Theme E Flashcards
(47 cards)
Reasons for crime
- poverty and upbringing
- mental illness and addiction
- greed and hate
- opposition to an unjust law
- views about people who break the law for these reasons
- views about different types of crime, including hate crimes, theft and murder
The aims of punishment
- Retribution
- Deterrence
- Reformation
The treatment of criminals
- prison
- corporal punishment
- community serves
Community service
- punishment involving the criminal doing a set number of hours of physical labour/work in their local community
Corporal punishment
- punishment in which physical pain is inflicted on the criminal
Death penalty
- capital punishment, the execution of a criminal which is sanctioned by the state
Deterrence
Aim of punishment, the threat of punishment as a way to put a person off committing crime (e.g knowing they could go to prison of they steal)
Hate crime
a crime committed because of prejudice view about a person or group
Principle of utility
- the concept of acting out of the greater good for the most people (e.g removing a dangerous criminal from society in order to protect others)
Reformation
- aim of punishment, helping the criminal see how their behaviour was wrong, so that their mindset changes for the better
Retribution
- aim of punishment, getting the criminal back of their crimes
Sanctity of life
- belief that life is sacred/special because it was created by God, pr because we are each unique individuals
Unjust law
a legal requirement within a society that is believed to be unfair, a cause of crime if a person believes they cannot follow (or must act against) a law they believe is unjust
Good/evil actions of intentions quotes
Christianity:
“actions are judged by intentions”
“do not forget to do good”
“treat others as you would like to be treated”
Good intentions
- doing something for the right reasons
- being sincere and genuine
- Muslims believe intentions are taken into account on judgement day
- Christians and Muslims
Rewarded by God: parable of the cheep and the goats
Evil intentions
- desire to deliberately cause suffering or harm to others
- lead to people performing evil actions which are punishable
- bad actions- go against God’s will, e.g those named in the 10 commandments
Applications- intentions vs actions
- stealing from a shop so that you can feed your starving children
- lying to your friend to avoid upsetting them with the truth
- killing a terrorist to stop them murdering more civilians
What to theists believe about intention?
- God is omniscient, he knows the intentions behind your actions and takes them into account
- Someone who committed a crime but had “good intentions” may be forgiven whilst someone who had purely “evil intentions” may not be
Explain two religious beliefs about good intentions. (5 marks)
- Christianity: rewarded for good actions (Parable of the sheep and the goats)
- Islam: God judges you for your intentions and actions (Hadith)
Suffering quotes
Christianity:
“suffering produces perseverance”
Islam:
“you are sure to be tested”
“God does not burden a soul with more than it can bear”
What do Christians and Muslims believe about suffering?
- Intentionally causing suffering to others is usually seen as wrong- you will be help to account for this on judgement day
- Good can come from suffering and it has an instrumental value in our lives
- Suffering can test us, strengthen us and help us become better people
- teach us important lessons
- strengthen our character
- test of faith from God
- part of God’s greater plan for us
- some of it is the result of free will
- Catholics believe it is the result of original sin
When could causing suffering be justified?
- in self defence/protecting others
- punishing a criminal- part of the justice system
- if the end justifies the means
- if its the lesser of two evils
- to prevent future suffering
How do Christians/Muslims respond to suffering?
- praying and asking God for strength
- doing good to help alleviate suffering
- showing compassion to those suffering
- trust in God’s plan- faith and hope
- looking for the lesson they can learn
- could loose faith in an omnibenevolent God
Reasons for crime quotes
“clothe yourselves with compassion”
“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of god”