starter activity The sanctuary knocker at Durham Cathedral, which dates from the Middle Ages. Why did

Christian churches give sanctuary to criminals?

The Church has always looked on itself as a way to bring new

life to criminals.

starter activityWanted poster for the

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

Make notes on the Rwanda Genocide of 1994

starter activity

What do you think prison should do to prisoners?

Tread Wheel, Pentonville Prison 1895

Christianity And Punishment

By Mr Yelland Downloaded from Kings School

Aims

To understand why Punishment is important to Christians.

To understand the reasons why Christians believe in punishment.

To be able to explain why Christians believe in repentance and reform of the criminal.

Jesus views on crimeJesus was more concerned with a person's inward honesty and morality rather than outward shows of being good. This is shown by the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). Jesus taught that although keeping the law was important it was what the people were like inside that was more important. Jesus said that criminal thoughts were as wrong as the deeds themselves. He was also very critical of those who were quick to judge others' crimes while ignoring their own.

"Pass no judgments and you will not be judged"Matthew 7:1

"Do not look at the speck in your brother's eye and ignore the log in your own"Matthew 7:3

Jesus views on crimeJesus was often criticised for mixing with those who were thought of as sinners - tax collectors, prostitutes and cheats. He took the view that it was important to God that people changed their ways and he had come to help them do this. Read the parable of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Jesus told many stories about how sinners would be welcomed by God after they had confessed their sins. Read the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7). Jesus also showed his teachings by example for when he was dying on the cross he asked God to forgive his murderers.

"Forgive them Father! They don't know what they are doing.Luke 23:34

A Christian response to crimeMost Christians believe that punishment and forgiveness can go together. They also put great stress on working to stop the causes of crime (see above). Over the last 150 years many Christians have worked towards the idea of reforming criminals as they see the idea of reform as being the most important reason for punishment. Many Christians are involved in prison visiting. Most churches and Christians agree that we need to look at the causes of crime as well as how to deal with existing crime. Many crimes come about because of poverty, unfair distribution of wealth, poor housing and bad social conditions. If we could spend money on reducing these things then maybe there would not be so much crime. We also need to examine the lifestyle that we are encouraged to lead. It is considered normal to have a house, car, stereos, TVs, videos, computers, designer clothing and shoes, microwaves, holidays etc. Yet despite promoting this as the norm society prevents some people from achieving this by creating economic structures which keep millions of people in unemployment or low paid jobs.

starter activity The Salvation Army recognizes the need of society to be protected from wrongdoers, especially those willing to use violence.

Title – Christianity and Punishment

Tasks To Do pg 86-87:1. Explain what Jesus seemed to believe about punishment.

2. What do Christian’s believe about the purpose of punishment?

3. Explain the 6 reasons why Christians believe criminals should be given the opportunity to repent and reform

4. Many Christians also believe that punishment should be used to protect society and deter people from committing crimes: explain the 4 reasons for this belief.

5. Copy and explain Matthew 7:1-2

6. Copy the SUMMARY from pg 87

7. “All criminals should go to prison.”

Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing you have

considered another point of view. In your answer, you should refer to

at least one religion.

Christianity and punishment

Some Christians believe that the only purpose of punishment is to reform the criminal. Everyone can be saved and criminals should be given the chance to repent and change their lives. They believe this because:

Jesus said Christians should not judge others. Christianity is about the power of God to save people and

change their lives. The Church has always seen itself as a way to bring new

life to criminals. The Churches have made many statements about the

need for punishment to be used to reform criminals so that they can live in society.

Some Christians believe that punishment should be used to deter criminals and protect society as well as reform criminals. They believe this because:

St. Paul said that the authorities have the right to use magistrates to uphold the law.

Without a police force and punishment for criminals, society would collapse.

The Churches have made many statements that punishment can be used to deter and protect.

Jesus punished the money changers when he threw them out of the Temple.

Christianity and the Death Penalty

Although some interpret that John 8:7 of the Bible condemns the death penalty, Christian positions, as on many social issues, vary. The promulgator of Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth, was executed by crucifixion, and that method of execution became a symbol for Christianity. Furthermore, numerous Catholic saints have been martyred by usage of the death penalty.

The Roman Catholic Church traditionally accepted capital punishment as per the theology of Thomas Aquinas (who accepted the death penalty as a necessary deterrent and prevention method, but not as the means of vengeance). Under the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, this position was refined. His encyclical Evangelium Vitae denounced abortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia as murder. The Roman Catholic Church holds that the death penalty is no longer necessary if it can be replaced by incarceration. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says "If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person".

The Lambeth Conference of Anglican and Episcopalian bishops condemned the death penalty in 1988. In Protestantism, both Martin Luther and John Calvin followed the traditional reasoning in favor of capital punishment, and the Augsburg Confession explicitly defends it; the Mennonites and Friends, among other, smaller groups, opposed it. Some Protestant groups have cited Genesis 9:5-6, Romans 13:3-4, and Leviticus 20:1-27 as the basis for permitting the death penalty. Both proponents and opponents derive their own stance from the Bible itself. Until recently, however, the retentionist position was held by all but a relatively few groups.

The United Methodist Church, along with other Methodist churches, also condemns capital punishment, saying that it cannot accept retribution or social vengeance as a reason for taking human life.The Church also holds that the death penalty falls unfairly and unequally upon marginalized persons including the poor, the uneducated, ethnic and religious minorities, and persons with mental and emotional illnesses.The General Conference of the United Methodist Church calls for its bishops to uphold opposition to capital punishment and for governments to enact an immediate moratorium on carrying out the death penalty sentence.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (colloquially known as Mormons) hold a neutral position on the death penalty.

The Rosicrucian Fellowship and many other Christian esoteric schools condemns the capital punishment in all circumstances.

10 Minute Test – RE Christianity And Punishment pg 86-87

Q1. How did Jesus view ‘punishment’? Q2. What do many Christians believe that the ONLY purpose (reason) for punishment should be? Q3.What do Christians mean by ‘ no one is irredeemable’ ? Q4. Give 4 REASONS why many Christians believe that every criminal should be given the opportunity to repent and reform their lives. i) ii) iii) iv) Q5. What 2 ideas do many Christians also believe about punishment (top pg 87)? i) ii) Q6. What did St Paul say? Q7. What does the story of Jesus throwing money changers out of the Temple show?