war and peace theme D - AQA RS GCSE

what are usually the two main intentions of those fighting war?

• peace

• justice

what two things do Christians and Muslims seek after the end of war?

• forgiveness

• reconciliation

which denomination of Christianity believes war is always wrong?

Quaker

what do Christians believe about war?

• believe it should be a last resort and that killing is wrong

• believe that fighting for self-defence and/or preservation of faith can be justified

• fighting without just cause is wrong

what do Muslims believe about war?

• believe that it should only be fought for self-defence or preservation of faith

• is allowed - Muhammad fought wars for Islam

• fighting without just cause is against the Will of God and Muslim teachings

what is peace?

an absence of conflict which leads to happiness and harmony

what is justice?

bringing about what is right and fair, according to the law or making up for a wrong that has been committed

what is forgiveness?

showing grace and mercy, and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong

what is reconciliation?

• a sacrament in the Catholic church

• when individuals or groups restore friendly relations after conflict or disagreement

what are Islamic and Christian views on violence?

• both discourage it

• unless it is just/holy war as a last resort

what is the law on protest in the UK?

• the right to protest is a fundamental democratic freedom

• protest is legal if peaceful

• if a march or procession is taking place police have to be informed with the route at least 6 days in advance

what can the police do about an informed, planned, protest?

• request route alterations or apply for a court order to ban it if they think it may intimidate people or be violent

give three examples of protest movements

• Just Stop Oil

• Black Lives Matter

• Junior Doctor strikes

• Feminism - equal pay

• Teacher strikes

give 5 kinds of protest

• strike

• sit-in

• march/rally

• civil disobedience

• blocking things

• violence

describe the 2011 London Riots

• triggered by police killing of Mark Duggan

• began as peaceful protests against police violence and racism

• developed into riots

• involved looting, criminal damage

• 5 people were killed

how do religious people respond to violent protest or terrorism?

• bring in protective measures

• may hide faith in public

• may talk to protestors and try to change their minds

• offer support to the local community

• prayer

• donate to charities

what is terrorism?

• an unlawful act of violence designed to instil terror and fear into the general public

• usually targets civilians in public spaces

• includes suicide and car bombings

what are some possible motives for terrorism?

• anger at the mistreatment of members of a religion

• to show extremist religious belief - e.g. only those who believe should live

• to scare/pressure governments/people into taking action

what is the view of Christianity and Islam on terrorism?

• no religion permits terrorist acts

• vast majority of religious members do not support terrorism

what is an example of terrorism?

7/7 London transport bombings

describe the London 7/7 transport bombings

• extremist Islamic suicide bombers on the tube and on a bus

• 56 civilians died and 500 were injured

• majority of British civilians too scared to use public transport after

what are the reasons for war?

• self defence

• greed

• retaliation

how might going to war for self defence be justified?

• protects a country’s culture and people, and could reduce destruction in the long term

• asserts a country’s ability to fight - prevents a country from becoming a target

• may defeat evil - e.g. genocide

• religion allows for it as last resort

why might going to war for self defence not be justified?

• two wrongs don’t make a right

• self defence can be disproportionate

• ultimately may cause more destruction

why might going to war for retaliation be justified?

• form of justice if horrific acts are committed - like war crimes

• is not a war crime

why might going to war for retaliation not be justified?

• two wrongs do not make a right

• responding to destruction with destruction doesn’t really make sense

• other peaceful means of retaliation that are offender specific

what are religious views towards going for war for retaliation?

• Islam: yes if it is measured, and forgiveness is prioritised - there is a human need for justice to prevent repetition and save lives

• Christianity: no

why might going to war for greed be justified?

• if a country is hoarding resources which another needs, preventing poverty

• going against greed of another country

why might going to war for greed not be justified?

• can cause economic problems for invaded country

• a country can do what they like with their own resources

• causes unnecessary destruction

what are religious views on going to war because of greed?

• Islam: no

• Christianity: also no

what are the 6 conditions of the just war theory?

• must be declared by a legal authority

• must be fought for a just cause (e.g. self defence but not greed or retaliation)

• must have a just intention (fought to promote good over evil)

• must be a last resort

• must have a reasonable chance of success (good gained by winning must outweigh evil used)

• must be proportional (excessive force must not be used, innocent civilians must not be killed)

what allows Muslims to fight under certain conditions?

Lesser Jihad

what are the conditions of lesser Jihad?

• the same as the just war theory, as well as:

• it must be fought in response to Islamic citizens being mistreated/persecuted or an Islamic country being attacked

• the violence must not be started by the Islamic side

• peace must be the final aim and must be taken at the earliest oppurtunity

• cannot be used for greed or to justify taking over other countries

• cannot be used to force conversion

what rules apply about the nature of war (Christianity/atheistic)?

• must be fought by just means - innocent civilians should not be targeted or harmed

• only appropriate force should be used

• internationally agreed conventions must be obeyed - Geneve conventions

what rules do Muslims have about the nature of war?

• as above

• innocent civilians, animals, fruit-bearing trees or people who are devout in faith must not be harmed

• dead bodies must not be mutilated

• prisoners must be treated in a civilised way

give some examples of wars and whether they were justified according to the JWT

WW2 - declared by Britain as an act of defence of Poland and Europe - Just war

Ukraine war - declared by Russia for greed - unjust

what is a holy war?

• a war declared in support of a religious cause

• usually controlled by a Religious leader

what conditions must a Holy war follow for Christians and Muslims?

• must be authorised by a religious leader with great authority

• must only be fought to defend the faith from attack

• in Islam, the conditions must follow the just war theory

what do Christians and Muslims believe about those who participate in Holy War?

those who take part justly will gain spiritual rewards

give 2 examples of Religious war

• the troubles in NI (1968-98) conflict between Catholics and Protestants led to violence against each community

• Crusades (11th - 14th C) battles between Christians and Muslims where both sides believed God was on their side, and were fighting for the Holy Land

how may the concept of Holy War be misinterpreted?

some groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS use the Muslim idea of holy war to wage civil war and acts of terrorism

what did Jesus teach about violence?

he taught that violence was wrong, and not only violence but anger leading to violence

what are nuclear weapons?

• weapons that work by a nuclear reaction

• they devastate huge areas and kill lots of people

what weapons of mass destruction are there?

• nuclear weapons

• biological weapons - living organisms or infective material that can lead to disease or death

• chemical weapons - use chemicals to poison/burn/paralyse humans and destroy the natural environment

describe the use of nuclear weapons

• US forces used atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War - causing 140000 people to die in Hiroshima alone

• Japan surrendered, ending the war - thus some people say their use was justified

• since then many countries have developed nuclear weapons to act as a deterrentant

which weapons of MD are illegal?

• chemical weapons → Chemical Weapons Convention (1993) made them illegal worldwide - thought to have been used in Iraq and Syria

• biological weapons → illegal but many countries have them

why can having nuclear weapons actually be a nuclear deterrent?

• Mutually assured destruction (MAD)

• a country will not nuke a country with nukes, or a country allied with one with nukes, as they will be destroyed in return

what are Christian beliefs about nuclear weapons?

• believe that their use can never be justified - only God has the right to end life

• WMD kill huge numbers of innocent civilians so cannot be justified

• some see possession as a deterrent

what are Muslim beliefs about nuclear/MD weapons?

• they believe that they cannot use them:

  • God created all life on Earth and Muslims have a duty to care for and preserve it

  • WMD would destroy God’s creation and kill innocent people

what is pacifism?

the belief that war and violence is always wrong and should never happen

what do pacifists believe can be done instead of war?

• they think that it is better to prevent war by promoting justice and peace

• they believe that prayer and meditation can help

what are conscientious objectors?

• people who refused to fight, especially in WW1 + WW2

• may have faced punishment

• often took jobs such as cooks, doctors, nurses or mechanics

what are Muslim attitudes towards peacemaking and pacifisim?

• Islam is a religion of peace but not of pacifism due to the duty of Jihad and instruction in the Qur’an

• Muslims must not refuse peace if it is offered

• Muslims seek inner pace through submission to God’s will and being part of the Ummah

what are Christian attitudes to peacemaking and pacifism?

• some Christians are pacifists and follow Jesus’s example

• others are not and believe that war if necessary is allowed in Christianity, but peace should always be prioritised

give 2 examples of peacemaking in contemporary Britain

• the Anglican Pacifist fellowship

• the Muslim Peace fellowship

what is the Anglican pacifist fellowship?

• works to overcome the inequality and injustice that leads 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 pacifism

• follows Jesus’s teachings of peace

what is 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 too develop non-violent strategies for issues in society

what are victims of war?

• include injured members of the armed forces

• the families of those who died or where injured in war

• civilians left in a war zone where everything has been destroyed and refugees from war-torn countries

what help may victims of war require?

• psychological support

• money to live on

• a safe place to live

• medical help for injuries

• access to food and clean water

• a means of earning a living

what, in general, may religious believers do to help victims of war?

• pray for them

• donate to a charity

• host services at a place of worship

why do Christians help victims of war?

• Jesus taught to love they neighbour as yourself

• Jesus’s parable of the good samaritan taught that everyone is everyone else’s neighbour, regardless of race, age, gender, religion or political beliefs

why do Muslims help victims of war?

• the Qur’an teaches that helping one person is like helping all people

• principles such as compassion, empathy, generosity and helping those in need motivate Muslims to help

give 4 religious organisations that help victims of war

• Caritas

• Christian Aid

• Muslim Aid

• Islamic relief

what does Christian aid do?

• 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