Religious attitudes to crime

• It is illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas day.
• Should parliament vote to change these laws?
• What are the three different types of crime?
• All the major religions recognise the importance of law and order in society.
• Christians and Hindus are generally against people breaking laws without just cause.
• Dharma


  The concept of justice in Hinduism, linked to the principles of karma and ahimsa
• Actions in this life

  Directly affect experiences in future existences
• Karma


  The principle that 'bad' or negative actions will lead to karmic debt
• Ahimsa


  The Hindu principle of harmlessness or non-violence
• Most Hindus would agree that crime exists in the world because people have free will and some will not always act justly or kindly.
• Some Hindus would say such people have many 'lessons to learn' in terms of karma and need to be reborn many times in order to attain moksha.
• Crime


  Affects karma
• Evil


  The state when good is not present or ignored, the necessary 'bad' things required for cosmic balance
• Karma


  Intentional action, the belief that much of the suffering one endures is a result of their own actions
• Suffering is not about 'deserving' it, but about taking the opportunity to learn from it and not repeating mistakes.
• The response of those around the sufferer should always be compassion and kindness, otherwise they will suffer 'bad' karmic consequences themselves.
• Some Hindus explain natural disasters as a 'play of the gods', which is part of a cosmic realm and beyond human understanding.
• Crime


  'Reap what you sow' - the karmic consequences of one's actions
• Ahimsa


  A key Hindu concept meaning harmlessness or non-violence, a virtue all Hindus should follow
• Hindus believe they should show respect to all living beings because they all have a part of Brahman in them, known as the atman.
• Hindus see the cow as a sacred animal that should be protected and respected.
• Original sin is an Augustine Christian doctrine that says that everyone is born sinful.
• Original sin explains why there is so much wrong in a world created by a perfect God, and why people need to have their souls 'saved' by God.
• The existence of evil and suffering is important because it can cause problems for Christians' belief in God.
• Some Christians wonder why God did not create the universe without the potential for evil and suffering.
• Christians believe that they should try to help others who are suffering (and by logical extension not cause it!).
• Jesus: '"Turn the other cheek"'
• When Jesus was arrested before being crucified, he healed the servant of the High Priest whose ear had been cut off.
• Christians believe that it is important to be honest about causing suffering, to themselves, others and to God, and work to repair the damage they may have caused.
• Some Christians feel that punishment should be as severe as the crime committed, while others believe that the person should be helped in order to not reoffend.
• 'Hating the crime not the person'


  Lawbreakers have rights and these should be protected, even while being punished. They are still human and still made in the 'image of God'.
• Many Christians believe that the inhumane treatment of criminals is wrong.
• Lots of Christians also believe that offenders should be helped to change their ways so they don't reoffend once their punishment is over.
• Jesus: '"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For… I was in prison and you came to visit me."'
• In the verse, Jesus argues that one must first remove the plank before going on to remove the speck. This verse warns us against hypocrisy, seeing the flaw (sin) in another while ignoring the obvious sin in our own lives.
• Jesus always made clear that judging was to be done by the Father, and humans should concern themselves with making their own soul ready for acceptance into the kingdom of God.
• The focus should always be on God's grace, and in obedience rooting out the sin in our lives rather than concerning ourselves with the sins of others.