Every religion has specific teachings about and attitudes to wrongdoing. Buddhists must balance a basic need for law and order with their principles of compassion and forgiveness.
Why is criminal behaviour the result of free choice?
Each person can choose whether to abide by the laws or not, no one can force them to break the law
Some people are born genetically inclined to break the law
People cannot do anything other than follow in the example of older members of their family
As an act of punishment, what is reformation?
Removing a criminal from society so that the innocent are protected
Punishing someone so harshly that they will not reoffend
Getting a criminal to turn away from crime through changing their attitude
As an act of punishment, what is retribution?
Punishing offenders in the same way that they have hurt other people
How does prison act as a protection for society?
It makes the criminal pay back money to the people that have been hurt
It removes the criminal from society so that others can be safer
Prison allows the criminal to work within society
What is capital punishment?
Locking a criminal in prison for life
The death penalty
Cutting off a criminal's hand
Which Precept is broken if a Buddhist murders someone?
I will not harm another living being
Right action
I will aim for enlightenment
Why do Buddhists believe that people who commit violent crimes perform bad actions?
Committing crime is against the law
Committing a crime means that a Buddhist will be harming other beings
Committing crime is always selfish
What crime may see a Buddhist go against the teaching in the Eighfold Path concerning "right speech"?
Gossiping about a friend
Telling lies
Lying in a court of law
What does samsara mean?
The cycle of life, death and rebirth
The belief that everything we do has consequences
The belief that we all experience suffering at some point in our lives
What do Buddhists believe is the most important aim of punishment?
Deterrence
Retribution
Reform