Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment overview - AQA GCSE Religious Studies A
An overview of Theme E, Religion, crime and punishment, for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering the causes of crime, the aims of punishment, forgiveness and the death penalty.
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Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment is one of the thematic studies examined on Paper 2 of AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062). It applies religious teachings to crime, justice and the treatment of offenders.
What the theme covers
- Causes of crime: reasons for crime, types of crime, and religious attitudes to lawbreakers.
- Aims of punishment: retribution, deterrence, reformation and protection.
- Forgiveness and the death penalty: teachings on forgiveness, the treatment of criminals, and arguments for and against capital punishment.
How it is assessed
Theme E is one of the four themes on Paper 2. Questions follow the 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 mark pattern and require teachings from Christianity and usually Islam, with contrasting views in the evaluation question.
How to study it
Learn the causes and types of crime, the four aims of punishment, and the key teachings on forgiveness and the sanctity of life. Prepare balanced arguments for and against the death penalty, with teachings from both religions, for the 12 mark questions.
For the official specification
AQA publishes the full specification, past papers and mark schemes at aqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and AQA past papers.
Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) specification — AQA (2016)