Capital Punishment

    OCR
    GCSE

    Examination of the ethical, theological, and legal dimensions of state-sanctioned execution. Analysis focuses on the tension between the Sanctity of Life (Imago Dei) and the demands of Justice (Lex Talionis), evaluating the legitimacy of retribution and deterrence within religious and secular frameworks. Scope includes the transition from historical acceptance in Abrahamic traditions to contemporary abolitionist movements and retentionist practices in theocratic and secular states.

    6
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Exodus 21:23-24 ('Life for life, eye for eye') - Retribution.
    • Matthew 5:38-39 ('Turn the other cheek') - Reformation/Forgiveness.
    • Genesis 1:27 ('Imago Dei') - Sanctity of Life argument.
    • The case of Derek Bentley (1953) - Argument regarding miscarriage of justice.
    • Utilitarian Principle (Jeremy Bentham) - The concept of the 'Greatest Good' applied to deterrence.
    • Pope Francis' revision to the Catechism (2018) declaring the death penalty 'inadmissible'.

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the teaching, but you must explain *why* this leads the believer to oppose capital punishment."
    • "Your evaluation is unbalanced; you must engage with the strongest arguments of the opposing side, not just the weakest."
    • "Integrate a specific secular ethical theory (like Utilitarianism or Humanism) to meet the 'Dialogue' requirement."
    • "Differentiate between 'Retribution' (justice) and 'Revenge' (emotion) to show higher-level understanding."

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for accurate citation of specific Sources of Authority (e.g., Exodus 21:24 vs. Matthew 5:38-39).
    • Credit responses that distinguish between the aim of 'Deterrence' and the aim of 'Reformation' in the context of the death penalty.
    • In 'Discuss' questions, candidates must evaluate the validity of arguments, not merely list them (e.g., arguing why the risk of miscarriage of justice outweighs the retributive benefit).
    • High-level responses must integrate specific non-religious perspectives (e.g., Humanist arguments on human rights or Utilitarian calculus on public safety).

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡For the 15-mark 'Discuss' question, ensure you include 'Common and Divergent' views within Christianity, plus a secular perspective.
    • 💡Do not just quote scripture; explain the hermeneutic (interpretation). E.g., Is 'Eye for an eye' a command for revenge or a limit on excessive punishment?
    • 💡Allocate 20-25 minutes for the 15-mark question; it carries 25% of the paper's weight.
    • 💡Use the 'SoA' (Source of Authority) acronym in planning to ensure every paragraph is anchored in a text or ethical theory.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Generalizing 'Christians' as a monolith; failing to acknowledge Conservative Evangelical support for the death penalty versus Quaker/Catholic opposition.
    • Confusing the Sixth Commandment ('Do not murder') with a blanket ban on all killing, ignoring the Old Testament legal context for capital crimes.
    • Providing a narrative of methods of execution (e.g., lethal injection) rather than an ethical analysis of the morality of the act.
    • In 15-mark questions, failing to provide a justified conclusion that logically follows from the evaluation provided.

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

    Read Study Guide

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Give
    State
    Outline
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss

    Ready to test yourself?

    Practice questions tailored to this topic