Explain two religious beliefs about the aims of punishment.

Refer to sacred writings or another source of religious belief and teaching in your answer. [6 marks]

Christianity

Some Christians believe that retribution is NOT an acceptable aim of punishment.

They point out that when Jesus found a crowd of people about to punish an adulteress, he said ‘Anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her’ (John 8. 7).

They say this means it is NEVER acceptable to seek retribution against a sinner: a person should always forgive them instead.

Islam

Some Muslims believe that retribution can SOMETIMES be an acceptable aim of punishment.

In the Qur’an it says ‘The reward of an evil deed is its equivalent. But whoever pardons and seeks reconciliation, then their reward is with Allah’ (42. 40).

They say this means that it is always better to forgive a sinner, but a person is also allowed to seek a limited amount of retribution against them.

Buddhism

Many Buddhists believe that retribution is ultimately self-defeating.

The Buddhist teacher Buddhaghosa explains that getting angry with someone is ‘like a man who wants to hit another and picks up a burning ember [...] and so first burns himself’ (chap. 9, sec. 23).

He means that the desire for retribution will keep a person trapped in the cycle of rebirth (samsara); instead, it is better to let go of anger.

References:

• Buddhaghosa. 2010. The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga), Urban Dharma <https://www.urbandharma.org/pdf1/PathofPurification2011.pdf> [accessed 26 October 2026]