Good and Evil

Good and Evil

good definition and example

• that which is considered morally right, beneficial and to our advantage

• e.g. donating to charity

evil definition and example

• that which is considered extremely immoral, wicked and wrong

• e.g. stealing from a child

forgiveness definition and example

• to grant a person for a wrongdoing; to give up resentment and the desire to seek revenge against a wrongdoer

• e.g. not being angry at someone who stole something from you

free will definition and example

• the ability to make choices voluntarily and independently; the belief that nothing is predetermined

• e.g. choosing what job to take because you want it

justice definition and example

• fairness, where everyone has equal provisions and opportunity

• e.g. no one being in poverty

morality definition and example

• principles and standards determining which actions are right or wrong

• e.g. believing it is wrong to kill someone

punishment definition and example

• a penalty given to someone for a crime or wrong they have done

• e.g. prison

sin definition and example

• deliberate immoral action, breaking a religious or moral law

• e.g. adultery

suffering definition and example

• pain or distress caused by injury, illness or loss; can be physical, emotional/psychological or spiritual

• e.g. suffering through cancer

conscience definition

persons sense of right and wrong to help us assess the right choice

importance of conscience

• helps humans assess the right choice to make a moral decision

• some believe our conscience develops as we grow older and that it grows through the process of making right decisions

• some believe our conscience gives us advance warning about whether the decisions we are about to make is right or wrong and then we choose

• free will which enables us to make decisions and choices that are genuinely our own

ways in which people make moral decisions

• conscience

• reason/logic

• values/principles/belies

• past experiences

• religious teachings/holy books

• the law

• religious leaders

• not everyone always believes what is good and what isn’t e.g. extremists

four types of ethics

• absolute ethics (absolutism)

• relative ethics relativism)

• situation ethics

• virtue ethics

what is absolute ethics and examples

• a clear set of definite rules which can always be applied/always right or wrong

• do not kill

• never steal

• always treat people how you expect to be treated

which religions have absolute ethics

• catholic

• evangelical

• quaker- always believe war is wrong

relative ethics definition and example

• there is no definite set of rules, right and wrong change depending on the situation

• kill in self defence

• steal bread if you’re starving and poor

• treat people how you feel they should be treated

which religions have relative ethics

• protestant

• CofE

what is situation ethics

• the result should produce the most loving result, which may be different in every situation

virtue ethics definition

• focuses on the person having and developing good qualities, rather than individual actions

what is utilitarianism

• the result should always be one which makes the most people happy and harms the least people

• “the greatest good for the greatest number”

what would Christians consider when making a decision about right and wrong

• Bible

• Jesus

• pope if catholic

• other religious leaders

• God

• family

what do some Christians believe conscience is

the voice of God

how does the Bible help Christians decide what’s right and wrong

• gives parables, morals and teachings in certain/similar situations to a Christian so they know what God teaches them to do

• teaches basic moral principles

• 10 commandments

problems with referring to Bible for right and wrong to help make decisions

• different time period so different outdated rules e.g. slavery, food etc

• different people have different interpretations of what the Bible tells them to do

• Bible doesn’t have the answer to modern day problems like contraception technology etc

how can the church help Christians decide whats right or wrong

• gives guidance

• community of like-minded people who follow the same morals and may have been in the same situation

• someone safe to talk to

key Christian teachings which teach about right and wrong

• golden rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”

• Jesus teaches agape; to be all loving

• parable of sheep and goats shows importance of helping people to be close to God and importance of helping others

• 10 commandments

causes of crime

• poverty

• mental health issues

• coercion/peer pressure

• poverty

• homelessness

• poor parenting/absent or abusive

• bad life circumstances

• poor education

• media influence

• addiction

• unemployment

why are laws needed

• humans live in groups and groups need rules to organise the types of behaviours allowed

• laws protect the weak from the strong

• advanced civilisations e.g. UK need laws to keep everything organised and safe

• if people think the legal system is not working then they might start a civil war so laws prevent violence

whats the difference between a sin and a crime

• a sin is against God, a crime is against the law

• sins can be crimes and crimes are usually sins

Christian views on why we should follow the law

• St Paul said “everyone must submit themselves to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God established”

Christian views on why we shouldn’t follow the law

• St Thomas Aquinas

• crimes that are not sins usually come about as a result of unjust laws, which are not proper laws

• if laws don;t give justice, then people may take the law into their own hands

• if some laws are unjust people may think all laws are unjust

• if laws are unjust people will feel its right to break them

• e.g. Rosa Parks broke the law because it was just

what do Muslims believe about whether we should follow the law or not

• believe we should follow Shariah law, the religious law given by Allah

• often this is in like with UK law but Shariah law is more important than UK law and must always be followed

• sometimes UK law and Shariah law opposing e.g. abortion legal in the UK but Muslims against it, so should not support it

what does Christianity teach about sin

• sin part of human nature and all people have the potential to commit crime

• shown in the story of the Fall of Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit

what are the six aims of punishment

• deterrence

• reformation

• retribution

• protection

• vindication

• reparation

what is deterrence

• idea that punishments should put people off committing crimes

• focuses on prevention; punishment a person is given severe enough to act as deterrent and discourages that person and other people from committing the offense

strengths of deterrence as punishment

• prevents crime in the first place

weaknesses of deterrence as punishment

• may not deter as crime may be in the heat of the moment

• deterrent such as death penalty do not seem to reduce crime

• crimes that are deterrents may be unjust or extreme which is immoral

what is reformation

• idea that punishments should try to change criminals so that they will not commit crimes again

• punishment an opportunity to reform offenders

• helps offenders realise the error of their ways and change to become law abiding citizens who won’t commit crimes again

• can include training and education so offenders will not need to reoffend

strengths of reformation

• most positive outcome for society as criminals return as productive members of society and do not reoffend

• most positive for criminals themselves as it gives them a second chance

weaknesses of reformation as punishment

• some criminals lie/act reformed in order to get their sentence reduced

• doesn’t work unless there is sufficient help given to those leaving prison to find jobs etc

what is retribution

• idea that punishments should make criminals pay for what they have done wrong

• many believe that a person should pay for what they have done

• give society and victims of crime a feeling of justice

• punishments should match severity of crime

strengths of retribution as punishment

• shows that the law should be kept

• if you do something wrong you should pay for it; fair

weaknesses of retribution as punishment

• only works if punishment fits the crime; in some cases the punishment too harsh

what is protection

• idea that society should be protected from the criminal and the offences that a criminal commits

• many frightened by crime and punishment can help to protect society from the acts of criminals, particularly violent or persistent offenders by imprisoning them so they cannot harm society

strengths of protection as punishment

• protects society

• makes the victims and people in general feel safe

weaknesses of protection

• only temporary unless reform has occurred

• do prison sentences protect offenders?? petty criminals can be drawn into more serious crime in prison

what is vindication

• aim/punishment that means offenders must be punished to show that the law must be respected and is right

• important if we want to obey the law

• people going to obey it must respect it, see it as just or be afraid of it

• if everyone breaks a law and no one ever gets punished then people won’t respect the law

strengths of vindication as punishment

• people know the reasons for the law and so more likely to keep it

weaknesses of vindication as punishment

• can know the act is wrong/unlawful but circumstances might be against them

what is reparation

• aim of punishment designed to help an offender put something back into society

• focuses on restorative justice

• punishment should be a reflection of and equal to the crime committed

strengths of reparation as punishment

• develops empathy with victim and prevents further crimes

• gives the offender a link to society and possible sense of purpose

weaknesses of reparation as punishment

• offender may just go through the motions without actually reforming

what is restorative justice

• system of criminal justice which focuses on rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and community at large

• a way to reform criminals and allow victims to move on

• if both perpetrator and victim willing they will meet and discuss what happened

Christian beliefs on the aims of punishment

• criminals should be treated justly

• forgiveness and punishment should go together

• REFORM= follow example of Jesus who tried to reform sinners and not be judgemental

• RETRIBUTION= “an eye for an eye”

• but overall punishment ultimately belongs to God and no matter what happens on Earth, a bad person will be punished by God in the afterlife

Christian teachings about reform as a punishment

• follow in example of Jesus who tried to reform sinners, and forgave those who betrayed him

• “why do you see the speck in your brothers eye and not notice the log in your own”

• Jesus taught agape and compassion

• “love thy neighbour”

• recognise and address the causes of criminal behaviour as a means of restoring social justice and preventing crime

• prison reform and humane treatment in prison supported by Christians like Howard and Fry

• “turn the other cheek”

Christian teachings on retribution as punishment

• “an eye for an eye”

• but limited as Christians argue you can’t just look at old testament and Jesus teaches against it with turn the other cheek

CofE views on aims of punishment

• locking up young people last resort

• times when for the sake of society and for themselves its the only answer, but the cost is high

• in custody there is no prospect of making an apology to the victim or reparation

• what is needed is “a way of making amends within the community”

Roman Catholic views on the aims of punishment

• PROTECTION

• REFORMATION

• RETRIBUTION

• absolutist and believe public authority has the right and duty to inflict permanent and proportionate punishment for an offence

• primary aim of redressing disorder introduced by order and protecting peoples safety

• should punish crimes as it protects society and reforms the individual

• believe that God is just and so rewards good and punishes bad

Muslim views on the aim of punishment

• forgiveness and reform

• protection

• deterrence

• Allah will judge all justly on the Last Day and that their duty as Allah’s creation is to ensure people treated fairly with just governance

Muslim attitudes about reform being the aim of punishment

• Quran often mentions repentance in association with crimes that it deals with so clear that the door to repentance open whenever the criminal abandons his crime and behaves properly

Muslim attitudes about protection being the aim of punishment

• important to protect the ummah from the dangers of crime to keep law and order

• essential in keeping people from straying from what is good and just

Muslim attitudes about deterrence being the aim of punishment

• “there is preservation of life for you in retribution of people of understanding, that you may become pious”

• cut off a hand for theft or receiving a beating in full view of local community

• severe punishments like this as the law is from Allah so to break the law is to go against Allah as no difference between state and religious laws

• if criminal knows the extent of the negative consequences for himself that his crime will cause, he will think more before committing it

• criminal who has already been subject to punishment will most likely not return to the crime again

• rest of society, their awareness of the effects of punishment will keep them from falling into crime

• publicly announce when punishment will be carried out to realise general effect from the punishment

importance of crime in Islam

to keep law and order

what tells Muslims about the aims of punishments

• Shariah law which outlines both the rules to live by and the punishments if these laws are broken

• the word of God so most important to follow

• shariah system means substantial evidence needed to establish a guilty verdict and any doubts make the punishment invalid so only punished when sure

utilitarianist views on the aim of punishment

• theory of punishment that is about deterrence

• laws and prison should be used to maximise happiness of society

• small numbers of criminals suffer punishment in order to benefit large numbers of people in society

• “it is the greatest good to the greatest number which is the measure of right or wrong”

two examples of Christian reformers

• John Howard

• Elizabeth Fry

what did Howard campaign against

• concerned some prisoners detained as they couldn’t afford their release fee

• overall bad conditions of prisons

what did Howard do to help reform prisons

• persuaded parliament to ensure that prisoners who have finished their sentence are released

• toured other prisons, looking for good examples to remodel the gaol on and writes down what he sees at each

• 1777 publishes The State of Prisons in England and Wales, providing detailed evidence for other prison reformers

• makes visits to individual gaolers around country to persuade them to improve their practices

what did Howard want prisons to be like

• clean, decent food and water

• useful work

• Christian teaching

• private cells to allow reflection on crimes

• wage for gaolers so they wouldn’t exploit prisoners

what religion is Fry

quaker

what prison did Fry go to and what were the conditions like

• visited Newgate prison in 1813

• some prisoners detained without trial

• women and children alongside dangerous prisoners

• filthy and overcrowded conditions

what actions did Fry to do try to help reform prisons

• began teaching sewing and lead Bible classes at Newgate to encourage rehabilitation

• helps set up the Association for the Reformation of Female Prisoners at Newgate to campaign for better conditions

• helps ensure female warders are employed to work with female and child prisoners

• organises prison education for women and children at Newgate

• improves living conditions, providing prisoners with furniture and clothing

• writes letters and campaigns for wide prison reform; goes to others to convince them the system is bad

name of current reform group

Prison Reform Trust

what does the Prison Reform Trust do

• works across UK to try and initiate chance

• reduce unnecessary imprisonment and promote community solutions to crime

• improve treatment and conditions for prisoners and their families

• promote equality and human rights in the justice system

what is a key step reformers believe is the most important to help reform and stop crime

education

who do modern day reformers believe prison should be used for

only used for those who shouldn’t be allowed back into society as they may cause harm to others, other alternatives should be considered for those who don’t fall here

what does Islamic law state about treatment of prisoners in prisons

• prisoners must be fed and clothed either by Islamic gov or by individual who has custody of the prisoner

• also supported by the QUran

• prisoners must be fed in dignified manner and mustn’t be forced to beg for their sustenance

Muslim program of reform

Muslim aid and restorative justice program

what does the Muslim Aid and Restorative Justice Program do

• provides mentoring program for people serving their sentence in London jail

• prisoners assessed in terms of their need, level of risk and suitability

• following that the prisoner works closely with their mentor preparing them for release and reintegration into society

• mainly volunteering program allowing the family and friends to provide support to those who have committed a crime

four forms of punishment other than prison

• community service

• electronic tagging

• fine

• probation

what do human rights say about the treatment of prisoners

• freedom from torture and degrading treatment

• right to a fair trial (public trial)

• judgement is made by impartial people

• accused person knows what they are accused of and they have legal representation defending and arguing their case against prosecution

• right not to be punished for doing something that was not a crime when you did it

what is a prison chaplain

a minister like a priest, pastor, rabbi, imam or community member of a religious tradition who goes into prisons to help prisoners

what do prison chaplains do

• provide counselling to inmates supporting them through their rehabilitation and seeing to their spiritual and religious needs

• fear, loneliness, guilt, concerns about family or children on the outside- chaplain helps with

• help prisoners re-enter the community working with parole officers and other volunteers

what other group did British Humanist Society work with when running a project and wheere

Humanist Pastoral Support Volunteers at Winchester Prison

what does this project do

• meeting with inmates with nil religion on admission

• hold discussion groups

• provide counselling like bereavement support

why are chaplains important in Christianity

• religion of forgiveness which Jesus taught and being a chaplain is a good opportunity to do this

• agape

Muslim teachings supporting prison chaplains

• Allah created us all and have a duty to support all those of the ummah who are Gods creation

• all equal

• should forgive

are liberal Christians for or against the death penalty and why

• are against

• believe only God has authority to take a life

• execution goes against sanctity of life as all life precious

• God commanded “thou shalt not kill”

• Jesus taught to be compassionate and forgiving “father forgive them for they know not what they do “

• many favour reform over execution and have been involved in prison reform and continue to work in prisons as chaplains

• “turn the other cheek”

• golden rule “do to others what you want them to do to you”

are quakers for or against the death penalty and why and examples of them fighting against this

• against

• have campaigned against death penalty since 1818

• all human life should be respected as every person is a reflection of God (imago dei)

• believe punishments should be used to reform

• Fry

are conservative Christians for or against the death penalty and why

• for

• advocate for death penalty as old testament says “an eye for an eye”

• “whoever sheds the blood of man by man shall his blood be shed”

• old testament specifies 36 capital offences including crimes like idolatry, magic, blasphemy and murder

why are catholics for the death penalty

• traditional have allowed but not encouraged

• 1997- Vatican issued statement saying execution acceptable where identity of criminal was absolutely confirmed and where execution only means to protect society

reasons why catholics against the death penalty

• Vatican also said that non-lethal means of punishment more keeping with concrete conditions of common good an dignity of the human person

reasons why Christianity as a whole for the death penalty

• old testament set capital punishment as penalty for some crimes

• “whoever sheds the blood of man by man shall his blood be shed”

• laws or realm may punish men with death

• important Christian leaders like St Thomas Aquinas have supported capital punishment to preserve peace of society

• “an eye for an eye”

reasons why Christianity as a whole against death penalty

• Jesus a victim of death penalty so wrong

• Jesus teaches forgiveness not retribution

• Jesus came to reform people and you cannot reform an executed man

• Jesus overturned an eye for an eye with “turn the other cheek” and commands forgiveness

• St Paul teaches against retribution “do not repay evil for evil…do not take revenge”

• “we do not have the right even in the case of dreadful crimes to take a life as punishment”

• do not kill

• only God has the right to take a life

is Islam more for or against capital punishment and why

• as a whole accepts capital punishment for the most severe crimes

• most Muslim countries retain the death penalty

reasons why Islam is for the death penalty

• while criminals will be punished by God on DoJ, Muslims believe that they should be punished on Earth too

• need to protect the ummah

• “nor take life- which God has made sacred, except for just cause”- most Muslims agree that this just cause permits death penalty for crimes of murder and attacking Islam

• Islamic countries that practice very strict Shariah Law associated with use of capital punishment

• Shariah law laid down in Quran and is word of Allah so must be followed

• Muhammad agreed with capital punishment and sentenced people to death for murder

examples of methods of execution used in Islamic countries

• beheading

• firing squad

• hanging

• stoning

reasons why Islamic countries give out the death penalty

• adultery

• homosexuality

• terrorism

• treason

reasons why Muslims against death penalty

• forgiveness important and preferred

• Quran forbids the taking of life “nor take life- which God has made sacred”

• small growing number of Muslims do disagree and call for it to be abolished

• Shariah law often used by repressive govs that attack women and poor

• Shariah law should be adapted for modern day life

• Shariah law only suggests capital punishment and doesn’t make compulsory

• alternative to death penalty is blood money

• mercy should be shown rather than death

moral arguments for the death penalty

• to protect society

• to bring the victim’s family peace after the murder of a loved one; unfair on them to have a horrible person still alive