Reasons for crime: greed and hate
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how greed and hate can cause crime and describe Christian and secular responses to these causes.
Key learning points
- People driven by greed may commit crimes like fraud, bribery or tax evasion to gain money, power or status.
- Hate can cause crimes such as vandalism, violence or online abuse, often based on prejudice against certain groups.
- The Bible teaches that both greed (1 Timothy 6:10) and hatred (Matthew 5:21–22) can lead people to serious sin and harm.
- Christian denominations teach that greed and hate are sinful and cause harm to individuals and society.
- Charities like Church Action on Poverty and Hope Not Hate aim to address greed and hate to help prevent crime.
Keywords
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)
Greed - reason for committing crime – wanting or desiring something or more of something
Hate - reason for committing crime – prejudice or hatred against a person or group
Common misconception
Hate crime is only about violence.
Hate crime can also include speech, vandalism or online abuse driven by prejudice.
Teacher tip
Use real case studies where crimes have been committed as a result of greed or hatred.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Mental illness can make it hard to make good , especially without support.
Q2.What is addiction?
Q3.What is a helpful response to people suffering from addiction?
Q4.Christianity teaches the need to respond with to those affected by illness or addiction.
Q5.What approach to people suffering from addiction do many religious and secular views agree on?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match each keyword to its meaning.
an action which breaks the law
wanting or desiring something or more of something
prejudice or hatred against a person or group
Q2.Greed can lead to crimes like fraud and to gain wealth or power.
Q3.Which of the following is an example of a hate crime?
Q4.1 Timothy 6:10 teaches that the love of is the root of all kinds of evil.
Q5.When can vandalism be considered a hate crime?
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Reasons for crime: greed and hate, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Reasons for crime: greed and hate, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Religion, crime and punishment unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.