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Peace and Conflict: Key Ideas » Sin and Crime: What Is the Difference?

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Edexcel spec: Paper 1, 3.4

What sins and crimes are, and how and why they differ
Where sins and crimes overlap, and where they do not
The main types of sin and crime, and their consequences
Social attitudes to sin and crime today

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What is a sin? What is a crime?

People often use these two words as if they mean the same thing. They do not.

🙏 Sin

An act that goes against the will or law of God, or against religious teaching. It is a religious idea, so it matters most to believers.

⚖️ Crime

An act that breaks the law of the country, which the state can punish. It applies to everyone in that country, religious or not.

Key terms:

Sin (recap from Why Do People Do Wrong? Selfishness, Greed and Sin): an act against the will or law of God, or against religious teaching.
Crime: an act against the law of the state, which the state can punish.
Offender: a person who has broken the law.
Victim: a person who is harmed by a sin or crime.
Secular society: a society where religion has less influence on daily life and on the law.

How and why do sins and crimes differ?

The differences come down to three questions.

Who makes the rule? Sins are set by God or by religious teaching. Crimes are set by the government and parliament of a country.
Who judges? For a sin, believers say God is the final judge. Many also answer to a religious community or leader. For a crime, it is the police, courts and judges.
What follows? For a sin, believers may feel guilt, pray for forgiveness or make up for it in a way their religion sets. For a crime, the state can give a fine, community work or prison.

Laws also differ from country to country and change over time. Something can be a crime in one country and legal in another, and a law can be added or removed. Religious teaching is usually seen by believers as more lasting.

Where do they overlap?

✅ Both

Murder and theft. Most religions teach that they are sins, and every country makes them crimes.

🙏 Sin only

Lying (in most situations) or envy may be sins, but they are not usually crimes. Many religions see adultery as a sin, but it is legal in the UK.

🚧 Crime only

Speeding or dropping litter are crimes, but they are not usually seen as sins.

So the two ideas overlap, but neither fits completely inside the other.

Types of sin

In general terms, sins can be grouped in two ways.

Thought, word and deed. A sin can be in what a person thinks (hatred or envy), what they say (lying or cruel words) or what they do (stealing or hurting someone).
Doing wrong and failing to do right. A sin can be doing something forbidden, or failing to do something good, such as ignoring a person in need.

Types of crime

👥 Against the person

Hurts people, such as assault or murder.

🏡 Against property

Takes or damages belongings, such as theft or vandalism.

🏛️ Against the state

Harms the country or its system, such as treason (betraying your country) or tax evasion.

Crimes can also be minor, such as dropping litter, or serious, such as armed robbery. The more serious the offence, the heavier the punishment usually is. (Punishment is covered in Punishment: Aims and Types.)

Consequences

😢 Victims

May lose money or belongings, be hurt, or feel afraid and angry. After a serious crime they can find it hard to feel safe again.

👮 Offenders

May face a fine or prison and a criminal record, which can make it harder to find work. A believer who has sinned may feel guilt and a need for forgiveness.

👪 Families

Families of victims and of offenders can suffer. A parent in prison may leave a family with less money and less support.

🏙️ Society

Crime costs money to deal with, and the fear of crime can stop people going out or trusting their neighbours.

Social attitudes to sin and crime

In a more secular society the word 'sin' is used less. Many people now say 'wrong' or 'immoral' instead, and see right and wrong as a matter of personal choice, human rights or the law, not God. Crime is still a big concern. Many people worry about the fear of crime, even when their own chance of being a victim is small.

People give many causes of crime:

Poverty: having too little may push someone to steal.
Upbringing: growing up around crime, or without guidance, can make it seem normal.
Addiction: needing money for drugs or drink can lead to theft.
Greed: wanting more than you need (see Why Do People Do Wrong? Selfishness, Greed and Sin).
Opportunity: an unlocked door or an unwatched shop makes crime easier.

Not everyone agrees on which causes matter most. Some people stress personal choice, and others stress a person's situation. Many say it is a mix.

Common mistakes

Saying every sin is a crime, or every crime is a sin. Give an example of each that is not.
Saying sins are only things people do. Thoughts, words and failing to do right count too.
Writing 'it is against the law' for a sin. A sin is against God's will or religious teaching.
Describing a crime with no consequence. Say who is affected: victim, offender, family or society.

Exam-style question

Paper 1 style

(a) Identify three causes of crime. [3 marks] (AO1)

(b) Outline two differences between sins and crimes. [4 marks] (AO1)

(d) 'Everything that is a sin should also be a crime.'
Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks] (AO1, AO2)

Model answer

(a) 1. Poverty (1) 2. Addiction (1) 3. Opportunity (1). Upbringing or greed would also be accepted.

(b) Sins are set by God or by religious teaching (1), while crimes are set by the government of a country (1). A sin is judged by God, according to believers (1), but a crime is judged by courts and can be punished by the state with a fine or prison (1).

(c) A sin is an act against the will of God or religious teaching, but a crime is only an act against the law of the state. Parliament does not make a law about everything religions teach is wrong. For example, lying and envy are seen as sins, but they are not usually crimes. This is because the law deals mainly with actions that harm others or society, and it would be very hard to police people's thoughts and feelings. Also, laws are made for everyone, including people who are not religious, so a country may leave some religious teachings to a person's conscience (their inner sense of right and wrong). Many religions see adultery as a sin, but it is legal in the UK. This shows that religion and the law have different sources, so their rules do not match exactly. (Level 2: several developed reasons with key terms used correctly.)

(d) Plan. For: sins such as murder and theft hurt people, so the law should protect victims; some believers may argue a country should follow God's laws; making wrongs illegal may help to stop them. Against: many sins are thoughts or private choices, so the law could not enforce them; a country has people of many religions and none, so it cannot punish acts that only some believe are wrong; crimes carry state punishment, which would be harsh for something like envy; laws must be fair and possible to police. Religion: add a teaching from your own religion on a sin (for example, about lying, envy or respect for others' property) and say whether believers think it should be a crime. Add a humanist view that the law should deal with harm to others, not religious rules. Possible conclusion: serious sins that harm others, such as murder, should be crimes, and already are, but it would be unworkable and unfair to make every sin illegal, so the statement is mostly not convincing.

Exam tip

In (b), say what is different about each side. 'Sins are about God and crimes are about law' is vague, but 'sins are set by God, crimes are set by the state' earns the point.

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