Spec 2

• law breakers should be punished fairly and with compassion/the most loving aim of punishment should be to reform the offender through their punishment/offenders should be helped to discourage them from committing further offences, etc
• the reason for them breaking the law should be taken into account when punishment is determined/eg motivation to help others/protest against an unjust law, etc
• offenders need to be punished as a retribution/offenders should be made an example of to deter others and protect society, etc

Christianity
Law breakers should be forgiven and given a second chance but they need to be punished as well during which time they are helped to reform/‘A man reaps what he sows’ (Galatians)/Christians should work with people to discourage reoffending/although poverty cannot be used as an excuse for breaking the law reducing poverty and bad social conditions may prevent law breaking/law breakers should be encouraged and helped to repent leading to forgiveness/reparation can
help a person to repent, etc. 

Judaism
Obeying the law is important because it is based on religious law including the Ten Commandments/punishment is considered to be a deterrent/offenders are encouraged to repent, seek forgiveness and reform/punishment should be proportional to help offenders, etc.

Spec 2

For theists, God is the ultimate source of forgiveness/forgiveness is an important step in reconciliation/forgiveness does not replace punishment/forgiveness brings inner peace/shows compassion/God will forgive those who ask in faith/God requires humans to forgive whatever offence has been committed, etc

2022

Most religions teach that it is important to be compassionate, tender, kind / people should reflect God’s forgiving nature / let go of the harm or hurt that has been caused / the Golden Rules / forgiveness does not mean that it is a replacement for punishment / some may say forgive and forget, etc.

Christianity
Christians are expected to forgive others and they believe that then God will forgive them / “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” – Lord’s Prayer / Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18 : 21-22 / this means an unlimited amount / Jesus on the cross prayed, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23 : 34 / but many Christians believe that forgiveness is not meant to be a
replacement for punishment, etc

Judaism
Jews believe that forgiveness should not be the automatic response of the victim / instead those offenders should show remorse to their victims and honestly ask for their forgiveness / the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are traditionally the time to ask forgiveness if it hasn’t been asked before / on Yom Kippur Jews believe that if they have sought forgiveness then God will forgive them / the people who have been hurt have a duty to forgive if they are genuinely asked / “Come, let us reach an understanding, – says the Lord. Be your sins like crimson, They can turn snow-white; Be they red as dyed wool, They can become like fleece.” Isaiah
1 : 18, etc.

2020

Religions believe in the importance of forgiveness / this does not mean to excuse or forget what has happened / it enables people to move on and let go of the desire to see the other person being punished / recognises that the other person may change, etc.

Christianity
Core belief of Christianity is to forgive others regardless of what they have done / in return God will forgive them / The Lord’s Prayer – ‘Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us’ / many Christians would say that forgiveness isn’t necessarily a replacement for punishment / Jesus’ reply to Peter’s question – Matthew 18 : 21-22 / there can be no limit to forgiveness / Jesus’ words on the cross “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” / Jesus died that people might be forgiven, etc.

Judaism
Forgiveness is a core belief and is strongly linked with repentance / Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are traditionally the time to ask for forgiveness / on Yom Kippur Jews traditionally believe that sins between people and God are forgiven / the person wronged has a duty to forgive if genuinely asked / Isaiah 1:18 “Be your sins like crimson. They can turn snow-white; Be they red as dyed wool, They can become like fleece.” / forgiveness is not a replacement for punishment, etc.