Download Arguments Against Capital Punishment

Learning Objective:
Learn what capital
punishment is and identify
some different attitudes
for and against it.
All students will be able to explain what capital
punishment is and identify some basic attitudes
towards it.
(level 4)
Most students should be able to explain what
capital punishment is and identify a number of
different religious attitudes towards it.
(Level 5)
Some students might be able to explain in detail
what capital punishment is and identify in detail a
number of different religious and non religious
attitudes towards it.
(Level 6)
What is capital
punishment?
Capital Punishment
Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is
the killing of a person as a punishment for an
illegal offense.
Some examples of how death can be caused
are lethal injection, the electric chair, firing
squad, gas chamber, hanging.
Let’s look at a
definition.
Which crimes do you think are punished
by the death penalty?
(Discuss in pairs and feedback to the rest of the class before we look at some answers)
Murder
Terrorism
Treason
Rape
Kidnapping
Arson
Drug dealing
Homosexuality
Prostitution
Witchcraft
Fraud
Adultery
Capital punishment is a very controversial
topic with different people from different
groups all having their own opinion on the
subject.
There are nearly 100 countries who still
have capital punishment in pace today.
Christian
Against
For
Capital
Punishment
Buddhist
Islam
With the person next to
you can you think of any
reasons why people might
support capital punishment?
Arguments for Capital Punishment
Capital punishment is often justified
with the argument that by executing
convicted murderers, we will deter
would-be murderers from killing people.
It provides closure for the victims
family.
It stops people from committing the
same crime twice.
If someone has taken another persons
life then the punishment should reflect
that crime. E.g. a life for a life.
Let’s summarise the arguments
for capital punishment.
1)
It will help to stop others from
committing similar crimes
2)
It provides closure for the victims family
3)
The criminal cant commit the same crime
again once they’ve been killed.
4)
Sometimes it can be a fair trade e.g. a life
in exchange for a life.
With the person next to
you can you think of any
reasons why people might
be against capital
punishment?
Arguments Against Capital Punishment
Life is valuable and even the worst
criminals shouldn’t have that taken
away from them.
What if the evidence was wrong or
someone was framed? An innocent
person may end up being sentenced to
death.
Evidence suggests that the death
penalty doesn't seem to deter people
from committing serious violent crimes.
The thing that deters is the likelihood
of being caught and punished.
We shouldn’t teach that killing is wrong
by killing.
Arguments Against Capital Punishment
http://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=TVMho2cP1NE
Arguments Against Capital Punishment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUOanRJXC
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Let’s summarise the arguments
against capital punishment.
1)
Life is so valuable we shouldn’t have the right
to take it away from someone.
2)
If the evidence is wrong an innocent person
could die.
3)
The death penalty doesn’t actually stop people
from committing crimes.
4)
We can’t teach society that killing is wrong by
having someone killed.
Christian Attitudes
Christians do not agree on
for or against capital
punishment. There are
those who think the Bible
tells us that capital
punishment is correct and
those who think the Bible
tells us it is wrong.
For
Against
Christians who support the
death penalty often do so on
the ground that they believe
the Old Testament tells us
that capital punishment is what
God wants.
Christians who are against the
death penalty believe that life
is sacred as it is a gift from
God, and therefore only God
can decide when life ends.
“Whoever sheds the blood of
man, by man shall his blood
be shed.”
Genesis 9:6
They also argue that one of the
10 commandments is;
“Thou shalt not kill.”
Exodus 21:13
Let’s summarise some of the
Christian attitudes on capital
punishment.
1)
Not all Christians believe the same thing.
2)
Some believe capital punishment is ok because
the bible says “Whoever sheds the blood of
man, by man shall his blood be shed.”
(Genesis 9:6)
3)
God should choose when we die as life is given
to us from God.
4)
One of the 10 Commandments says “Thou
shalt not kill.” (Exodus 21:13)
Buddhist Attitudes
Most Buddhists believe that capital punishment and the death
penalty is wrong.
Buddhists place great emphasis on non-violence and compassion for
all life.
Whilst The Buddha did not speak about capital punishment, the
main beliefs of Buddhism requires individuals to abstain from
injuring or killing any living creature.
“An action, even if it brings
benefit to oneself, cannot be
considered a good action if it
causes physical and mental
pain to another being.”
The Buddha
Let’s summarise some of the
Buddhist attitudes on capital
punishment.
1)
Buddhists believe in non violence against all
living things.
2)
Buddhists disagree with killing any living
creature.
3)
Buddha said “An action cannot be considered a
good action if it causes physical and pain to
another being.”
Islam Attitudes
Those who follow Islam are called Muslims.
On the whole Muslims accept capital punishment.
“...Take not life, which God has made sacred, except by way of
justice and law.”
Qur'an 6:151
But even though the death penalty is
allowed, forgiveness is preferable.
Forgiveness, together with peace, is a
predominant theme in the Qur’an.
Let’s summarise some of the
Muslim attitudes on capital
punishment.
1)
On the whole Muslims agree with capital
punishment.
2)
Most Muslims believe that a life can be taken
if it is for justice.
3)
Muslims would prefer forgiveness and peace
and capital punishment is only used as a last
resort.
What are your own personal
views on capital punishment?
‘A life for a life. Capital punishment should be
reintroduced to the United Kingdom.’
Do you agree? Give reasons or evidence for
your answer, showing that you have thought
about more than one point of view.
All students will be able to explain what
capital punishment is and identify some basic
attitudes towards it.
(level 4)
Most students should be able to explain
what capital punishment is and identify a
number of different religious attitudes towards
it.
(Level 5)
Some students might be able to explain in
detail what capital punishment is and identify
in detail a number of different religious and
non religious attitudes towards it.
(Level 6)