Crime and punishment

crime

an action against the law that has been put in place by rulers of state

punishment

something done legally to someone as a result of being found guilty of a crime

7 reasons for crime

1. poverty

2. upbringing

3. mental illness

4. addiction

5. greed

6. hate

7. oppose an unjust law

quote about poverty as reason for crime

‘if christians don’t dig deep and generously open up their wallets, they don’t have genuine faith’ pope francis

quote about upringing as reason for crime

‘a violent person entices their neighbour and leads them down a path that is not good’

quote about mental illness as reason for crime

‘the lord will turn from his fierce anger and show you mercy and have compassion on you’

quote about addiction as reason for crime

‘And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well... If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.’

quote about greed as a reason for crime

‘for it is from within, out of a persons heart that evil thoughts come, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed’

quote about hate as a reason for crime

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

example of opposing unjust law

rosa parks 1955

what does the bible say about authorities?

‘the authorities that exist have been established by God’

hate crime

crimes, often including violence, targeted at people based on race, religion, sexuality, disability or gender

what does the bible say about stealing + murder

‘do not steal’

‘do not murder’

3 aims of punishment

• reformation

• deterrence

• retribution

what is reformation?

changing someone’s behaviour for the better

therapy, counselling, community service etc

2 quotes for reformation

‘do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’

‘turn the other cheek’

what is deterrence?

putting someone off committing a crime (eg threat of drink driving ban)

christian response to deterrence

using people as a means to an end - not acceptable

what is retribution?

getting revenge/your own back on the criminal

2 quotes for retribution

• ‘eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand’

• ‘whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood shall be shed’

moral evil

suffering caused by human actions

natural evil

suffering caused by natural events

3 parts of inconsistent triad

suffering, benevolent, omnipotent

examples of suffering in bible

• jesus

• job

how much did job have at the start?

7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 10 children

what does job get at the end

10 more children, double his livestock and wealth

quote from job

“You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

quote about what suffering produces

‘suffering produces perserverance; perserverance, character; character, hope’

why do adam and eve eat the apple

they have free will, like all humans (reason for suffering)

Jesus’ attitude towards suffering

‘my god why have you forsaken me’

‘forgive them for they do not know what they are doing’

what is corporal punishment

punishing an offender by causing them physical harm

quote about corporal punishment

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

what is community service

a way of punishing offenders by making them do unpaid work in the community

quote about forgiveness

forgive as the lord forgave you