Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment

• • A crime is an offence that breaks the law set by the government. People who commit crimes face legal consequences.
  • In the UK, people who commit crimes are arrested and questioned by police.
  • They then appear before a court where a judge or jury determines their punishment.
  • In the UK, the most serious crimes are punished with a life sentence in prison, while less serious ones might result in a shorter time in prison, community services or a fine. No legal punishment is allowed to deliberately cause harm to the offender.
• Good and evil intentions and actions:

  • Some people assume a good action is an action that does not break a law. However, there are also many good actions which exist outside the law (such as giving to charity or helping people in need).
  • Likewise, there are some actions that are not against the law but might be considered evil by some people (e.g. adultery or abortion). Generally, evil actions are considered to cause suffering and harm to others.
• Christian views on good and evil intentions and actions:

  • Teachings in the Bible warn against having any evil or wrong thoughts and intention.
  • ‘Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).
  • Evil actions such as using violence are considered to be sinful and against God.
  • Many Christians believe there are no such thing as evil people, because God created people to be good.
  • However, because of original sin, all humans have a tendency to do evil things even though they are not evil in themselves.
• Sikh views on good and evil intentions and actions:

  • Sikhs believe humans are born good but they make mistakes and some do evil things because they have not resisted temptation.
  • Sikhism teaches that the root cause of evil and suffering is the human ego, which has become distracted by the five evils.
  • Sikhs believe in reincarnation, so they believe in punishment after death. They know they must face punishment in this life for their wrongdoings too.
  • Having good intentions helps to build good karma.
  • “The self-willed manmukh receives only more punishment” (Guru Granth Sahib 361).
• There are many different reasons why people commit crimes:

  • Poverty
  • Upbringing
  • Mental illness
  • Addiction
  • Greed
  • Hate
  • Opposition to an unjust law
• Reason for crime - poverty:

  • There are millions of people in the UK who live in poverty, who cannot always afford to buy food.
  • Some believe the only way out of this is to steal.
  • However, stealing for any reason is against the law, and those who steal food or other essentials can be arrested and punished.
• Poverty - Christian views:

  • Stealing is wrong.
  • People should do what they can to help make sure nobody finds themselves in that position.
  • For example, Christian Aid and Foodbanks.
• Poverty - Sikh views:

  • Sikhs work too create situations create situations where there is no poverty.
  • They provide food to those in need through the langar.
• Reason for crime - upbringing:

  • Some young people grow up in a household where crime is a part of life.
  • A troubled upbringing might also lead a person to turn to crime.
• Upbringing - Christian views:

  • Parents should teach their children the right way to behave through their own words and actions.
• Upbringing - Sikh views:

  • Sikhisms emphasises a strong family structure where the wisdom of elders is respected.
  • This helps ensure children do not turn to crime.
• Reason for crime - mental illness:

  • Some forms of mental illness may lead to crime.
  • For example, anger management problems may lead to violence.
• Mental illness - Christian views:

  • Treating the causes of illness is the most loving and compassionate way of dealing with people with mental illness.
  • “Love thy neighbour”
• Mental illness - Sikh views:

  • Any difficulty that leads to stress can make mental illness worse.
  • Supporting others so they can cope with their situation is important.
  • Compassion and patience is a virtue.
• Reason for crime - addiction:

  • Taking illegal drugs is in itself a criminal act.
  • A person’s addiction may make them commit further crimes to be able to buy drugs.
  • Legal drugs such as alcohol can also cause crime such as violence, rape and drunk driving if taken to excess.
• Addiction - Christian views:

  • Christian’s are against taking illegal drugs and support rehabilitation as a way of defeating addiction.
  • Most Christians believe alcohol is acceptable in moderation.
• Addiction - Sikh views:

  • People under the influence of drugs lose awareness and so are less sensitive to others.
  • Sikh teachings forbid the taking of intoxicants.
• Reason for crime - greed:

  • Some people want personal possessions they do not need and cannot afford.
  • Their greed may lead them to steal them.
• Greed - Christian views:

  • Greed is one of the seven deadly sins.
  • The Ten Commandments forbid envy, and it is envy that often causes greed.
• Greed - Sikh views:

  • Greed is one of the five evils and is seen as unnecessary and destructive.
• Reason for crime - hate:

  • Hate, the opposition of love, can lead to violence or aggression.
• Hate - Christian views:

  • Jesus taught Christians to “love thy neighbour”.
  • This includes enemies also.
• Hate - Sikh views:

  • Sikhs believe every person is created by God and has a divine spark.
  • Hate would be wrong and is against God‘s will.
• Reason for crime - opposition to an unjust law:

  • Sometimes people break a law they believe to be unjust in order to protect against it.
  • These could be laws based on inequality or that deny basic human rights.
• Opposition to an unjust law - Christian views:

  • Some Christians may agree with this but only if no violence is involved and nobody gets harmed.
• Opposition to an unjust law - Sikh views:

  • Sikhs have protected against laws they felt were unjust or that prevented them from fulfilling their religious duties.
  • They cary a kirpan to represent standing up for their faith.