Our society holds those who commit crimes accountable and does not base law on religious principals. However, the Puritans used the Bible as a basis for their societal rules and laws. This is called a theocracy. In contemporary America, legislators create laws that are enforced by police officers. When people are accused of a crime, they are allowed representation by a lawyer and will face a judge and/or jury to decide their fate.
Act Two focuses on those who are falsely accused. You will see what happens in a Puritan society when a person is accused of a crime. In our contemporary society, are people ever falsely accused of a crime? What kinds of safeguards are in place to prevent people from false imprisonment? What happens when someone is falsely accused? Are they usually found guilty or innocent? If they are eventually found innocent, how are they viewed in the court of public opinion?
Take some time to explore these questions in further detail. Go to the Internet and find an article where you learn about someone who has been falsely accused of a crime or someone who has been found guilty but may be innocent. This can be someone famous, or it can be someone from your local community. Consider the following questions below:
Post your responses to these questions in the discussions area. Be sure to paste the URL to your posting. Then, return to the topic several times over the next few days to read your coursemates' posts. Reply to at least two of them, making sure to ask questions and encourage further conversation.
Here is a list of possible examples that you may want to explore: