Crime and Punishment

• Good and evil intentions and actions

  C:

  • Bible warns against, not only bad actions, but bad intentions
  • "I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart"
  • Christians would argue there is no such thing as an evil person as we are all created good

  B:

  • speak of skilful and unskilful actions and intentions
  • These do not necessarily line up with law. Eg. it is not illegal to be unkind; in some countries it is illegal to be Buddhist
  • Khamma teaches intention is also important
  • believe it is right to follow the law unless unskilful
• Reasons for crime

  Poverty:

  • C: stealing wrong. People should help to ensure no one is in this position
  • B: stealing is against 2nd moral precept

  Upbringing:

  • C + B: Parents should teach children how to live correctly

  Mental Illness:

  • C: attempt to solve cause of illness
  • B: everyone sees reality in a distorted way, can lead to inflicting suffering

  Addiction:

  • C: Support rehabilitation. No drugs and alcohol should only be drunk in moderation
  • B: Against 5th moral precept
• Reasons for crime

  Greed:

  • C: against 10 commandments "You shall not covet" envy leads to greed
  • B: Unskilful, leads to suffering, 3 poisons

  Hate:

  • C: " love your neighbour as yourself"
  • B: one of 3 poisons

  Opposition to an unjust law:

  • C: some may agree if no one is harmed
  • B: May disobey a law expressing prejudice and hatred
• Different types of crime

  Hate crime:

  • C: All humans are equal so no
  • B: one of 3 poisons. No justification

  Theft:

  • C: "you shall not steal". Against both theft for need or greed
  • B: Breaks 2nd moral precept, greed - 3 poisons

  Murder:

  • C: Only God can take like. "You shall not murder"
  • B: Breaks 1st moral precept. Cause of suffering
• Aims of punishment

  Retribution:

  • criminals should suffer in proportion to their crime
  • C: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good"
  • C: Some support death penalty quoting "eye for eye"
  • B: Form of violence therefore wrong
  • B: Will suffer anyway from a bad rebirth

  Deterrence:

  • sometimes punishments carried out in public
  • C: Do not support excessively harsh punishments. Oppose public punishment
  • B: May not be effective due to us all being in the grip of 3 poisons

  Reformation:

  • C: favourite. Positive impact. Should be alongside punishment
  • B: support this
• Suffering

  C:

  • Should help those suffering
  • Try and follow Jesus' example
  • Should apologise for any suffering caused
  • "Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope"
  • Problem of evil

  B:

  • Suffering is inevitable (1st noble truth) but can be overcome by acknowledging its existence and following the 8fold path
  • Buddhists refrain from harming others
• Treatment of prisoners

  Prison:

  • loss of liberty
  • C: prisons should be used but prisoners should be treated well and have reformation opportunities
  • B: should be used to protect society from dangerous people and reformation

  Corporal Punishment:

  • C: do not support. Harmful. does not help reformation
  • B: encourages resentment rather than reformation. Does not deal with cause of crime

  Community Service:

  • C: no harm is done to the offender and can help give back to society
  • B: approve if also reformation. Should address the crime itself and what the victim wants
• Forgiveness

  C:

  • "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"
  • forgive "not seven times, but seventy-seven times"
  • Lord's prayer
  • Forgiveness should not be a punishment replacement
  • Balancing justice and forgiveness

  B:

  • people will suffer if they do not forgive, ie. letting go of anger and resentment
  • Even if an offender is forgiven they will still be punished by kamma
  • Offenders should ask for forgiveness before being granted it
  • can help reach reconcilliation
• Capital punishment - Secular beliefs

  For:

  • principle of utility - produces the maximum happiness to the largest amount of people
  • protects society
  • justified retribution

  Against:

  • chance of executing an innocent person
  • Little evidence that it is effective as a deterrent
  • eg. the murder rate in the UK is no higher than other countries' with the death penalty
  • It is wrong to kill someone
  • Society can be protected via imprisonment
• Capital punishment - religious beliefs

  C:

  • sanctity of life
  • Some support: "eye for eye" "whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed"
  • seek reformation

  B:

  • breaks 1st moral precept
  • cannot relieve victim's suffering by making the offender suffer
  • However, Thailand, a Buddhist country, has the death penalty