Abstract

This article aims to consider the issue of criminal responsibility from the Reformed Protestant perspective. Considering the role of social spheres and its origin, the author proposes that the spheres of family, school and Church are independent of the State, and therefore is not part of the State to act as an educator of the people, but its role, according to Scripture, is punitive. The author also deals with aspects of redemptive dilemma, as the major ideological movement in Brazilian society and understands that what is to redeem the evils of society is education - another misconception according to the Reformed view, since it teaches that the redemption of society and its evils is not in an educational system but in a person - Christ. Finally the author deals with the State's responsibilities as a punitive agent and minister of God in the punishment task and restraint the social evil which is the result not of a corrupt system, but the depravity of the human heart.