Theme D - Religion, peace & conflict

What is conflict?

A serious disagreement or argument (typically prolonged)

This can often lead to violence & war

Peace

→ The absence of conflict, resulting in harmony & happiness

→ The aim of war may be to create peace, however this hard to achieve due to the instability & resentment that war initiates

→ Both Christians & Jews believe that God will bring peace to the world sometime in the future

Justice

→ The bringing about of what is right & fair (linked to equality)

→ Injustice can result in conflict

→ Both Christians & Jews believe that God is the ultimate judge & will establish justice in the future

→ Jewish prophets preached the importance of justice particularly for the poor & vulnerable

Forgiveness

→ Showing compassion & pardoning someone for their wrong doing

→ When conflict is over forgiveness should follow

→ Christians are taught to always forgive each other “how many times should I forgive my brother?… Not 7 times but 77 times”

→ Both Christians & Jews believe God grants forgiveness to those who ask in faith

→ Yom Kippur offers Jews an opportunity to seek Gods forgiveness for their sins

Reconciliation

→ The restoring of relationships after conflict

→ Requires conscious effort

→ Does not mean you should ignore the past, but instead focus on the future

→ Many Christians & Jews work for peace & reconciliation in times of conflict

What is a protest?

An expression of disapproval, often in a public group

What is terrorism?

An unlawful act of violence to achieve a certain goal (often political or religious)