Religion and Society Rights and responsibilities Environmental and

Religion and Society! Rights and responsibilities Environmental and medical issues Peace and Conflict Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment ØLaw and Justice ØThe point of Punishment ØReligious teachings about justice ØCapital Punishment ØReligious attitudes towards capital punishment ØDrugs and alcohol – The problem for society ØReligious attitudes towards drugs and alcohol

Key Words q Sin: An act against the will of God. q Crime: An act against the law. q Law: Rules made by Parliament and enforceable by the police and the courts. q Justice: Due allocation of reward and punishment, the maintenance of what is right. q Judgement: The act of judging people and their actions. q Capital Punishment: The death penalty for a crime or offence q Reform: The idea that punishments should try to change criminals so that they will not commit crimes again. q Deterrence: The idea that punishments will be of such a nature that they will put people off (deter) committing crimes. q Retribution: The idea that punishments should make criminals pay for what they have done wrong. q Rehabilitation: Restore to normal life. q Responsibility: Being responsible for your own actions. q Addiction: A recurring compulsion to engage in an activity regardless of its effects.

Law and Justice ØLaws tell people how they should and should not behave. ØEnsures that people are treated ØLaws set out certain punishments to be enforced if the law is broken. ØPunishment has to be appropriate ØWithout rules normal society would break down and there will be ANARCHY. ØLaws create a civilised society. fairly. for the crime committed. ØLaw must be based on justice for society to believe they are fair and follow them. ØIf laws are unjust people may decide to act

Punishment Protection Placing an offender in prison, or taking their life in order to protect society from the criminal. Deterrent Having a harsh punishment that discourages others from breaking the law, or discourage a criminal from re-offending. Retribution Punishing a person to make them pay for what they have done. Reparation Punishment that makes the criminal pay for their crime by doing something to help society of the victim. Reform A punishment that aims to stop a criminal from reoffending, through a programme or re-education and training in prison.

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 Vendettas 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 s a wants id that God a just societ y. to e l p peo and t h g lth au t a e s u w Jes eir arity. h t e shar ive to ch g “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) 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.

Justice and Islam Shari’ah Law One of them is that Allah is Just!! Life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) H A K ZA ! ! ! T S UNJU

Capital Punishment The Death Penalty in Britain Ø In 1908 the death penalty was abolished for people under 16. Ø In 1931 the death penalty was abolished for pregnant women. Ø The last hangings were in 1964. Ø The death penalty was abolishedØfor all crimes theconvicted UK in by Innocent peopleinget ØIt is an excellent deterrent. 1998. mistake. ØRemoves dangerous people. ØCheaper than keeping a person in prison for a very long time. ØLife for a life – fair retribution. ØLife is sacred – even that of a criminal ØPrison is a good deterrent – Many try to commit suicide ØIt barbaric

t n e m h s i n u P l a t i p a C d n a ity n a i t s i r h C Old Testament “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) HERESY A belief that is not acceptable to the Church. 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. ØJesus taught about love and forgiveness for sinners. ØOnly God can give and take life. ØSixth Commandment “Do not kill” means as a punishment as well.

Islam and Capital Punishment APOSTASY! “You shall not kill – for that is forbidden by God – except for a just cause” Shari’ah Law DELIBERATE MURDER THREATENING TO UNDERMINE THE AUTHORITY Just punishment

Alcohol and Drugs Illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 18 Under 5 16 -17 ØCHANGES? ØBan on advertisement. ØIncrease the tax ØStop happy hour ØNo drink drive limit for under 21 s.

Alcohol and Drugs CLASS A = Morphine, Heroine CLASS B = Speed, Cannabis CLASS C = Ketamine, Some prescribed drugs ower to p e h t ave Police h earch any one r ds sing o u e stop an b y nk ma i h t y e th rugs. d g n i y r car ries a r a c s g g dru n i t r o p nce. Im e t n e s ison long pr o ense t f f o s u rio Very se rugs. d y l p p su egal. l l i s i annab c g n i w Gro

EFFECT ON PERSON AND SOCIETY ØCauses health problems: Liver damage, lung cancer, high blood pressure etc ØRelationships fail – Addicts often lie to them. ØWork/Education suffers: Addicts are often to worried about their next fix. ØCrime occurs: People under the influence commit crime – 50% street crime related to drinks.

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) HARAM Destroys a peaceful society

- Slides: 17