having the desire to deliberately cause suffering or harm to another

the belief that human nature is flawed, and that we all have the tendency to sin; traditionally believed to come from Adam and Eve’s disobedience

an effect of evil; undergoing pain and hardship

Good and evil intentions

Religious education

Reasons for crime: poverty and upbringing

Reasons for crime: mental illness and addiction

Reasons for crime: greed and hate

Opposition to an unjust law

Views about people who commit crime

Views about different types of crime

The aims of punishment

The treatment of criminals: prison and community service

The treatment of criminals: corporal punishment

Different religious views about corporal punishment

The concept of forgiveness

Different religious views about forgiveness

Ethical arguments relating to the death penalty

Different religious views about the death penalty

In this unit pupils will study ideas of crime and how people may view crime is caused. From that, they will examine different ideas of punishing crime and treating criminals focussing especially on a case study of the death penalty and ideas of forgiveness.

Religion, crime and punishment

action which breaks the law; can be against the person (e.g., murder), against property (e.g., vandalism), or against the state (e.g., treason)

the state of being without the things needed for a reasonable quality of life; can be a cause of crime

the environment a child lives in, and the instructions they receive, while they are growing up; can be a cause of crime

being addicted to/dependent on a particular substance; can be a cause of crime (e.g., stealing money to pay for illegal drugs)

a medical condition that can cause changes to a person’s behaviour; can be a cause of crime

action which breaks the law; can be against                                        the person (e.g., murder), against property (e.g., vandalism), or against the state (e.g., treason)

reason for committing crime – wanting or desiring something or more of something

reason for committing crime – prejudice or hatred against a person or group

the faculty said to enable us to make moral decisions, and to judge our own and others' actions

a deeply held moral or religious belief that guides a person’s actions, even when it conflicts with the law or social expectations

a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who opposed the Nazi regime

showing kindness, care and sympathy towards others, respecting their dignity and aiming to reduce suffering

ensuring fairness by responding to crimes in a way that holds the offender properly accountable

the process of helping offenders regain skills, change behaviour and reintegrate into society after committing a crime

an action which breaks the law; can be against the person (e.g. murder), against property (e.g. vandalism) or against the state (e.g. treason)

a crime committed because of prejudice views about a person or group

taking something without the owner’s consent

the threat of punishment as a way to put a person off committing crime

legal measure aimed at preserving others’ rights and freedoms by removing or restricting those who pose a risk

helping the criminal understand why their behaviour was wrong, with the goal of changing  their mindset and actions

getting the criminal back for their crimes by giving a punishment as payback or revenge for the wrongdoing

punishment involving the criminal doing a set number of hours of physical labour/work in their local community

imprisonment is a form of punishment where a criminal is locked in a secure guarded building (prison) for a period of time

a penalty given to someone who has broken the law, intended to achieve justice and discourage future wrongdoing

punishment in which physical pain is inflicted on the criminal

the rights a person should be entitled to simply because they are a human being, e.g. education, fair treatment etc.

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

the process of becoming emotionally or physically whole and restoring well-being after harm or injury

an approach to justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by wrongdoing through dialogue and understanding

making up and rebuilding relationships between two groups/sides after disagreement

capital punishment; the execution of a criminal which is sanctioned by the state

aim of punishment; the threat of punishment as a way to put a person off committing crime (e.g. knowing they could go to prison if they steal)

fairness; working to fix an unfair situation

letting go of blame against a person for wrongs they have done; moving on

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Religion, crime and punishment

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