Crime, Punishment, forgiveness and suffer

• What is justice

  The idea of each person getting what they deserve and maintaining what's right. It includes punishing the guilty and protecting the innocent.
• Justice is important to religious and non-religious people. Most believe justice is essential for countries to run properly and to ensure that people follow the law.
• Christian belief- justice

  Justice is important - everyone should be treated fairly as God created people to be equal. Christians see God as just, and think that they should be too. They believe that, after a crime is committed, justice can be restored by giving the offender a punishment for their actions.
• Islamic Belief- Justice

  -Muslims to work for justice and treat others justly and equally

  - part of shariah law

  - always strive for justice to take place.
• People should do good and avoid evil. Christianity, Islam and Judaism all teach people to live good lives. This includes following religious teachings, eg by helping other people. The good things that people do will please God/Allah. Religious people believe they should avoid sin and evil, as their actions will be judged when they die.
• Moral evil


  Suffering occurs because of human actions, e.g. murder and rape.
• Natural evil


  Suffering caused by the world, e.g. floods and earthquakes.
• Both crime and punishment are connected to suffering. Religious people are normally against most crimes because of the suffering they cause.
• Christianity - the sheep and goats parable


  Everyone will be judged and separated into the good (the sheep) and the bad (the goats). Helping another person is like helping Jesus.
• Many Christians believe that sin and suffering is caused by humans misusing their free will.
• Islam teaches


  Allah is merciful and those who have done good things will be rewarded, but He will make people who do bad things suffer for them.
• Many Muslims believe that the devil tries to make humans turn to evil.
• Non-religious people reject the idea that God causes suffering. They might feel religion isn't worth the suffering it can sometimes cause, e.g. as an excuse for terrorism, or through persecution of believers.
• Reasons why people commit crime

  • Poverty
  • Upbringing
  • Mental illness
  • Addiction
  • Greed
  • Hate
  • Opposition to unjust law
• Many feel that the reason behind the crime should be taken into consideration, and many religious people would want to help the individual as well as tackle the bigger issues that cause crime.
• Christians are strongly against crime - they're told to care for others. Committing a crime such as theft or a hate crime doesn't treat the victim as an equal. Murder is seen as destroying something created by God.
• Christians may support breaking laws if they go against God's teachings.
• Christian groups like the Prison Fellowship help prisoners, trying to make them see how they have affected victims and stop them from committing crime again when they leave prison.
• Muslims believe that on Yawm ad-Din (the Day of Judgement), those who've committed crimes might not be sent to jannah (paradise) as they have interrupted their relationship with Allah.
• Many Muslims believe that a life of crime doesn't allow believers to focus on what really matters - their faith and connection with Allah.
• Murder is seen as one of the worst crimes in Islam. Crimes such as theft and hate crimes defy Islamic teachings about people being equal.
• Elements of Islam like compulsory charitable donations (zakah), banning alcohol/drugs/gambling, and teachings on good parenting help to reduce the likelihood of crime.
• Islam teaches Muslims to speak out against unjust laws that go against Allah's teachings, so many would understand someone breaking an unjust law in protest against it.
• In shari'ah courts, the circumstances surrounding the crime are looked into thoroughly, so the defendant is punished accordingly.
• Some Muslims work to try to reduce crime by helping prisoners and ex-offenders, e.g. the Muslim Chaplains Association and the Mosaic charity.
• Mosques


  Offer help for families
• Islam teaches Muslims to speak out against unjust laws that go against Allah's teachings, so many would understand someone breaking an unjust law in protest against it
• Shari'ah courts


  Look into the circumstances surrounding the crime thoroughly, so the defendant is punished accordingly
• Muslim Chaplains Association


  1. Offers religious guidance in prisons in the UK

  2. Aims to reform prisoners and stop them from committing crimes after they are released, e.g. by helping them to integrate into society again

  3. Tries to keep ex-offenders connected to chaplaincies in their local community so they continue to receive support after prison
• Mosaic


  1. Pairs young people approaching the end of their prison sentence with a mentor

  2. As they adjust to life outside of prison, the mentor will help them with things like finding a job and somewhere to live

  3. Aims to prevent them from returning to a life of crime
• Forgiveness


  Important for many religious believers - asking God/Allah's forgiveness, and forgiving others
• Forgiveness can reunite people and prevent reoffending
• Forgiveness


  Stopping being angry with someone who's done something wrong
• Many religious people believe that criminals should be punished for what they've done
• Forgiveness is closely related to repentance. Christians believe that God's forgiveness can only come when they repent of their sins (i.e. say sorry, and turn their backs on them)
• Muslims can seek retribution for injuries, but they're encouraged to forgive instead
• Muslims believe that wrongdoing should be forgiven if the offender is sorry and tries to make amends
• Some crimes are seen as so awful that forgiveness isn't an option, e.g. shirk (see p.17)
• Retribution


  Punishment as a way of taking revenge on a criminal for making them pay for what they've done
• Reformation


  Punishment should aim to change criminals so they won't reoffend again