Topic summaries for the AQA GCSE RS Paper 2 module on religion, crime and punishment. These summaries provide a comprehensive revision resource which is simple to understand and includes supporting bible quotes. I got a 9 with these notes! :)
Why do People commit crimes?
Poverty-some people can’t afford basic necessities leading to stealing.
Upbringing- if you grow up in a household where crime happens frequently it becomes normalised.
Mental Illness- mental health issues can cause people to commit crimes even unconsciously.
Addiction- may have too much alcohol so become violent or steal money to buy addictions.
Greed- theft or fraud also breaches ten commandment ‘you shall not steal’, ‘you shall not covet’
Hate- leads to violence or aggression as a form of discrimination
Opposition to an unjust law- any law based on prejudice is wrong so sometimes you must break law to change it.
Opposition to an Unjust Law
Many Christians would be accepting of breaking a law based on prejudice as the law is inherently wrong.
This is because in the bible it states we are all equal and if this is not the case in law a law should be peacefully
broken.
Supporting bible quote: ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek’
Some Christians believe it is not okay to break an unjust law.
They believe this because all laws are made by God and to break any law would go against God and those laws are
to unite society so to break these laws would disrupt society.
Supporting bible quote: ‘Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except
which God has established’.
Aims of Punishment
Retribution- to have your own back on the offender (revenge). Christians are against this as they believe
retribution should not be the main aim of punishment.
Although some Christians are okay with retribution due to the Old Testament saying ‘eye for an eye’.
Deterrence- An aim of punishment to put others off committing crimes.
Reformation- the offender is punished but also helped to become a law abiding member of society.
This is most Christians preferred method as they believe God will judge them in the afterlife so must show
compassion to offenders.
Supporting bible quote: ‘Do not take revenge… but leave room for Gods wrath’
Christian attitudes to Criminals
Christians believe they should treat criminals with compassion and to consider how they may be helped as well as
punished for their wrongdoings.
Supporting bible quote: ‘For I was in prison and you came to visit me’.
The parable of the sheep and the goats teaches Christians that we should show love and compassion to those in
need and criminals otherwise we’re not showing to God we deserve to go to heaven.
All crime is wrong but criminals should be helped.
Attitudes towards Capital Punishment (death penalty)
Most Christians believe capital punishment is wrong.
They believe this because of the sanctity of life, only God can take a life and this is clear in the Ten
Commandments ‘you shall not kill’.
However, some Christians do believe capital punishment is okay.
They believe this because in the old testament the death penalty is used for a number of crimes so God must be
okay with it highlighted in the bible quote- ‘eye for an eye… life for a life’
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