Rules, Religion and Punishment

Subject: Religious Education / Philosophy
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 14 - 16
Order Number: 14055

How do people live together without chaos and anarchy? Who decides what is a just punishment? Why do some people support the death sentence whilst others do not? Rules, Religion and Punishment presents these questions in a way that opens up important moral horizons for pupils to explore.

Rules, Religion and Punishment is aimed at pupils aged 14-16 who are studying GCSE RE or compulsory RE. Pupils are encouraged to explore how rules are developed and how punishment is employed to maintain order.

Islamic, Christian and Buddhist perspectives are used to understand how different belief systems view the concept of punishment and the death sentence. In conjunction with this, pupils are introduced to the nature of authority and how rules are balanced against individual freedom.

Each lesson has a central aim which helps maintain focus and clarity. Topic areas include:

• The aim of punishment
• Medieval punishments
• Absolute rulers
• Positive and negative freedom
• Forgiveness and punishment
• The capital punishment debate

The scheme of work which accompanies this resource offers a guide for both specialist and non-specialist teachers. The activity sheets are designed to deliver the information required for each lesson, along with the tasks that allow pupils to explore the issues for themselves. An assessment is built into the penultimate lesson allowing pupils to express their view on capital punishment, whilst operating within the structure of an essay writing frame.

Rules, Religion and Punishment presents themes from crime and punishment and the nature of authority, whilst examining three contrasting religious perspectives. Pupils are thereby given the opportunity to examine key concepts through a variety of lesson topics, each designed to challenge the mind and evoke hard hitting questions.