💰 Poverty
A person who cannot afford food or housing may steal. Many Hindus would see this as a failure of a society that does not share.
Hindu Beliefs about Peace and Conflict » Crime and Its Causes: Hindu Responses
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 1, 3.4 (Hinduism)
- How Hindus see sin (against dharma) beside crime (against the law of the land)
- Six reasons why crime might happen: poverty, politics, racism, drugs, upbringing and low self-esteem
- What the Atharva Veda hymn 3:24 is cited for
- What Hindu individuals and groups, such as BAPS Charities, do to end these causes
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Unlock This CourseSin and crime for Hindus
Remember from Sin and Crime: What Is the Difference? that a crime is breaking the law of the land and a sin is a wrong act in the eyes of a religion. Some acts are both, such as theft. Some are only one of the two.
For Hindus, a sin is an action against dharma, which means duty and the right way to live. You met the Hindu idea of why people go wrong in Avidya and Maya: Why People Go Wrong in Hinduism. A crime is breaking the law of the country. Many Hindus teach that people should keep the law of the land as part of their dharma, but a sin can be a wrong that no law punishes, such as a cruel thought.
Key terms:
- Seva (recap from Karma and Suffering in Hinduism): selfless service to others, with no reward wanted.
- Charity: an organisation that raises money and gives time to help people in need.
The nature and problem of crime
Crime harms victims, their families and the whole community. People become afraid, and money and trust are lost. Hindus would say it also harms the offender, because a wrong act is against dharma and, as they believe, brings bad karma (the results of actions). So Hindus care about stopping crime before it starts, not only about punishing it afterwards. Punishment is the topic of Danda, Prayaschitta and the Aims of Punishment.
Why might crime happen?
The spec names six possible reasons. They are not excuses. Many people in these situations never commit crime. They are things that can make crime more likely.
🏛 Politics
Unfair laws, corrupt leaders or a government that ignores some groups can lead to anger, protest and law breaking.
🚫 Racism
Being treated as lesser because of race can cause anger and a feeling of being shut out. Racism can also be a crime itself.
💊 Drugs
Addiction can lead people to steal to pay for drugs. Drugs can also weaken self-control.
🏠 Upbringing
Children who grow up with violence, neglect or no guidance may copy what they see.
😔 Low self-esteem
A person who feels worthless may seek attention, or the approval of a gang, through crime.
Hindus can apply their own teachings here. Many Hindus argue that ahimsa (not harming living beings) and the belief that the same atman (soul) is in everyone count against racism. Many also argue that dharma includes a duty to look after those in need, so poverty is everyone's concern.
Atharva Veda 3:24
The Atharva Veda is one of the four Vedas, the oldest Hindu scriptures. The spec cites Atharva Veda 3:24-25 in this topic. Hymn 3:24 is a hymn about the harvest and about having plenty of grain. One verse says (the wording varies by translation) that a person should gather in with a hundred hands and scatter or share with a thousand hands.
Many Hindus read this as a teaching to earn by honest work and then to share generously. This links to poverty: if people work honestly and the wealthy share, fewer people are pushed towards crime. This is how the passage is used for this topic. It is not a law about crime. The spec cites hymns 3:24 and 3:25 together; this lesson teaches 3:24, and does not claim to know why 3:25 is cited.
What Hindus do to end the causes
🤝 Individuals
Hindus are encouraged to practise seva. An individual might give food or money, volunteer, mentor a young person, speak out against racism, or bring up their children with good values and attention. Many Hindus teach that home is where dharma is first learned, which answers the cause of upbringing.
🏢 Groups
Hindu groups work together on larger projects. A mandir (temple) may run a food kitchen, youth activities or classes. Charities collect money and volunteers for community needs.
Example: BAPS Charities
BAPS Charities is a charity linked to the BAPS Swaminarayan tradition of Hinduism, and its volunteers are inspired by seva. Its own website describes work in health awareness, education, humanitarian relief, environmental care and community empowerment. For example, it runs health awareness and health care support, educational services and humanitarian relief in many communities. Its work can reduce causes of crime: help with school and health can support upbringing and self-esteem, and help for families in need can ease poverty. BAPS Charities does not claim to stop crime directly. The link is the way its work reduces causes.
Other Hindu groups and many individual Hindus also do this work. Not all Hindus agree on which action matters most. Some stress charity, some stress prayer and self-control, and some stress political action for fair laws.
Common mistakes
- Saying sin and crime are the same. Some acts are one and not the other.
- Saying poverty or any other cause makes crime certain. The causes only make it more likely.
- Saying the Atharva Veda is a rule about crime. Hymn 3:24 is a harvest hymn that Hindus use to teach earning and sharing.
- Naming BAPS Charities with no detail. Say what it does and which cause it helps with.
Exam-style question
(a) Identify three reasons why crime might occur. [3 marks] (Paper 1, AO1)
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two actions taken by followers of this religion to end the causes of crime. [4 marks] (Paper 1, AO1)
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why followers of this religion try to end the causes of crime. [6 marks] (Paper 1, AO1 and AO2)
(d) 'Religious groups can do more than the police to end 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] (Paper 1, AO1 and AO2)
Model answer
(a) 1. Poverty (1). 2. Drugs (1). 3. Upbringing (1).
(b) Hindu individuals practise seva, such as giving food or volunteering to help people in need (1), which tackles poverty (1). Hindu groups such as BAPS Charities run health, education and relief work (1) which help young people and families in need (1).
(c) Hindus believe dharma includes a duty to care for others (1), so they feel they must help those whose poverty may lead to crime (1). Ahimsa means not harming living beings (1), so ending the causes of harm is better than only punishing it (1). Hindus believe the same atman is in everyone (1), so offenders and victims deserve care, and helping people to avoid crime is right (1).
(d) Plan. For: groups such as BAPS Charities work on causes like poverty, education and self-esteem, which the police cannot fix; religious groups can offer community, values and long-term support; seva is a duty for Hindus. Against: only the police and courts can arrest people and protect the public; many causes, such as politics and drugs, need laws and government action; religious groups have limited money and not everyone belongs to one; non-religious charities and humanists also help. Possible conclusion: religious groups can do a lot about the causes, but the police are needed to stop crime that is happening, so the two do different jobs and 'more than' is too strong.
Exam tip
In 'Explain why' questions, name a Hindu idea (dharma, ahimsa, atman), then say what follows from it with 'so'. Naming BAPS Charities with one thing it does earns more than just naming it.