Theme E

Question 1

Committing crime is wrong

Answer 1

• Jesus said to follow the law
• the law is there to protect us
• sinning against others = sinning against God
• in all ordinary circumstances, the law must be followed

Question 2

Criminals should be punished but also forgiven

Answer 2

• punishment ensures there is justice/fairness
• but punishment should also offer chance for rehabilitation
• Jesus said to always forgive others (story of adulterous woman)
• it is God’s role to judge people, not ours, as we all sin

Question 3

Why is forgiveness important

Answer 3

• Jesus encouraged forgiveness + Christian’s want to emulate him
• prevents cycle of revenge
• keeps society peaceful - letting go of anger which leads to a better quality of life
• maintains strong relationships
• embodies Christian values of kindness and love etc

Question 4

3 aims of restorative justice programme

Answer 4

1. Helps criminals to see and truly understand the harm they caused
2. Gives criminals a chance to apologise or put things right in some way if they can
3. Gives victims a chance to ask questions or suggest ways to make amends

Question 5

Strengths of restorative justice programme

Answer 5

• helps begin on the journey of forgiveness
• gives closure so they can move on
• criminals can forgive themselves so they’re less likely to reoffend

Question 6

Weaknesses of restorative justice programmes

Answer 6

• if criminals are forgiven they might just reoffend
• opposite of closure, victim might not be able to cope
• not universal - doesn’t work for all crimes (rape)

Question 7

Facts about corporal punishment

Answer 7

• inflicting pain as a form of punishment - now illegal in UK
• some Muslim countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, allow caning as punishment for offences such as gambling and sexual promiscuity
• made illegal in UK state schools in 1987 and authors in 1999
• Christians don’t disagree with discipline but believe it needs positivity
• some misbehaviour in schools used to deserve corporal punishment

Question 8

Arguments for corporal punishment

Answer 8

• good deterrent and reduces reoffending
• justice - you get what you deserve

Question 9

Arguments against corporal punishment

Answer 9

• doesn’t match our current laws or moral values
• creates a climate of fear in society
• inflicting pain on someone purposefully doesn’t respect God’s creation or sanctity of life

Question 10

Why people commit crimes

Answer 10

• poverty
• opposition to an unjust law
• hate
• greed
• addiction
• mental illness
• upbringing

Question 11

Martin Luther king + Rosa parks

Answer 11

• Alabama, USA
• 1950-1960’s
• they broke the segregation law that said black peoples had to give up their bus seat for whet people. They then led a bus boycott
• they were trying t acheived equality for white and black people

Question 12

The suffragettes

Answer 12

• London, uk
• after ww1
• chained themselves to railings - immovable
• smashed windows of parliament
• aiming for women’s political equality and right to vote

Question 13

Reasons why it’s justifiable to break the law

Answer 13

• in self-defence or defence of others - Christianity encourages us to defend others/save others. Sanctity of life
• for survival: stealing to feed your family = sanctity of life
• if a law is morally unjust it is right to break it: civil disobedience like MLK which is RIGHTEOUS ANGER
• to prevent something worse from happening: ambulance drivers speed to prevent someone dying - utilitarian argument

Question 14

Reasons why it’s NOT justifiable to break a law

Answer 14

• some crimes like murder are never justifiable - breaking sanctity of life which is more important than anything else
• laws are thee for a reason - they keep us safe, so we must follow them
• laws ensure society is controlled, well managed, peaceful, safe - laws do benefit us all and ensure equality

Question 15

Poverty

Answer 15

• last resort
• need to survive
• prison has better conditions

Question 17

Opposition to unjust law

Answer 17

• Rosa parks/ MLK
• civil disobedience

Question 18

Hate crime

Answer 18

• George Floyd
• crime against someone else based on prejudice or stereotype

Question 19

Greed

Answer 19

• commit crime because we want things or feel we’re owed things

Question 20

Addiction

Answer 20

• not thinking clearly and can lead you to make irrational choices like stealing to fund addiction

Question 21

Mental illness

Answer 21

May think less rationally so it leads you to commit crime and makes your more vulnerable so more prone to crime

Question 22

Upbringing

Answer 22

Childhood trauma can cause you to be unstable + vulnerable or you could be brought up in a crime family

Question 23

Facts about community service

Answer 23

• usually for minor crimes
• offers offenders a chance to makeup for what they have done and receive help in reforming their behaviour
• between 40-300 hours + have to wear orange hi-vis so everyone knows they’ve been convicted of an offence
• might include rehab or counselling sessions
• less harsh punishment if under 18
• if offenders don’t complete their community service, they may be required to return to court for an alternative punishment

Question 24

Arguments for community service

Answer 24

• helps/improves society
• does respect criminals dignity + sanctity of life
• provides time for elf reflection and to improve mental health

Question 25

Arguments against community service

Answer 25

- too soft, not enough of a deterrent and reoffending might still be high - not enough justice is being served - not providing protection protection for society - criminal on the loose

Question 26

Quaker attitudes towards prison

Answer 26

- alternative violence project - God exists within everyone even those who have committed crimes therefore treat them with respect and dignity - quakers want to abolish current prison system and replace it with secure education facilities

Question 27

Catholic attitudes towards prison

Answer 27

- don’t believe in revenge - criminals should be treated with dignity - sanctity of life - paulist prison ministry - people should support prisoners because they are outcasts, just like Jesus was - focus is always on forgiving criminals + reformation - only God can judge

Question 28

Arguments against death penalty

Answer 28

- sanctity of life: all human life is valuable and therefore we shouldn’t kill as a punishment but forgive instead - story of adulterous woman: Jesus saved woman from death penalty and forgave her so we should do the same - Catholic Church and pope are very against death penalty - Christian focus on redemption: criminals should be given the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and be offered forgiveness - Ezekiel 33:11

Question 29

Arguments for death penalty

Answer 29

- principle of utility: killing serial killer wold prevent more deaths and bring closure and justice to the victim and the victims family - protection of society: killing people who have committed awful crimes to society makes society a better place as the criminals can cause no more damage - Old Testament “eye for an eye”: you get what you give - Christian belief in justice: to bring justice, that would mean using the death penalty to bring justice to the victim/victims family

Question 30

Strength of retribution

Answer 30

- only form of punishment that ensures justice and readjusting of fairness - ensures closure for the victims family so they can move on

Question 31

Weakness of retribution

Answer 31

- the criminals might become angry and bitter so they’re more likely to commit further crime - less likely to be able to reintegrate back into society (criminal record) - not very Christian - no forgiveness

Question 32

Strengths of deterrence

Answer 32

- society will be safe, happy and a good environment to live in for all people - if deterrence is the focus, it could change peoples mindset to not commit crime to begin with and prevents crime happening in the first place

Question 33

Weakness of deterrence

Answer 33

- might lead to a society full of fear, anxiety etc and unhappy people - only works if everyone aware of all punishments - punishments end up being too severe and don’t fit the punishment

Question 34

Strengths of reformation

Answer 34

- theoretically a focus on reformation would decrease the reoffending rate therefore no more crime - its coherent with Christian beliefs about sanctity of life + people deserving a second chance

Question 35

Weakness of reformation

Answer 35

- we have evidence that this isn’t working in the uk: 25% of people reoffending after prison - high cost - tax payers money - victims family may feel there is no justice - only works if everyone if criminals willing to change