Christianity & Crime (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

Christian attitudes towards crime

What is Crime?

• A crime is an action that breaks the law of the land in which it takes place

• There are many different types of crimes and they can be categorised as being

  • Crimes against the person (e.g. murder)

  • Crimes against property (e.g. burglary)

  • Crimes against the state (e.g. terrorism)

• There are many different types of crimes including murder, theft and hate crimes

Christian attitudes towards crime

• Many laws in society are also considered religious laws

  • For example, murder often seen as the worst crime is against the law and also goes against the sanctity of life (the belief that life is precious and sacred)

• Christianity is against crime because criminals also break religious moral laws

  • For example, Christians are strongly opposed to murder and theft because they break two of the Ten Commandments

• Christians will work to try to prevent crime and to protect the victims of crime

  • Christians also believe that criminals should be punished but also forgiven for their crimes following the example of Jesus

Christian teachings about the causes and problem of crime

Christianity and the causes of crime

• Some Christians believe that crime has been caused due to the Fall of mankind as referenced in the bible

  • The story tells how Adam and Eve abused the free will given to them by God and that this resulted in sin and suffering

• There are many other societal factors that Christians believe can lead someone to commit a crime

  • Some people (including Christians) believe that a person’s upbringing can influence a person’s decision to commit a crime

    • This might include the environment a person is brought up in, the morals of the family/friends/neighbourhood, whether a person is surrounded by crimes or criminal activity and the social and financial status of the family

  • Others understand that sometimes mental illness can play a part when crimes are committed 

    • They might have serious psychological issues with no understanding of right or wrong; might feel no guilt or compassion for others; might enjoy hurting others; might have learning issues and be easily led into crime; or are themselves victims of some event which has disturbed their minds, for example, depression or an abusive upbringing

  • Sometimes, people might be addicted to substances that promote a criminal lifestyle

    • A person may have an addiction, for example, to alcohol, drugs, sex or money which leads them into crime to feed their habit or their cravings

    •  They may even be addicted to crime, for example, stealing

  • Poverty can play a part when people decide to commit crimes

    • A person might commit a crime because they see no other alternative way to survive. They may have no money, no job or cannot provide for themselves or their children

  • Greed and hatred can also be a factor when some crimes are committed 

    • Emotions are often responsible for crime, our reaction to what goes on around us or what others have or do to us. We always want more so inherently we are greedy. People do bad things to us so hate leads us to take revenge and commit crimes

  • Sometimes, people might break the law because they believe a law is unfair

    • Some crimes are committed in protest about laws that exist that are considered either unfair or for the benefit of a select few in society. Sometimes laws have to be broken to get laws to be changed. Religious people often feel a duty to oppose unjust laws

Christian actions to end crime

How do Christians work to prevent crime?

• Christians are strongly against crime as they are told to in the Bible to care for others and crime does not do this

  • The Bible says, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Mark 12: 31) and crimes often involve hurting people around them

  • Committing a crime such as theft or a hate crime does not treat the victim as an equal 

  • Crimes like murder destroy something that is created by God

• Therefore, Christians will work to try and prevent crime from happening in many different ways

• However, in the past Christians have defied laws if they believed that the laws were unfair 

  • For example, Martin Luther King defied laws aimed at segregating people because of their race

• Some Christians recognise that often crime is caused by poverty, and so they will try to reduce poverty and prevent the causes of crime

  • For example, they could donate to charity shops or support food banks

• Christian groups will also work to play a part in preventing crime

  • Street Pastors go out on to the streets to help people at night, which may help to reduce crime and prevent violence

  • The Prison Fellowship is a Christian organisation who help prisoners by praying for them, through group activities and by supporting the families of prisoners

    • They also try to help prisoners recognise the consequences of crime when they leave prison through restorative justice