Capital Punishment

General Capital Punishment Retribution for the families Justice support (the death penalty) Greatest good for the greatest amount of people, protect the majority of people, not the murderer Humanist view Utilitarianism – greatest good for the greatest number Violates the human right to life oppose Prefer reformation (giving them a chance to change and be welcomed back into society) 'Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed': Genesis 9:6 'The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury' Leviticus 24: 19-20 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth': OT support 'Anyone who injures their neighbor, is to be injured in the same manner' Rulers 'bear the sword' to 'bring God's punishment upon the wrongdoer' - Paul's teaching The government/authorities have the right to condemn people to death, because they are the work of God, and so have the right to do god's work. Christian View Capital punishment is a deterrent. The fear of being executed must surely put off the criminals from committing murder if they know they'll face the death penalty if caught The Pope is against the death penalty, saying it disturbs God's Plan. It is agapeistic to not execute people; some Christians would say that killing people only continues the cycle of hate for death penalty One thing is certain; no executed person will ever kill again Execution is a violation of the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of human rights oppose (the death penalty) Amnesty International (non-religious organisation) It is cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, whether by the hangman's rope, the firing squad, poison gas, lethal injection, the sword, stoning or the electric chair. We are all made in the image of God and are holy. Other humans should not take life away. Christians believe in forgiveness, Jesus said to turn the other cheek. If someone is put to death they have no opportunity to improve P1 S3.6 Capital Punishment "Do not murder" is one of the ten commandments. against death penalty "Love thy neighbor as thyself" the idea of treating others how you would like to be treated Often discriminatory and often used disproportionately against people from poor backgrounds or of particular races, or those with mental problems. Life should be taken away for crimes such as murder, rape, terrorism and drug peddling so they are not a danger to society and so they don't commit a crime again. Courts can make mistakes, you can't take back killing someone, some might argue years in a cell alone is a better punishment It's also fair because if they have taken a life they deserve to have their life taken as well - life for a life. support Furthermore, it's a form of deterrent and if criminals know they will be punished it will prevent them from committing a crime. Saves the government money as they don't need to pay for the criminal to serve a life-sentence. It is also more humane to put someone to death than keep them in life imprisonment and this will also provide justice for the families (retribution/revenge) and is also 'the greatest good for the greatest number'. non-religious view From a non-religious perspective, some may argue against the death penalty because it is a violation of the human 'right to life', which aligns with Humanist views. This also means that supporting the death penalty for murder would make us guilty of hypocrisy, as we would end up supporting the murder of a criminal. In this way, the death penalty is unjust. oppose Another reason why non-religious people may oppose the death penalty is because it is discriminatory. For example, many cases show that it is used against people of particular races, people from poorer backgrounds or those with mental health problems. It does not always work effectively either, as courts can make mistakes and put innocent people on death row. For instance, 23 innocent people were wrongly executed since 1900 in the USA. Therefore it is not always a reliable or fair punishment for criminals. P1 S3.6 Capital Punishment 1. General 1.1. The nature and purpose of capital punishment; social reasons for and against capital punishment atheist and Humanist attitudes. 1.2. Christian teachings about capital punishment; why some Christians might support its use; why some Christians might not support its use. 2. Capital Punishment 2.1. capital punishment is punishment which takes away the criminal's life. This is often called execution or the death penalty. A crime which can be punishmend by the death penalty is called a capital offence. 2.2. Capital punishment exists to take away the criminals life this is often called execution or the death penalty. 2.2.1. It aims to avenge the victim of the crime committed, 'an eye for an eye' 2.2.2. To deter people from commit crimes which result in the death penalty 2.3. It is not surprising as 2.3.1. the world has become more modernized and just, 2.3.2. So the death penalty being abolished in many countries makes sense. (Amnesty international) 2.4. Situation ethics, depends on the situation – which actions results in the most loving consequences. 2.4.1. Killing someone who has hurt someone else, most loving thing to do 2.4.2. Helps bring justice to the victim 2.4.3. Loving as it prevents people killing, then means more peace. 2.4.4. Or other people say, killing someone under capital punishment is never good or loving. 2.5. Death Penalty 2.5.1. general for and against 2.5.1.1. for death penalty 2.5.1.1.1. Puts people off committing murder/crimes 2.5.1.2. against death penalty 2.5.1.2.1. Being in solitary could be a worse punishment than being killed 2.5.1.2.2. If killed and found innocent cannot be brought back, if in prison and found innocent they can be released 3. non-religious view 3.1. support 3.1.1. Life should be taken away for crimes such as murder, rape, terrorism and drug peddling so they are not a danger to society and so they don't commit a crime again. 3.1.2. It's also fair because if they have taken a life they deserve to have their life taken as well - life for a life. 3.1.3. Furthermore, it's a form of deterrent and if criminals know they will be punished it will prevent them from committing a crime. 3.1.4. Saves the government money as they don't need to pay for the criminal to serve a lifesentence. 3.1.5. It is also more humane to put someone to death than keep them in life imprisonment and this will also provide justice for the families (retribution/revenge) and is also 'the greatest good for the greatest number'. 3.2. oppose 3.2.1. From a non-religious perspective, some may argue against the death penalty because it is a violation of the human 'right to life', which aligns with Humanist views. This also means that supporting the death penalty for murder would make us guilty of hypocrisy, as we would end up supporting the murder of a criminal. In this way, the death penalty is unjust. 3.2.2. Another reason why non-religious people may oppose the death penalty is because it is discriminatory. For example, many cases show that it is used against people of particular races, people from poorer backgrounds or those with mental health problems. 3.2.3. It does not always work effectively either, as courts can make mistakes and put innocent people on death row. For instance, 23 innocent people were wrongly executed since 1900 in the USA. Therefore it is not always a reliable or fair punishment for criminals. 4. Humanist view 4.1. support (the death penalty) 4.1.1. Retribution for the families 4.1.2. Justice 4.1.3. Greatest good for the greatest amount of people, protect the majority of people, not the murderer 4.1.4. Utilitarianism – greatest good for the greatest number 4.2. oppose 4.2.1. Violates the human right to life 4.2.2. Prefer reformation (giving them a chance to change and be welcomed back into society) 5. Christian View 5.1. support 5.1.1. 'Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed': Genesis 9:6 5.1.2. 'The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury' Leviticus 24: 19-20 5.1.3. 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth': OT 5.1.4. 'Anyone who injures their neighbor, is to be injured in the same manner' 5.1.5. Rulers 'bear the sword' to 'bring God's punishment upon the wrongdoer' - Paul's teaching 5.1.6. The government/authorities have the right to condemn people to death, because they are the work of God, and so have the right to do god's work. 5.2. oppose (the death penalty) 5.2.1. The Pope is against the death penalty, saying it disturbs God's Plan. 5.2.2. It is agapeistic to not execute people; some Christians would say that killing people only continues the cycle of hate 5.2.3. We are all made in the image of God and are holy. Other humans should not take life away. 5.2.4. Christians believe in forgiveness, Jesus said to turn the other cheek. If someone is put to death they have no opportunity to improve 5.2.5. "Do not murder" is one of the ten commandments. 5.2.6. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" - the idea of treating others how you would like to be treated 6. Amnesty International (non-religious organisation) 6.1. for death penalty 6.1.1. Capital punishment is a deterrent. The fear of being executed must surely put off the criminals from committing murder if they know they'll face the death penalty if caught 6.1.2. One thing is certain; no executed person will ever kill again 6.2. against death penalty 6.2.1. Execution is a violation of the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of human rights 6.2.2. It is cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, whether by the hangman's rope, the firing squad, poison gas, lethal injection, the sword, stoning or the electric chair. 6.2.3. Often discriminatory and often used disproportionately against people from poor backgrounds or of particular races, or those with mental problems. 6.2.4. Courts can make mistakes, you can't take back killing someone, some might argue years in a cell alone is a better punishment