Divine Justice: The Relationship Between Images of God and Attitudes Toward Criminal Punishment

• NCJ Number: 230696
• Journal: Criminal Justice Review Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2010 Pages: 90-106
• Author(s): Christopher D. Bader; Scott A. Desmond; F. Carson Mencken; Byron R. Johnson
• Date Published: March 2010
• Length: 17 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: John Templeton Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the relationship between one's view of God and one's sentiments toward criminal punishment.

Abstract

Some have argued that moralistic considerations trump other factors in determining attitudes toward criminal punishment. Consequently, recent research has examined how views of God influence sentiments regarding criminal punishment. Using the Baylor Religion Survey (BRS) 2005, the results of this study found that a) angry and judgmental images of God are significant predictors of punitive attitudes regarding criminal punishment and the death penalty and b) images of God as loving and engaged in the world were not consistently significant predictors of attitudes toward criminal punishment, once measures of God's perceived anger and judgment are considered. Tables and references (Published Abstract)