not be controlled by the law?
A
- The Netherlands have decriminalised some ‘soft’ drugs such as cannabis and they seem to have fewer drug problems.
- Laws that banned alcohol in the past have caused problems with organised crime (e.g. in the US in the 1920s).
- It should be an individuals choice as to wether to use these, as they only effect the individuals body.
22
Q
What do most Christians believe about alcohol and tobacco?
A
- The correct approach is moderation.
- The first miracle Jesus performed was changing water into wine.
- Paul said that Christians can drink in moderation.
- Jesus used bread and wine at the last supper and told his disciples to continue the tradition.
- Most Churches use alcoholic wine in their communion services, so Christians must be able to drink wine in moderation.
23
Q
Why do some Christians not drink or smoke?
A
- Taking tobacco or alcohol is abusing Gods temple (our bodies).
- There are Bible passages warning against drunkenness.
- Many Christians from the Salvation Army are involved in working with alcoholics and know how they need support from others by refusing alcohol.
24
Q
Why are alcohol and drugs not allowed for Muslims?
A
- The Qur’an says that intoxicants are a way Satan tries to keep people from God.
- Muhammad said every intoxicant is forbidden to Muslims.
- Muslim lawyers say drugs/alcohol is a form of suicide because you are harming your body and suicide is forbidden.
- Muhammad said Muslims must not drink/produce/sell alcohol.
