1. Crime and Punishment Keywords
Crime: an act against the law
Judgement: the act of judging people and their actions
Justice: due allocation of reward and punishment/the maintenance of what is right
Law: rules made by parliament and enforceable by the courts
Capital Punishment: the death penalty for a crime or offence
Deterrence: the idea that punishments should be of such a nature that they will put people off committing crimes
Rehabilitation: restore to normal life
Reform: the idea that punishments should try to change criminals so they will not commit crimes again
Retribution: the idea that punishments should make criminals pay for what they have done wrong
Sin: an act against the will of God
Addiction: a recurring compulsion to engage in an activity regardless of its bad effects
Responsibility: being responsible for one’s own actions

2. Why do we need laws?
Groups need rules to organise the behaviour of individuals – people know what sort of behaviour to expect from each other
People can work and be involved in business without someone else taking the rewards for their work
Protects the weak from the strong
Keeps everything organised in an advanced civilisation

3. Why Do Laws Need to be Just (Fair)?
St Thomas Aquinas says:
Otherwise people will feel it’s OK to break them and society may collapse
If some are unjust, people may think all are – if they were they would not be fulfilling their purpose
Otherwise people will not obey and will campaign causing trouble in society
If laws don’t create a just society, people will think the legal system is not working and may start a civil war.

4. Christianity and Justice
Christians believe justice is important because:
Bible – teaches that God will reward the righteous and punish those who sin
Bible – teaches that people should be treated fairly: ‘treat others as you wish to be treated’.
Jesus – teaches the rich should share their wealth with the poor
Christian Churches - campaign for justice and equality
‘…And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and saviour…’
‘’Blessed are those who hunger and search for righteousness’
‘Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God’
‘Love thy neighbour”

5. Judaism and Justice Jews believe justice is important because:
Jews believe that God is just and that people should try to be like God
Torah – contains a system of Justice
Torah – teaches that God is a God of justice.
Tenakh - people should be treated fairly and not cheated.
‘Treat others as you wish to be treated’.
World Jewish Relief - a charity that seeks justice for the poor
Jews are involved in the struggle for human rights:
‘Seek good not evil…then the Lord God Almighty will be with you’.
‘Love thy neighbour”

6. Theories of Punishment (why we punish people)
Retribution
Criminals should pay for their crime.
They should suffer for what they have done
Their punishment should match the crime
Deterrence
Punishment should put people off committing crimes
If people know they will get a severe punishment they will be less likely to commit a crime
Reform/Rehabilitation
Criminals taught not to commit crime again
Looks at reason why they committed crime and tries to resolve this
Protection
Protect society from criminals and their actions

7. Non-Religious Arguments For and Against the Death Penalty
Good deterrent
Protects society
Retribution
How can we be sure they are guilty?
Statistics show it does not work as a deterrent
If a murderer knows they will be killed if caught they are more likely to kill more people to avoid being caught
Human life is too important
Could argue life imprisonment is worse

8. Christian attitudes towards Capital Punishment
DISAGREE
AGREE
-Jesus wanted to reform sinners and it is not possible to reform a person who has been killed
-Jesus banned retribution – “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
- Sanctity of Life
-Many Christian Priests, Ministers, Vicars and Bishops have condemned capital punishment.
-“Love thy neighbour”
- “Thou shall not kill”
-‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.
- The Bible sets out laws and the death penalty is a punishment for breaking some of those laws
- The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England still officially support it.
- St Thomas Aquinas believed that peace can be preserved by using capital punishment

9. Jewish attitudes towards Capital Punishment
Most AGREE
Some DISAGREE
-‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’. - The Torah sets out laws and the death penalty is a punishment for breaking some of those laws -Jewish theory of punishment - punishment should be for the protection of society -Talmud - capital punishment is allowed
- Sanctity of Life
-“Love thy neighbour”
-Believe that the teachings of the Torah and the Talmud need updating
- “Thou shall not kill”

10. Christian and Jewish Attitudes to Illegal Drugs
All Christians against it:
All Jewish people against it
“Body is a temple”
Against the law
Christian Churches say people shouldn’t take illegal drugs
Effects could make it difficult to worship God
Lack of concentration which is needed to pray,
Lack of concentration which is needed to fulfil Mitzvot (commandments) and learn Torah
Duty to honour your parents
The Torah says – “You shall be holy”

11. Christian Attitudes to Alcohol and Tobacco
Most - OK in Moderation
Some (Pentecostals, Salvation Army, many Methodists) – Total Abstinence
Jesus turned water to wine
St Paul – Christians can drink in moderation – “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine for your stomach”
Jesus drank wine
Alcoholic wine used during communion
“Body is a temple of the holy spirit”
Bible warns against drunkenness
Concerned by social and health problems
Many work with recovering addicts

12. Jewish Attitudes to Alcohol
Most Jewish people – OK in Moderation
Tenakh –wine “gladdens the human heart”
Use of wine required in some rituals
BUT only in moderation:
Tenakh – condemns drunkenness – anyone under the influence may not perform religious, legal or political functions. Forbidden to pray until sober.
Torah – “you shall be holy”– Jewish people must be moderate in use of alcohol