Religion, Peace, and Conflict

the meaning and significance of peace

meaning → absence of conflict and the presence of harmony and justice

significance → reflects God's will, strengthens moral living and prevents violence

the meaning and significance of justice

meaning → treating others fairly, creating a just society and living according to God’s will

significance → promotes peace, prevents conflict, moral responsibility

the meaning and significance of forgiveness

meaning → letting go of anger and desire for revenge when someone does wrong

significance → encourages justice with mercy, promotes peace, prevents conflict

the meaning and significance of reconciliation

meaning → restoring relationships after conflict

significance → restores peace, reflects religious teachings

the meaning and significance of violence/violent protests

meaning → using physical force to harm or protest

significance → lead to conflict, challenges religious teachings of peace

the meaning and significance of terrorism

meaning → use of violence and fear against civilians to achieve political aims

significance → causes fear, destroys peace, creates conflict

the meaning and significance of holy war

meaning → a war fought in God’s name or for religious purposes 

significance → encourages self defence, importance of interfaith peace

the meaning and significance of pacifism

meaning → belief violence and war is always wrong, promoting peaceful solutions 

significance → prevents violence, reflects religious morality 

how can greed be a reason for war?

to gain more land, wealth or resources

list 3 reasons for war

• greed

• self-defence

• retaliation

how can retaliation be a reason for war?

fight opposing side that has done something wrong against you as a response

how can self-defence be a reason for war?

fighting to protect yourself or your country

what is the just war criteria?

Cause

Authority

Last resort

Intention

Proportion

Outweigh

Success

explain ‘cause‘ as part of the just war criteria 

must have a just cause (right to defend from attack)

explain ‘authority‘ as part of the just war criteria 

declare by the UN (or by legitimate authority)

explain ‘last resort‘ as part of the just war criteria 

fought as a last resort (tried everything else to resolve conflict)

explain ‘intention‘ as part of the just war criteria 

fought with aim to restore peace

explain ‘proportional‘ as part of the just war criteria 

force used must be proportional to the cause

explain ‘outweigh‘ as part of the just war criteria 

must avoid killing civilians 

explain ‘success‘ as part of the just war criteria 

reasonable chance of success on both sides

define Greater Jihad

the personal inward struggle of all Muslims to live in line with their teachings and faith

what does Greater Jihad include?

• internal struggle

• focus on being a good Muslim (e.g. focusing on Allah and being moral)

• focused on the individual

define Lesser Jihad

the outward struggle to defend one’s faith, family and country from threat

what does Lesser Jihad include?

• external struggle

• focused on creating and upholding a good Muslim community

• can be focused on defending Islam

Finish the quote!

Bible : “for who draw the…

…sword will die by the sword”

Finish the quote!

Bible : “a time to love and a time to…

…hate, a time for war and a time for peace”

Finish the quote!

Bible : “the love of money…

…is a root of all kinds of evil”

Finish the quote!

Qur'‘an : “Do not take life…

…which God has made sacred”

Finish the quote!

Qur'‘an : “Fight in the way of…

…Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like the transgressors”

Finish the quote!

Qur'‘an : “And if they incline to…

…peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah”

what is nuclear deterrence?

the idea that possessing nuclear weapons prevents war, because other countries are too afraid to attack due to the threat of retaliation

arguments for nuclear deterrence

• prevents major wars

• maintains peace and stability

• protects civilians

how is preventing major wars an argument for nuclear deterrence?

countries are less likely to attack each other

how is maintaining peace  and stability an argument for nuclear deterrence?

seen as a “necessary evil“

how is protecting civilians an argument for nuclear deterrence?

seen as defence not aggression

define nuclear weapons

explosive devices that use nuclear reactions to cause massive destruction + loss of life

define chemical weapons 

weapons that use chemicals to poison, burn or paralyse people and the environment 

define biological weapons 

weapons that use living organisms (like bacteria or viruses) to spread disease and death

define weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)

biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear or other weapons designed to cause widespread death or significant harm, damage to structures, or destruction to the environment

what are the general consequences of war?

• disease/death

• destruction of infrastructure

• damages mental + physical health

what are the responses to general consequences of war?

• donations 

  • general help for food + shelter

• pray for victims (dua)

summary of the Good Samaritan story

• a man is robbed and left injured on the road

• a priest and a Levite pass by without helping.

• a Samaritan stops, cares for him and pays for his recovery - showing true love for one’s neighbour

moral of the Good Samaritan story

to help everyone and care for everyone no matter who they are, even if they’re your enemy 

what is the Qur’an verse 5:32?

“It will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life will be as if they saved all of humanity”

what is the summary of the Qur’an quote 5:32?

even a small effort to help others is really significant

what is Zakat?

compulsory giving of 2.5% of a muslims wealth to help the poor

what is the significance of Zakat?

• it means “to purify“ in arabic

• purifies a muslims wealth and soul from greed and selfishness 

define peace-making 

bringing harmony + forgiveness between people or nations in conflict

what do Christians believe about peace-making?

• believe peace is a gift from God

• following Jesus means rejecting hatred + violence

• forgiveness + reconciliation are central - peace only comes when people forgive + work together

what do Muslims believe about peace-making?

• believe peace is achieved by living according to Allah’s will

• also to forgive + show mercy to others

• strongly opposes terrorism

context on the Christian Aid organisation (5 bullet points)

• set up in 1940s

• aims to bring aid to poverty

• slogan: “we believe in life before death“

• supports local organisations because they believe local people are the best people to deal with problems

• recent campaigns include raising awareness of refugees from Gaza, Syria and Afghanistan

context on the Muslim Aid organisation

• established in 1985 by leaders of 17 Islamic organisations

• funded by donations from supporters + Zakat

• 2014 Autumn - set up Beity orphanage in Turkey for 75 young children whose parents were killed in conflict neighbouring Syria

• they keep them safe, clothe them, feed them, provide education + healthcare

Islamic views on use of WMDs : what do they believe about the creation of life?

that it is sacred and that the earth and life is Muslims’ responsibility to take care of + to work for peace and that weapons that have potential to kill millions and destroy goes against the teachings of Islam

Islamic views on use of WMDs : what do they believe about civilians + WMDs?

innocent civilians must be protected but when WMDs is in use, this isn’t possible

Christian views on use of WMDs : what does a fundamental Christian believe?

that as the creator, only God has the authority to end life that he created (1 of 10 Commandments = “You shall not murder“)

Christian view on use of WMDs : what do some Christians believe can never be justified?

that the use of nuclear weapons to kill huge numbers of innocent civilians can’t ever be justified

Christian view on use of WMDs : what is the Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CCND)?

a group of Christians in England who are attached to the larger Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, they promote the need to pray for peace and nuclear disarmament

Christian view on use of WMDs : what do some Christians believe is justifiable?

possession of WMDs is justifiable if its used for deterrence (NOT USING)