Crime and Punishment | Christianity

Question 1

Define justice

Answer 1

Justice is doing what is right or wrong based on the law

Question 2

Give 3 reason why justice is important for Christians

Answer 2

• as God is just we should act justly too
• Jesus taught that everyone should be treated fairly
• The ten commandments shows that justice is important by providing guidelines on how to behave

Question 3

Give three reasons why justice is important for victims of crime

Answer 3

• Victims can achieve closure so that they can begin to move on and forgive
• Grants reassurance as the person who has hurt them will be punished fairly
• Grants comfort as the person can’t hurt anyone else

Question 4

Give 3 reasons why justice is important for non-religious people ( link to key non-beliefs)

Answer 4

• it maintains peace and order
• They would support the criminal justice system as they disagree that God is the ultimate judge
• Humanists believe that justice is needed when someone is harmed

Question 5

Give 4 reasons for crime

Answer 5

• poverty
• mental illness
• addiction
• Upbringing

Question 6

The Prison Fellowship:

• what do they do ( offer)
• how do they help break the cycle of crime

Answer 6

• Prison Fellowship offer practical support and prayer
• They help prisoners understand the impact of their crimes and stop them from reoffending through restorative justice programmes

Question 7

The Street Pastors organisation:

• what do they do ( offer) - 2
• how do they help break the cycle of crime

Answer 7

• Street Pastors patrol the street at night to offer prayer and practical help
• They help potentially vulnerable people or those who may cause distress to others

Question 8

The Clink:

• what do they do ( offer)
• how do they help break the cycle of crime (3)

Answer 8

• rehabilitates prisoners through cooking and work experience
• The charity aims to break the cycle of crime by changing attitudes, creating second chances and transforming lives.

Question 9

Give 3 reasons why people suffer according to Christians

Answer 9

• evil is an abuse of free will which God gave
• suffering is a test of faith
• some believe in the devil who persuades people to do wrong

Question 10

Give three non religious views on the nature of suffering

Answer 10

• suffering is inevitable and meaningless
• religion causes suffering as it imposes rules and makes people feel guilty
• humans should work to remove the suffering in the world

Question 11

Give a humanists view on suffering

Answer 11

• Humanists would not accept that suffering is a test or punishment
• They believe humans have a degree of choice in their lives and must take responsibility for some evils

Question 12

Give 2 Christian responses to non religious views on suffering

Answer 12

• Suffering has a purpose even if we do not understand it as God is transcendent
• Causes of suffering has nothing to do with religion but more to do with human greed and foolishness

Question 13

Give three Christian views on punishment

Answer 13

• Retribution. Punishment should inflict pain and be determined by the seriousness of the crime
• Humanitarian. Argues that retributive punishments are acts of revenge which is wrong
• The purpose of punishment is to help the criminal change so one should not do anything to harm them - this is more in line with Jesus’ teachings of mercy

Question 14

Give three reasons why punishment is needed in society

Answer 14

• to maintain order
• society will feel safer
• people must be given a fair punishment after a fair trial

Question 15

Give three reasons why laws must be just ( if not:)

Answer 15

if not:

• people may resent them and protest
• people refuse to obey them
• people may fight among themselves

Question 16

Name the four aims of punishment

Answer 16

• protection
• retribution
• deterrence
• reformation

Question 17

Define protection as an aim of punishment and which group of christianity supports this aim

Answer 17

• protecting society from criminals and their actions so that people are safe
• The Catholic Church support this aim

Question 18

Give 2 strengths and weaknesses to protection as an aim of punishment

Answer 18

strengths:
- it recognises that people need to be kept safe
- it is not punishing people through pain and regret so it follows Jesus’ teachings
weaknesses:
- prisoners should feel guilty through retribution
- society can only protect people from criminals while they are in prison not when they get out therefore reformation is more important.

Question 19

Define retribution as an aim of punishment and give an example

Answer 19

• the aim is to make criminals pay for their actions according to the seriousness of their crimes
• it is a just way of treating the criminal and God tells us to act justly
  example: death penalty

Question 20

Give 2 strengths and weaknesses to retribution as an aim of punishment

Answer 20

• it can act as a deterrence
• less likely to reoffend if punishment is harsh
  weaknesses:
• it does not follow Jesus teachings of forgiveness and love
• it does not lead to reduced reoffending rates as criminals need to reform and change their ways

Question 21

Define deterrence as an aim of punishment

Answer 21

• it’s aim is to discourage others for committing a crime

Question 22

Give 2 strengths and weaknesses to deterrence as an aim of punishment ( 1s )

Answer 22

• it leads to less people committing crimes if successful reducing spending on prisons
  weaknesses:
• it is not thinking about the best interests of the prisoner
• it has not been successful at deterring crime in the UK, as reoffending rates are still very high

Question 23

Define reformation as an aim of punishment and what it demonstrates

Answer 23

• helps offenders to understand what they have done wrong and to choose not to do it again
• it demonstrates forgiveness

Question 24

Give 2 strengths and weaknesses to reformation as an aim of punishment

Answer 24

• it reduces reoffending rates
• it mirrors how Jesus treated sinners by not condemning them but changing their ways and forgiving
  weaknesses:
• victims may say that the person has not paid for their crime
• worst criminals dont deserve a second chance

Question 25

Define forgiveness and one way it can be practiced

Answer 25

- forgiveness means that the victim of crime is no longer resentful or angry at the person who committed the crime - It can be done through rehabilitation

Question 26

Give 2 things that restorative justice entails and a Christian view on this

Answer 26

- it brings criminals and the victims of crime together to restore peace - criminals learn about the impact of their crimes - Christians support this as it supports reformation as an aim of punishment

Question 27

Give two reasons why restorative justice is important

Answer 27

- criminals are less likely to commit crimes again | - it brings people together in conflict and resolving their differences

Question 28

Give a Christian's view on the use of torture

Answer 28

- Christians would disagree with torture as it does not treat people fairly

Question 29

Give a Christian's view on Fair Trials

Answer 29

- Christians agree with the justice system and believe everyone must have access to a fair trial

Question 30

Give 2 different Situation ethicist's view on the treatment of criminals ( torture) and a Christian's response

Answer 30

' Do the most loving thing' - We should treat a criminal fairly - They may accept the use of torture if the outcome is most loving Christian response: it is not loving and does not follow Jesus' teachings

Question 31

Define Capital Punishment and give examples

Answer 31

- Death Penalty | - it is the use of execution as the ultimate punishment through hanging, lethal injections, electric chair

Question 32

Give 3 arguments in favour of the death penalty | - both Christian and non religious

Answer 32

- it acts as a deterrent - the worst criminals do not deserve to live - to take a life, one must pay with it with their life

Question 33

Give 3 arguments against of the death penalty | - both Christian and non religious

Answer 33

- crime rate does not drop therefore it is not a deterrent - it can be seen as barbaric and just as bad as murder - someone may be proven innocent and justice cannot take place

Question 34

Give 3 SOA for the death penalty -

Answer 34

Old Testament supports it - ' an eye for an eye' - 'anyone who strikes with a fatal blow is to be put to death' - 'whoever sheds human blood, by humans should their blood be shed'

Question 35

Give 3 Christian arguments against the death penalty- include SOA

Answer 35

- They believe Jesus Christ came to Earth to reform sinners, as he did with the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11. - As life is sacred and belongs to God , only God has the power to take life. - Romans 12:17: ' do what is right' - it goes against the explicit teachings of God- you shall not murder'- 10 commandments

Question 36

Give a humanist's view on the death penalty link to soa

Answer 36

- disagree as it doesn't deter others from committing crimes | - The British Humanist Association

Question 37

Give a situation ethicist's view on the death penalty and a Christian response

Answer 37

- it could be seen as the most loving thing to do if the victim or the family of the victim wanted the person to be killed - it is not the most loving thing as it is not showing love to the criminal Christian response: would agree as Jesus treated sinners by not condemning them but showing love instead