Year 11 - Religious education
Views about different types of crime
Religion, crime and punishment
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will study ideas of crime and how people may view crime is caused. From that, they will examine different ideas of punishing crime and treating criminals focussing especially on a case study of the death penalty and ideas of forgiveness.
Lesson Summary
You know some of the different types of crime and understand Christian and other responses to them.
Key Notes
- Crimes are categorised by seriousness and by who or what is harmed.
- Hate crimes are motivated by prejudice, theft requires intent to keep and murder involves unlawful killing.
- The Bible teaches not to steal or murder and to love your neighbour (Exodus 20:15, 20:13; Mark 12:31).
- Christian denominations agree crime is wrong and condemn hate crimes, theft and murder.
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects life, property and equality, condemning murder, theft and hate crimes
Vocabulary To Learn
- crime: an action which breaks the law; can be against the person (e.g. murder), against property (e.g. vandalism) or against the state (e.g. treason)
- hate crime: a crime committed because of prejudice views about a person or group
- murder: unlawfully killing another person
- theft: taking something without the owner's consent
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Hate crimes always involve physical violence.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Crimes are categorised by seriousness and by who or what is harmed. Hate crimes are motivated by prejudice, theft requires intent to keep and murder involves unlawful killing.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'crime'
an action which breaks the law; can be against the person (e.g. murder), against property (e.g. vandalism) or against the state (e.g. treason).
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Hate crimes always involve physical violence. Correction: Hate crimes can include verbal abuse, threats, harassment or damage to property, not just physical violence. They cause harm in many forms and can deeply affect both individuals and communities even without violence.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Different religious views about corporal punishment Study Guide
- Different religious views about forgiveness Study Guide
- Different religious views about the death penalty Study Guide
- Ethical arguments relating to the death penalty Study Guide
- Good and evil intentions Study Guide
- Opposition to an unjust law Study Guide
- Reasons for crime: greed and hate Study Guide
- Reasons for crime: mental illness and addiction Study Guide
- Reasons for crime: poverty and upbringing Study Guide
- The aims of punishment Study Guide
- The concept of forgiveness Study Guide
- The treatment of criminals: corporal punishment Study Guide
- The treatment of criminals: prison and community service Study Guide
- Views about people who commit crime Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Religious education guide library.