Using religion and the justice system, explain how each view humans as good, evil, or a mixture of both

What will be an ideal response?

The goal of this question is for students to make connections between values, which are more abstract, and give more concrete examples of how this value appears in everyday life. Examples will differ based on students' own experiences.

Concerning religion, the textbook states that the United States was founded by Puritans who believed that human nature was fundamentally evil. Related, the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible is the foundation for some religions' belief in "original sin." Another interpretation of sin is that humans commit sins, but they can also repent and be forgiven for them (a mixture of both good and evil).

Concerning our society's justice system, some may argue that capital punishment is evidence that some people are "evil" and cannot be rehabilitated. However, the concept of parole is evidence that our society values rehabilitation or "second chances." The textbook also states that "innocent until proven guilty" implies that humans are viewed as inherently good.