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.
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What this dot point is asking
In the Morality and Belief component you study one contemporary moral issue in depth, looking at religious and non-religious responses to it. A centre chooses the issue from options such as Crime and Punishment, Relationships, Medical ethics, the Environment and Conflict. This site uses Crime and Punishment as the worked example, the most commonly taught issue, but the same skills apply to any of them.
This first dot point covers the nature of crime: what crime is, how it differs from sin and immorality, and the causes of crime. You need to describe and explain these, and link them to religious and non-religious viewpoints.
The nature of crime
What counts as a crime is decided by law, and laws differ between countries and change over time. Crimes are usually grouped into types, such as crimes against the person (for example assault), crimes against property (for example theft and vandalism), and crimes against the state (for example tax fraud). The key point for RMPS is that a crime is defined by law, not by religion or personal opinion.
Crime, sin and immorality
These three ideas overlap but are not the same, and being able to tell them apart is a favourite National 5 question:
- Murder is a crime (against the law), a sin (against God's command "do not kill"), and immoral (almost everyone judges it wrong). It is all three.
- Speeding is a crime but most people would not call it a sin, and many would not call it deeply immoral.
- Lying to a friend may be a sin and immoral, but it is not usually a crime.
So an action can be one, two or all three. A strong answer shows that law, religion and shared morality do not always line up.
The causes of crime
The main causes are:
- Poverty. When people cannot meet basic needs, some turn to crimes such as theft. Poverty is linked to a lack of opportunity.
- Upbringing and environment. Growing up around crime, with poor role models or little support, can make offending seem normal or acceptable.
- Addiction. People dependent on drugs or alcohol may commit crime to fund the addiction or while not in control of their actions.
- Mental health. Some crimes are linked to mental illness, which can affect a person's judgement or behaviour.
- Peer pressure. People, especially young people, may offend to fit in with a group.
- Greed. Some crime is not caused by need at all but by the desire for more, for example fraud or theft for profit.
Religious and non-religious views on the causes
For example, a Christian might say that crime ultimately flows from the flawed human condition (sin and selfishness), while also accepting that poverty and a poor upbringing make crime more likely, so society should tackle those causes. A non-religious humanist would usually focus on the social causes, arguing that improving education, tackling poverty and supporting mental health are the best ways to reduce crime, without reference to sin. This links the issue back to the World Religion component, where the human condition is studied.
Examples in context
Example 1. Theft to feed a family. A person who shoplifts food because they cannot afford it shows poverty as a cause. Many would still call it a crime, but religious and non-religious people alike might argue that tackling poverty would prevent it.
Example 2. Fraud for profit. A businessperson who commits fraud despite being wealthy shows greed, not need, as a cause. This contrasts with poverty and shows why crime cannot be explained by a single factor.
Try this
Q1. State what makes an action a crime rather than just immoral. [1 mark]
- Cue. A crime breaks the law of the country and can be punished by the state.
Q2. Name two causes of crime. [1 mark]
- Cue. Any two of poverty, upbringing or environment, addiction, mental health, peer pressure, greed.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA N5 style4 marksDescribe two causes of crime.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark describe question wants two developed causes, so make two points and add detail or an example to each.
First cause: poverty. When people cannot meet basic needs such as food, housing or supporting a family, some turn to crimes like theft. Poverty is often linked to a lack of opportunity, so crime can seem to some the only option.
Second cause: upbringing and environment. Growing up around crime, with little support, poor role models, or in a community where offending is normal, can make a person more likely to offend, because they may learn that crime is acceptable or expected.
Markers reward accurate, developed causes. Other valid causes include addiction to drugs or alcohol, mental health problems, peer pressure, and greed or the desire for more. The command word is describe, so do not evaluate.
SQA N5 style6 marksExplain the difference between crime, sin and immorality.Show worked answer →
A 6-mark explain answer needs the three ideas defined and the differences explained with consequences, so treat each clearly and show how they overlap.
Crime is an action that breaks the law of the country. The consequence is that it can be punished by the state, for example with a fine or prison, whoever the offender is.
Sin is an action that goes against the will of God or the teaching of a religion. The consequence is that it is a religious idea: it matters to believers and is answerable to God, but it is not necessarily against the law.
Immorality is an action most people would judge to be wrong, whether or not they are religious. The consequence is that it is a moral idea based on shared values, not the law or any single religion.
Strong answers explain the overlaps: murder is a crime, a sin and immoral; speeding is a crime but few would call it a sin; lying to a friend may be immoral and a sin but is not usually a crime. Markers reward clear definitions and explained differences.
Related dot points
- 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.
- 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.
- Christian beliefs about human nature, including being created in the image of God, the soul, free will, and sin and the Fall, and beliefs about the human condition, including the problem of suffering and separation from God.
An SQA National 5 RMPS answer on World Religion, using Christianity as the worked example. Covers Christian beliefs about human nature, including being created in the image of God, the soul, free will, and sin and the Fall, and the human condition, including suffering and separation from God.
- The means of reaching the goal in Christianity, including the death and resurrection of Jesus (atonement), grace, faith, repentance, prayer and worship, the sacraments, and following the teaching and example of Jesus.
An SQA National 5 RMPS answer on World Religion, using Christianity. Covers the means of reaching the goal: the death and resurrection of Jesus (atonement), grace, faith, repentance, prayer, worship and the sacraments, and following the teaching and example of Jesus.
- The problem of suffering and evil, including the distinction between moral and natural evil, the challenge it poses to belief in God, and religious responses such as free will and soul-making, and non-religious responses.
An SQA National 5 RMPS answer on Religious and Philosophical Questions. Covers the problem of suffering and evil: moral and natural evil, the challenge to belief in an all-powerful, all-loving God, and religious responses such as free will and soul-making, plus non-religious responses.