Sunday, 11 December 2011
Main learning objective: To evaluate the arguments for and against the death penalty including religious perspectives.
Starter
‘The death penalty is irrevocable – it sends innocent people to their deaths. It is a particularly cruel, calculated and cold-blooded form of killing. It does nothing to prevent violent crime. It is a violation of the right to live.’ Amnesty International
Write a statement outlining your opinion on this quote. Give reasons for your response and try to draw on wider research from newspapers or other sources.
‘Everyone must obey the state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission.’ Written by Paul in the New Testament in the Bible
‘Love one another and pray for those who persecute you’ Jesus, quoted in the New Testament in the Bible
‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ Old Testament in the Bible
‘You have heard it said ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ but I tell you do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other one also. ‘ Jesus, quoted in the New Testament in the Bible
Look at the quotes above and explain how they could be used to argue for and against the death penalty. Would it be possible for Pierrepoint to be a Christian doing his job?
Christian views (Church of England & Catholic) Most Christians, including the Church of England are against the death penalty. This is because it goes against Jesus’ command to ‘love your neighbour’, and His principle of forgiveness. Also, they argue, it is not a real deterrent, it is too easy to kill an innocent person and it removes the possibility of criminals repenting of their crime and victims giving genuine forgiveness.
However the Catholic church does accept that sometimes the death penalty is necessary, and in 1994 said, ‘The traditional teaching of the church has acknowledged the right… to punish criminals … including in cases of extreme gravity, using the death penalty.’
Muslim view
Most Muslims believe that two crimes should attract the death sentence; 1. murder
2. If someone openly attacks Islam in such a manner as to threaten it. Mohammed accepted the justice of a ‘life for a life.’
However the relatives of a murder victim may choose to accept financial compensation and then the offender may get life imprisonment instead. In the Qur’an it says ‘You shall not kill any man accept for a just cause’
ď ˝
Explain your opinion, making reference to Christian and Muslim views and quotes.