Religious Roots Of Punitive Attitudes

Considerable research has been conducted on the causes of punitive attitudes towards criminal offenders. This study focuses on the possible effects religion may have when influencing opinions on correctional practices. Researchers have primarily focused on Christian fundamentalists and have come to the conclusion that fundamentalist affiliations and belief in biblical literalism has been related to punitive attitudes towards criminals. Religious individuals have been found to support harsher punishments for offenders such as mandatory sentencing and capital punishment.In this study, the relationship between religion and punitive attitudes was examined. It was found that those who believed in the literal interpretation of the Bible were more punitive. Those who claimed religious affiliation were also found to be more punitive than those claiming atheism and agnosticism.