← Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies syllabus

ScotlandReligious, Moral & Philosophical Studies

Component 2: Morality and Belief

3 dot points across 3 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do religious and non-religious people respond to crime and punishment, and is the death penalty ever right?

Religious and non-religious responses to crime and punishment, including sources of moral authority, and the arguments for and against capital punishment (the death penalty).
An SQA National 5 RMPS answer on Morality and Belief, using Crime and Punishment. Covers religious and non-religious responses to crime and punishment, sources of moral authority, and the arguments for and against capital punishment, with balanced evaluation.
10 min answer →

What counts as a crime, how does it differ from sin or immorality, and why do people commit crime?

The nature of crime, the difference between crime, sin and immorality, and the causes of crime, including poverty, upbringing, addiction, mental health and greed.
An SQA National 5 RMPS answer on Morality and Belief, using Crime and Punishment. Covers the nature of crime, the difference between crime, sin and immorality, and the causes of crime including poverty, upbringing, addiction, mental health and greed, with religious and non-religious responses noted.
9 min answer →

Why does society punish people who break the law, and what is each aim of punishment trying to achieve?

The purposes of punishment, including protection, retribution, deterrence and reformation, and how religious and non-religious views weigh these aims.
An SQA National 5 RMPS answer on Morality and Belief, using Crime and Punishment. Covers the purposes of punishment - protection, retribution, deterrence and reformation - and how religious and non-religious views weigh these aims, with worked exam technique.
9 min answer →