Rights and responsibilities
Environmental and medical issues
Peace and Conflict
Crime and Punishment
Religion and Society!
Crime and PunishmentLaw and Justice
The point of PunishmentReligious teachings about justice
Capital PunishmentReligious attitudes towards capital punishment
Drugs and alcohol Drugs and alcohol – The problem for societyReligious attitudes towards drugs and alcohol
Key Words Sin: An act against the will of God. Crime: An act against the law. Law: Rules made by Parliament and enforceable by the police and the courts. Justice: Due allocation of reward and punishment, the maintenance of what is right. Judgement: The act of judging people and their actions. Capital Punishment: The death penalty for a crime or offence Reform: The idea that punishments should try to change criminals so that they will not commit crimes again. Deterrence: The idea that punishments will be of such a nature that they will put people off (deter) committing crimes. Retribution: The idea that punishments should make criminals pay for what they have done wrong. Rehabilitation: Restore to normal life. Responsibility: Being responsible for your own actions. Addiction: A recurring compulsion to engage in an activity regardless of its effects.
Law and Justice
Laws tell people how they should and should not behave.
Laws set out certain punishments to be enforced if the law is broken.
Without rules normal society would break down and there will be ANARCHY.
Laws create a civilised society.
Ensures that people are treated fairly.
Punishment has to be appropriate for the crime committed.
Law must be based on justice for society to believe they are fair and follow them.
If laws are unjust people may decide to act without the law or ‘take the law into their own hands’.
Puni
shm
ent
Protection
Deterrent
Retribution
Placing an offender in prison, or taking their life in order to protect society from the
criminal.
Having a harsh punishment that discourages others from breaking the law, or discourage
a criminal from re-offending.
Punishing a person to make them pay for what they have done.
Reparation
ReformA punishment that aims to stop a criminal
from re-offending, through a programme or re-education and training in prison.
Punishment that makes the criminal pay for their crime by doing something to help
society of the victim.
Justice and Christianity BIBLE: Treating people unjustly is a sin, and those who do it can expect to pay the
price on the Day of Judgement.
Old Testament RETRIBUTION
Exodus 21:23-25Vendettas and long-running disputes
were unjust.
Jesus’ teachings about justice were revolutionary for the time that he lived.
Jesus linked justice with non-violence and forgiveness. RETRIBUTION IS NOT THE BEST WAY!
Use , and forgive people who hurt you. He said that this was better than exacting punishment.
Jesus said that God wants a just society. Jesus taught people to
share their wealth and
give to charity.
Modern Christians believe there is an unjust division
of wealth in the world.
Many Christians campaign against poverty and make a
deliberate effort to buy Fairtrade goods.
“Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you the same way as you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others”. (Matthew 7:1-2)
Justice and Islam One of them is that Allah
is Just!!
Life of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh)
ZAKAHUNJUST!!!
Shari’ah Law
Capital Punishment
The Death Penalty in Britain In 1908 the death penalty was abolished for people under 16. In 1931 the death penalty was abolished for pregnant women. The last hangings were in 1964. The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in the UK in 1998.
It is an excellent deterrent.
Removes dangerous people.
Cheaper than keeping a person in prison for a very long time.
Life for a life – fair retribution.
Innocent people get convicted by mistake.
Life is sacred – even that of a criminal
Prison is a good deterrent – Many try to commit suicide
It barbaric
Christianity and Capital PunishmentHERESY
A belief that is not acceptable to the
Church.“If anyone takes human life, he will be punished...Human beings were made like
God, so whoever murders one of them will be killed by someone else”. (Genesis 9:5-6)
Old Testament
The NEW TESTAMENT teaches that a Christian should follow a countries legal code. Christians must obey state authorities and if Capital Punishment is okay then it is acceptable.
Jesus taught about love and forgiveness for sinners.
Only God can give and take life.
Sixth Commandment “Do not kill” means as a punishment as well.
Islam and Capital Punishment
Just punishmentShari’ah Law
APOSTASY!“You shall not kill – for that is
forbidden by God – except for a just cause”DELIBERATE MURDER
THREATENING TO UNDERMINE THE AUTHORITY
Alcohol and Drugs Illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 18
16-17
Under 5
CHANGES?Ban on advertisement. Increase the taxStop happy hourNo drink drive limit for under 21s.
Alcohol and Drugs CLASS A = Morphine, HeroineCLASS B = Speed, Cannabis CLASS C = Ketamine, Some prescribed drugs
Police have the power to
stop and search any one
they think may be using or
carrying drugs.
Very serious offense to
supply drugs.
Growing cannabis is
illegal.
Importing drugs carries a
long prison sentence.
EFFECT ON PERSON AND SOCIETY
Causes health problems: Liver damage, lung cancer, high blood pressure etc
Relationships fail – Addicts often lie to them.
Work/Education suffers: Addicts are often to worried about their next fix.
Crime occurs: People under the influence commit crime – 50% street crime related to drinks.
Costs a fortune: Person spends large amount of money on their addiction. This often leads to debt.
Christians and Drugs/alcohol
“Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
RESPONSIBLE!
Jesus’ first miracle = WATER
INTO WINE!
HELP THE ADDICT!
Islam and drugs/alcohol “Satan stirs up hatred among you by means of wine and gambling...Will you not abstain from
them?” (Qur’an 4:43)
HARAMDestroys a peaceful
society