Reasons for Crime (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Reasons why people commit crime

• A crime is an action which breaks the law of the state

• A crime is seen by religious people as an act of sin

• Most people believe that all crime is wrong, but the extent to which they think it is wrong depends on the reason why it was committed

The reasons for crime

Image: The Reasons for Crime to be uploaded

Poverty

• In the UK, some people live in poverty and are unable to afford the cost of essential expenses such as food

• Although there is a welfare system, sometimes welfare payments do not cover people’s costs, and this can lead some to steal what they need for themselves and their families

 Upbringing

• If people grow up in a household where crime is seen as acceptable, they might follow that example and commit crimes themselves

• This is a very difficult spiral to escape, especially if a person’s parents encourage them to commit crimes

 Mental illness

• Some people commit crimes because they suffer from a mental illness

  • For example, kleptomania is a mental condition that makes some people steal

  • People may have anger management issues which can lead to violent acts such as assault or even murder

 Addiction

• Addiction is being dependent on a particular substance

• It is a crime to take illegal drugs, but if someone is addicted, they are often unable to stop without help

• Addiction often leads to further crime, as the person steals to be able to pay for the substance their body needs

• Even using legal drugs such as alcohol can cause people to commit crimes such as drink-driving or becoming violent while under the influence of alcohol

 Greed

• Because possessions and wealth are status symbols, some people commit crimes such as theft or fraud simply to own more or look better to others

• These crimes are caused by greed for things they cannot afford

 Hate

• Hate is the opposite of love: a strong negative feeling or reaction which can lead to crimes of violence and aggression

 Opposition to an unjust law

• Some people break laws that they believe to be unjust and unfair, to stand up for what is right and show that they do not accept them

• These might include laws that promote inequality

  • For example, Rosa Parks was arrested in 1955 because she refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white person

  • This was breaking the segregation laws in the USA at that time, but she was standing up for what is right

• This came to be seen as an important act in the Civil Rights Movement which eventually overturned unfair laws about the way African American citizens in the USA were treated

Christian attitudes towards reasons for crime

• Crime is unacceptable to Christians because God wants humans to care for each other.

  • The guiding principle behind this is the Golden Rule: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Mark 12:31)

  • Committing crimes such as murder or theft goes against the Golden Rule and sees other people as less important or significant

• Christians appreciate that people are not perfect and have a tendency to do wrong because of original sin

• They would say that in many cases, those who commit crimes are struggling in life and need help and support 

• They would follow the example of Jesus, who forgave a criminal who was dying on the cross next to him at his crucifixion, telling the man, ‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’ (Luke 23:43)

  • This shows that criminals can be forgiven for their sins and may still enter heaven

• If poverty is a cause of crime, then Christians see it as their duty to take action to reduce the level of injustice in society that leads people to take such actions

  • They may donate to charity or help in food banks

  • They would also work to educate people about why crime is wrong

• If mental illness and addiction is a cause of crime, Christians would say that people should be given help to overcome their illness or addictions

• Many Christians have sympathy towards people when their crimes committed as a result of opposition to an unjust law

  • To support this, they may use the words of Peter in the early Church, who said

• Many Christians themselves have defied unjust laws to stand up for what is right.

  • For example, Martin Luther King, a Christian minister, organised peaceful protests, rallies, and boycotts to try to gain equal rights for Black people during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s in the USA

  • However, any protests must be peaceful, not violent

• For both Christianity and Islam, the causes of crime can often be overcome through education

  • Therefore both faiths place a lot of emphasis on teaching about tolerance, peace and living in harmony

  • They stress the importance of raising children in the faith and helping them to understand morality

Muslim attitudes towards reasons for crime

• Because Allah commands justice, crime is against Allah’s wishes for humans

• Muslims would consider crime to be a distraction from following Allah

• However, some of the reasons for crime should not exist in a fair society and Muslims work to reduce injustice in the hope that this will give fewer reasons for crime

• If poverty is a cause of crime, then Muslims see it as their duty to support the poor through Zakah , voluntary charity donations and work for charities that help with poverty

  • Muslims show empathy towards the experience of poverty through Sawm

  • They stress the importance of supporting one another in the worldwide Ummah

• If mental illness is a cause of crime, Muslims would say that people should be given help to overcome their illness

• If addiction is a cause of crime, Muslims consider alcohol and illegal drugs to be haram, and so they would hope that this would reduce the chance of addiction in the first place

• Greed is unacceptable as a cause of crime and should be avoided

• Islam is very concerned with justice. Therefore many Muslims would have sympathy towards people when crimes are committed as a result of opposition to an unjust law

  • Many Muslims have campaigned for laws that are unjust or discriminatory to be changed

  • For example, Malcolm X, a Muslim who campaigned for equality for black people during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s in the USA

  • Many Muslims believe that any attempts to change the law must be via peaceful methods

• For both Christianity and Islam, the causes of crime can often be overcome through education

  • Therefore both faiths place a lot of emphasis on teaching about tolerance, peace and living in harmony

  • They stress the importance of raising children in the faith and helping them to understand morality