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

Ethical arguments relating to the death penalty

Religious education

Good and evil intentions

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

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

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

In which of these countries is the death penalty currently banned?

Making sure punishments always match the seriousness of the crime

Punishing someone in advance of committing a crime

Threat of punishment to put someone off committing crime

The most common method of execution in the United States is lethal {{}}.

Kantian {{}} focuses on whether an action is right, not just its consequences.

It can result in executing innocent people

Which of these is an argument against the death penalty?

The death penalty has been proven to reduce crime in most countries

Many studies show no clear link between the death penalty and lower crime rates

The death penalty always prevents people from reoffending

The death penalty is a good deterrence to crime.

Which of these is not an aim of punishment?

It may encourage people to forgive every crime without punishment

It may suggest that crimes should always be ignored

It may lead people to support harsh punishments instead of forgiving

How could the Old Testament teaching ‘eye for an eye’ shape people’s view of forgiveness?

The Lord’s {{}} states ‘Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us.’

Jesus told the Parable of the Lost {{}} to show Christians should always forgive.

What is one reason people may commit crimes?

To make criminals suffer for what they did

What is the aim of reformation in punishment?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Ethical arguments relating to the death penalty

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.