AQA GCSE Religious Studies A - Theme D - Peace and conflict

what is war and what is often the intention of it

it is fighting between nations to resolve issues between them. usually to create peace (absence of conflict, which leads to happiness and harmony)

what is civil war

armed conflict between factions within the same country

what are Christian beliefs about war

- Church teaches killing is wrong, but many are prepared to fight for their faith or country
- Quakers (pacifists) believe war is always wrong and work to prevent it

"He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples ... Nations will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more." - Isaiah 2:4

what are Muslim beliefs about war

- main message of Islam is peace (salam means peace) - fighting in self-defence or in defence of faith CAN be justified, but fighting WITHOUT A CAUSE is AGAINST the will of God and Muslim teachings

"When aggressive people address you, reply with words of peace." - Qur'an 25:63

the concepts of ... are important both in the aftermath of conflict and as tools to prevent war happening in the first place

peace, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation

what do Christians and Muslims believe about PEACE in war

- peace may be hard to achieve through war because its aftermath is often instability and resentment
- Christians and Muslims SEEK INNER PEACE through prayer and meditation
- prophet Isaiah (Christian) spoke of a time when God will bring peace, and the Qur'an also emphasises peace

what do Christians and Muslims believe about JUSTICE (what is right and fair, making up for a wrong) in war

- Isaiah says God, the ultimate judge, will establish justice (linked to equality of opportunity)
- if more privileged parts of the world are seen to be the cause of injustice, conflict might result
- in Islam 'the Just' is one of the 99 names for God

what do Christians and Muslims believe about FORGIVENESS (pardoning someone for what they've done wrong) in war

- Christians are taught to forgive others if they wish to be forgiven (Lord's prayer)
- forgiveness DOESN'T mean no action should be taken to right a wrong, BUT when conflict is over FORGIVENESS SHOULD FOLLOW. actions to establish peace and justice need to be taken to avoid future conflict
- both Muslims and Christians believe God offers forgiveness to all who ask

what is RECONCILIATION and what is it important in

- restoring friendly relationships after conflict
- it means a conscious effort to rebuild a relationship which has been damaged by conflict
- it's important in the prevention of conflict

what does it mean to protest, and what are UK laws about the different types of it

- it means to express disapproval, often in a public group
- it's a democratic freedom
- UK law allows PEACEFUL public protest marches IF police are told SIX DAYS before so that violence can be avoided
- terrorism (unlawful use of violence against innocent civilians) is a more serious form of voilent protest

what are Christian beliefs about peaceful protest

- they believe that protest to achieve what is right is acceptable as long as violence is not used
- EXAMPLE: Christian pastor Dr Martin Luther King Jr organised peaceful protests against unjust racist laws, which succeeded in bringing civil rights to African-American citizens
- no religion promotes violence, but have different views about when violence may be justified

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil ... If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:17-19

what are Islamic beliefs about peaceful protest

- fighting is only allowed in self-defence or defence of the faith and only against those who actively fight against you, so they are okay with peaceful protest

"Do not kill each other, for God is merciful to you. If any of you does these things, out of hostility and injustice, We shall make him suffer Fire." - Qur'an 4:29-30

what is terrorism and what are religious beliefs about it

- people use it to further their cause by killing innocent people
- EXAMPLES are: suicide bombers, car bombs, gunmen shooting into crowds and using vehicles to injure pedestrians
- the AIM is to make society aware of their cause, make people frightened and push authorities into giving way to their demands
- NO religion promotes terrorism, and most Christians and Muslims believe it is wrong as it targets innocent people

"The purpose of terrorism lies not just in the violent act itself. It is in producing terror. It sets out to inflame, to divide, to produce consequences which [terrorists] then use to justify terror." - Former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair

what are the three reasons of war and define them

- GREED: selfish desire for something
- SELF-DEFENCE: acting to prevent harm to yourself or others
- RETALIATION: deliberately harming someone as a response to them harming you

others include political disputes, regime change, clash of cultures, disputes within a nation

how is GREED a reason for war and give religious beliefs about it

- to gain more land/regain land previously lost
- to control important resources (e.g. oil)
- to deprive the enemy of main source of income

- Bible and Qur'an warn against greed:
C: "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." - 1 Timothy 6:10
M: "God does not like arrogant, boastful people, who are miserly ... hiding the bounty God has given them." - Qur'an 4:36

how is SELF-DEFENCE a reason for war and give religious beliefs about it

- to defend one's country against invasion or attack/to defend allies who are under threat
- to defend one's values, beliefs and ways of life
- to defeat evil, e.g. genocide (deliberate killing of a whole nation or ethnic group)

- many Christians and Muslims believe fighting in self-defence is justified if all other ways of resolving conflict have been tried and failed (used as a last resort)
C: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil ... If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:17-19
M: "Those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged - God has the power to help them." - Qur'an 22:39

how is RETALIATION a reason for war and give religious beliefs about it

- to fight against a country that has done something very wrong
- to fight against a country which has attacked or damaged your country

- Jesus taught retaliation is wrong. many find it difficult to follow this teaching in war:
"But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." - Matthew 5:39

- Islam teaches God knows the need for justice so permits "fair retribution." - Qur'an 2:179, but retaliation MUST BE MEASURED (torture is forbidden under Islamic law). forgiveness is a better response to avoid bloodshed and be rewarded by God

what are nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction

- nuclear weapons are weapons that devestate huge areas and kill large numbers of people (nuclear reaction). used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII. Japan surrended, so some people say their use was justified

- other types of weapons of mass destruction include:
-- CHEMICAL weapons, use chemicals to poison/burn/paraylse humans and destroy the natural environment. they're illegal, thought to be used in Iraq and Syria
-- BIOLOGICAL weapons, have living organisms or infective material that can lead to disease or death. they're illegal but many countries have them

NO religion supports the USE of these weapons

what are Christian beliefs on nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction

- only God has the right to end life
- nuclear, chemical and biological weapons kill huge numbers of innocent civilians so their use can NEVER BE JUSTIFIED: "You shall not murder." - Exodus 20:13
- the quote "eye for eye" - Exodus 21:14 is sometimes used to justify war, but it CAN'T justify the use of weapons of mass destruction
- some Christians see the POSSESSION of nuclear weapons as a DETERRENT to MAINTAIN PEACE and prevent attack

what are Muslim beliefs on nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction

- God created all life on earth and Muslims have the duty to care for and preserve it
- the use of nuclear weapons would destroy God's creation, killing millions of innocent people
- the Qur'an gives advice that seems to rule out using all weapons of mass destruction: "Do not contribute to your destruction with your own hands, but do good, for God loves those who do good." - Qur'an 2:195
- some Muslims see the POSSESSION of nuclear weapons as a DETERRENT to MAINTAIN PEACE and prevent attack

what is a just war

a war that meets internationally accepted criteria for fairness, it follows traditional Christian rules for a just war and is now accepted by other religions (Muslims have the same conditions for lesser jihad, the outward struggle to defend your faith)

Christian writers developed the concept

what is the 'just war theory'

it gives the conditions that must apply if a war is justifiable and rules on how the war must be fought to make sure it is ETHICAL

what conditions must a war have to be 'just' (just war theory)

1) be fought for a JUST CAUSE (in self-defence or to defend others, not to gain territory/resources, or in retaliation)
2) be declared by a proper LEGAL AUTHORITY
3) have a JUST INTENTION (fought to promote good or defeat wrongdoing, justice and peace must be restored afterwards)
4) be a LAST RESORT (other ways of solving the problem must be tried first)
5) have a reasonable CHANCE OF SUCCESS (good gained by winning should outweigh the evil which led to the war)
6) be PROPORTIONAL (excessive force should not be used and innocent civilians must not be killed)

mnemonic to remember conditions for a war to be just (just war theory)

CLIPS

C: just CAUSE
L: LAST resort
I: right INTENTION
P: PROPORTIONALITY
S: reasonable change of SUCCESS
and proper legal authority

how must a war be fought to be 'just' (just war theory)

- war should be fought by JUST MEANS (innocent civilians should not be targeted/harmed)
- only APPROPRIATE FORCE should be used (type of force & how much force)
- INTERNATIONALLY AGREED CONVENTIONS must be obeyed (Geneva Convention rules)

what are Muslim attitudes to the conduct of war

Abu Bakr came up with these rules:
- Muslim armies must not harm innocent civilians, animals, fruit-bearing trees or people who are devout to their faith (monks)
- dead bodies must not be mutilated and prisoners must be treated in a civilised way

Muslims believe:
- wars should be proportional and fought without anger, but it's better to avoid war if possible
- soldiers should be of sound mind and body and prisoners should be treated in a civilised way

"Know that the evil of war is swift, and its taste bitter." - Hadith

what is a holy war and how can it be contradicted

fighting for a religious cause or God, probably controlled by a religious leader

but, how can killing large numbers of people be holy?

how can you justify holy war killing people

The Old Testament refers to God helping the Jews win battles to settle in the Promised Land. in the Crusades (battles between Christians and Muslims), both sides believed God was on their side

what do Muslims and Christians believe about holy war

BOTH believe it must:
- be authorised by a religious leader with great authority
- only be fought to defend the faith from attack (the right to worship and practise the religion is being denied)

- those who take part gain spiritual rewards (if they die in battle they will go straight to heaven/paradise)
- in ISLAM holy war must MEET CRITERIA FOR A JUST WAR

describe how religion is sometimes seen as a cause of violence in the contemporary world

- in the UK, most Christians and Muslims do not respond violently to an attack on their faith
- during "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland, conflict between Catholics and Protestants led to violence against each community
- some groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS use the Muslims idea of holy war to wage civil war and commit acts of terrorism

what are Christian attitudes to the use of violence (holy war)

- the words "eye for an eye, tooth for tooth" - Exodus 21:24, are sometimes used to justify retaliation, but it was intended to reduce violence by limiting retaliation to the individual offenders rather then their whole tribe, many or whom were innocent
- most Christians accept Jesus' teaching that not only violence, but the anger that leads to violence, is wrong
- some Christians cite Jesus' advice to his disciples to buy a sword (Luke 22:36) as justification for violence, but most believe Jesus was warning his disciples of dangerous times ahead, not suggesting violence

- Jesus' example of his arrest showed his non-violent stance: "'Put your sword back in its place,' Jesus said, 'for all who draw the sword die by the sword." - Matthew 26:52

what are Muslim attitudes to the use of violence (holy war)

- holy war must follow just war criteria (not gaining territory/financial gain/for a leader's own power/must be a last resort/in self-defence/not to force conversion to Islam etc.)
- holy war can only be declared by a proper religious leader
- it can't be declared to force people to convert to Islam
- it must be fought for God and not allow a leader to show power

"Fight in God's cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits: God does not love those who overstep the limits." - Qur'an 2:190

what is pacifism and peacemaking

- pacifism is the Christian belief of people (pacifists) who refuse to take part in war and any other forms of violence
- peacemaking is the action of trying to establish peace

describe what pacifists believe

- that war and violence can rarely be justified (conflicts can be settled in a peaceful way)
- they think that it is better to prevent war by promoting justice and peace
- they believe prayer and meditation can help people be at peace with themselves and others
- some Christians and pacifists follow Jesus' example and teaching: "Blessed are the peacemakers..." - Matthew 5:9
- QUAKERS are a Christian denomination that strongly supports pacifism

what is a conscientious objector

someone who refuses to do something, such as fight in war, because of their conscience

during the First and Second World Wars these people refused to fight and faced punishment. they took non-fighting roles as cooks, doctors, nurses or mechanics instead (volunteering for the Friend's Ambulance Unit)

what do Muslims believe about peace

- it is a religion of peace, but NOT a pacifist religion because of the duty of jihad and the instruction: "Fighting has been ordained for you, though it is hard for you." - Qur'an 49:9
- Muslims MUST NOT REFUSE PEACE if it's offered:
"But if they [non-believers] incline towards peace, you [Prophet] must also incline towards it, and put your trust in God..." - Qur'an 8:61
- Muslims seek inner peace through submission to God's will and being part of the UMMAH (Brotherhood of Muslims)

give examples of peacemaking in contemporary Britain

-- The Anglican Pacifist Fellowship --
- works to overcome the inequality and injustice that lead to war within and between nations
- sponsors the Week of Prayer for World Peace, contributes to peace-related events and religious services and raises awareness of the issue of pacifism: "We believe that as Christians we are called to follow the way of Jesus in loving out enemies and becoming peacemakers."

-- The Muslim Peace Fellowship --
- works against injustice and for peace in local communities and globally
- affirms commitment to peace on behalf of all Muslims
- tries to deepen people's understanding of Muslim teachings about peace through publications and conferences and works to develop non-violent strategies for issues in society

what are victims of war

injured members of the armed forces, the families of those who died or were injured in war, civilians left in a war zone where everything has been destroyed and refugees from war-torn countries

what may victims of war need

- psychological support
- money to live on if the main wage earner dies
- a safe place to live
- medical help for injuries
- access to food and clean water
- a means of earning a living

why do Christians help victims of war

- Jesus taught "Love your neighbour as yourself." - Mark 12:31
- Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) taught that everyone is everybody else's neighbour, regardless of race, age, gender, religion or political beliefs

why do Muslims help victims of war

- the Qur'an teaches "Whoever saved a life, it would be as if they saved the life of all mankind." - Qur'an 5:32
- principles such as compassion, empathy, generosity and helping those in need motivate Muslims to help

name two Christian and two Muslim organisations that help victims of war

Christian: Caritas, Christian Aid
Muslim: Muslim Aid, Islamic Relief

how does Christian Aid help victims of war

- works to END POVERTY and PROMOTES peace, justice and human rights so that war is prevented. it raises money to support local organisations that help refugees from places such as Gaza, Afghanistan and Syria

"The need to address the root causes of refugees flows and the migration of the desperate - conflict, inequality, and the impacts of climate change, to name but three - has never been greater." - Christian Aid

how does Muslim Aid help victims of war

- provides SHORT- AND LONG-TERM AID to victims of war and other disasters
- in 2014, they helped set up the Beity orphanage in Turkey to give health care, education and spiritual support to children whose parents were killed in Syria

"He will judge between the ? and will settle ? for many peoples ... Nations will not take up ? against nation, nor will they ? for war any more." (CHRISTIAN)

"He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples ... Nations will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more." - Isaiah 2:4

war is wrong

"Do not ? anyone evil for ?." (CHRISTIAN)

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil." - Romans 12:17-19

if someone is evil to you, don't be evil back. be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone

"live at ? with everyone." (CHRISTIAN)

"live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:18

Christians should be peaceful with everyone

"All who ? the ? die by the ?." (CHRISTIAN)

"All who draw the sword die by the sword." - Matthew 26:52

those who live by violence will die by violence. Christians should not partake in violence

"Love your ? as yourself." / "Love thy ?." (CHRISTIAN)

"Love your neighbour as yourself." - Mark 12:31 / "Love thy neighbour."

you should love others as you wish to be treated. focus on doing what is right

"Blessed are the ?..." (CHRISTIAN)

"Blessed are the peacemakers..." - Matthew 5:9

Jesus promises that the peacemaker will be blessed. promotes peacemaking

"For the love of ? is the root of all kinds of ?." (CHRISTIAN)

"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." - 1 Timothy 6:10

the love of money (greed) can make people wonder from the faith and focus on money instead of God. money it self is not evil, but the love of money is the root of all evil

"You shall not ?." (CHRISTIAN)

"You shall not murder." - Exodus 20:13

you shouldn't murder (Ten Commandments)

"When ? people ? you, reply with words of ?." (MUSLIM)

"When aggressive people address you, reply with words of peace." - Qur'an 25:63

when someone is aggressive towards you, do not respond with aggression, instead peace

"Do not ? each other for God is ? to you." (MUSLIM)

"Do not kill each other for God is merciful to you." - Qur'an 4:29-30

don't kill others because God is merciful

"If you kill out of ? and ? you shall suffer ?." (MUSLIM)

"If you kill out of hostility and injustice you shall suffer fire." - Qur'an 4:29-30

if you kill others, consequences will follow

"Those who have been ? are permitted to take up arms because they have been ? - God has the ? to help them." (MUSLIM)

"Those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged - God has the power to help them." - Qur'an 22:39

justifies fighting back

"Do not contribute to your ? with your own ?, but do ?, for God loves those who do ?." (MUSLIM)

"Do not contribute to your destruction with your own hands, but do good, for God loves those who do good." - Qur'an 2:195

don't be violent, instead resort to good

"Know that the ? of war is swift, and its taste ?." (MUSLIM)

"Know that the evil of war is swift, and its taste bitter." - Hadith

war is bad

"Fight in God's cause against those who ?, but do not ? the limits: God does not love those who ? the limits." (MUSLIM)

"Fight in God's cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits: God does not love those who overstep the limits." - Qur'an 2:190

Muslims can fight for their faith, but not go too far

"? has been ? for you, though it is hard for you." (MUSLIM)

"Fighting has been ordained for you, though it is hard for you." - Qur'an 49:9

make peace between two

"God does not like ?, ? people, who are miserly ... hiding the ? God has given them." (MUSLIM)

"God does not like arrogant, boastful people, who are miserly ... hiding the bounty God has given them." - Qur'an 4:36

don't be arrogant

"Whoever ? a life, it would be as if they ? the life of all ?." (MUSLIM)

"Whoever saved a life, it would be as if they saved the life of all mankind." - Qur'an 5:32

helping others is good (victims of war), it's as if you have saved everyone

"But if they [non-believers] incline towards ?, you [Prophet] must also incline towards it, and put your ? in ?..." (MUSLIM)

"But if they [non-believers] incline towards peace, you [Prophet] must also incline towards it, and put your trust in God..." - Qur'an 8:61

if someone offers peace, Muslims must agree to peace

"eye for an ?, tooth for ?" (CHRISTIAN)

"eye for an eye, tooth for tooth" - Exodus 21:24

used to justify retaliation, BUT it was intended to reduce violence by limiting retaliation to the individual offenders, rather than their whole tribe