Religion & Peace
JUDAISM
PROPHETIC VISION OF PEACE ON EARTH
PROPHETIC VISION
Prophetic vision - the ideals, words and actions of the prophets/ethical living
It is doing tzedakah, gemilut chasadim and tikkun olam
NEVI’IM/PROPHETS
The prophets condemn immorality, visualise peace on earth and foresee the end of conquering armies and the restoration of Jerusalem
If people were faithful to God’s Law, they followed a moral and ethical code
Ultimate goal of peace within themselves (inner) and in their communities (world)
Sin divides humanity from God and destroys peace
Sin was an offence against God’s saving justice, love and holiness
Prophets were sent to remind and guide in people’s relationship with God
Prophetic vision of peace promised that those who remained faithful would be happy and at peace
Prophetic vision for peace recognises the kingship of God and observing lives of virtue and holiness
Continues today
Micah 6:8 “to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk modestly with God”
TORAH
The Torah is the source of everything
It is to be read as law, instruction, teaching and guidance
It teaches people how to live in peace with God and humanity
The Torah is filled with Jewish longing for peace
Peace is something that comes from God
613 mitzvot guide adherents for living in peace within the world
Moral principles in the commandments concern justice, equality, loving kindness, social welfare, peace and freedom
3 things preserve the world according to the sages: truth, justice and peace
Psalm 34:14 “Shun evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it”
Hezkiya “How great is peace, for every commandment in the Torah is written with it”
Mishlei 3:17 "All the Mitzvot of the Torah teach us to act in a peaceful manner, as the verse says, '[The Torah's] ways are sweet, and all of its courses are peaceful”
Talmud “The whole Torah is peace … Given to the nation which loves peace!”
PRINCIPAL TEACHINGS
SHALOM
Peace - living and working in an active manner towards individual and community peace with God, peace with all people and the world
Shalom means peace and is the Jewish greeting/sign of divine grace
Deeper understanding of wholeness and completeness
Pervades all Jewish teaching
Means to be at one will all people and the environment and to complete the world in which humanity lives so that it is as close to perfect as possible
Peace is a situation of security, tranquility and harmony on physical and spiritual levels
Affirm the primary importance of the love of peace and the pursuit of peace
Leviticus 9:9 “Seek peace and pursue it”
TZEDAKAH
Tzedakah - justice, righteousness, charity, fairness and the right/decent thing to do
To love God and to follow his commandments is to be at peace
It’s a mitzvah to act in a responsible, honest way creating a peaceful society
Connection between justice and charity is a core ethical principle
Justice must be moderated by compassion
Justice and mercy are a part of tzedakah
Wherever there is justice there will be peace and vice versa
No real peace without justice for all
Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the Lord”
Zechariah 8:16 “Judge with the justice of truth and peace within your gates”
GEMILUT CHASADIM
Gemilut chasadim - acts of loving kindness
It includes to love your neighbour and to love the stranger
To love the stranger is to follow God’s example who protects those who have no one else to protect them
Leviticus 19:18 “Love your fellow as yourself”
TIKKUN OLAM
Tikkun olam - to repair/heal the world
Achieve freedom and equality through social justice and the restoration of the environment by social action
Based on God’s commands to act with goodness and kindness to all
A reminder that the smallest acts of loving kindness and compassion help to build a better, more peaceful world
Isaiah 32:17 “The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness will be calm and confidence forever”
CHALLENGES OF PEACE
CHALLENGES
Requirement to seek a peaceful solution before waging any battle
Israel is a large challenge of peace
Israel’s survival/security is of prime emotional and spiritual significance
The hope is that Israel will be able to live in peace
Challenge is to remember the past for the sake of the future
Holocausts memory lets Jews recognise the evils that are obstacles to peace and work to overcome tyranny, terror and oppression, not with revenge and violence
Ultimate goal of peace
Deuteronomy 20:10 “When you approach a town to attack it, you shall offer it terms of peace”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “A season is set for everything, a time for every experience under heaven … A time for war and a time for peace”
INNER PEACE
CONTEXT
Peace is held out as the most desirable of social norms and the ideal state to which all human social action must be geared
Pursuit of peace is an individual obligation and the goal of various social regulations and structures
Inner peace is accepting ourselves and the life our Creator has given us
We achieve acceptance by making peace with ourselves over past mistakes and by making peace with our Creator over life’s challenges
Acknowledge God is guiding your life
Embrace your imperfections
Treat yourself as you would others
Forgive yourself
STUDYING THE TORAH
The uniqueness and freedom of choice comes personal responsibility for order and peace
Each individual can contribute to a peaceful world
Inner peace is achieved through the mitzvot of the Torah that require listening to the voice of God in the human heart so as to respond with positive actions or to hear the words ‘You shall not’
The Torah is God’s call to each individual to become God’s partner in the work of bringing about peace
PRAYER
All people could approach God through prayer and by observing the mitzvot
An understanding of the will of God creates inner peace within the soul and mind of a person; a quietness of heart
Way of discovering inner peace and transferring that peace to family, friends and the world
Inner peace is achieved when a person prays to overcome the potential to do harm, to take revenge, or to hold onto feelings of resentment and bitterness
Prayer expresses the love of God and opens a person’s awareness of God’s presence and peace
Jewish services have prayers for peace - Amidah
PRACTISING MITZVOT
God loves each individual who has been given the peace and privilege of living in harmony with God
Ethical mitzvot cover the range of human conduct
Important right actions are those which enable a person to be at peace by helping those who are unable to provide for themselves, financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually
COMMUNAL WORSHIP
Rituals bring the believer to a greater awareness of the One Being who connects all life with blessing, compassion, justice and peace
Communal worship to sanctify the Shabbat in the home and the synagogue achieves inner peace for the individual
Shabbat is for peace, harmony, spirituality and community
The Friday meal of Shabbat is central to celebrate the peace of being together
FORGIVING YOURSELF
Through forgiveness of self, believing in the forgiveness of God, extending forgiveness and receiving it from others, individuals achieve peace and freedom from the emotional damage of wanting revenge.
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE
Hakarat hatov is the essence chesed, loving-kindness and tikkun olam, making the world a better place
When a sense of gratitude is strong within a person, it means that their heart is at peace
LOVING OTHERS
The spirit and nature of God are reflected in every human person
WORLD PEACE
CONTRIBUTIONS
Judaism contributes to world peace through -
Significant individuals
Work of Jewish world organisations
Annual celebrations, special days and places to commemorate world peace
EDDIE JAKU
A holocaust survivor born 14 April 1920 and died 12 October 2021
He was a peace campaigner who strived to bring happiness to others
He dedicated the rest of his life to being an advocate for peace and kindness
He emphasised the importance of gratitude, forgiveness and cherishing every moment
He educated others about the holocaust and promoting tolerance and understanding
He inspired countless individuals to embrace positivity and compassion in their lives
He lived with much hatred until the birth of his son and he let go of his hate (didn’t forget) and his happiness returned in abundance
He promised to smile and by happy
He lived out the principals of Tikkun Olam, Shalom and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness)
His goal was to make people happy through his actions to cultivate a happy and peaceful world
He strives for inner peace by forgiving others and expressing gratitude to those he meets
Eddie Jaku “Hate is the beginning of a disease, like cancer. It may kill your enemy, but it will destroy you in the process too.”
Eddie Jaku “Happiness comes from inside yourself and from the people you love”
Eddie Jaku “With a simple act of kindness, you can save another person from despair”
TOGETHER FOR HUMANITY
An Australian organisation working for peace in Australia that faces world peace issues
Multi-faith, diversity education organisation that helps schools and communities respond positively to differences in culture and belief
Foster’s school student’s interfaith and intercultural understanding and brings communities together
They focus on acceptance of every person to bring peace
Run anti-prejudice programs to improve understanding, appreciate differences and question existing prejudices and conflicts
Lives out the principal of Gemilut Chasadim
To love your neighbour and to love the stranger creates a peaceful world
They strive for inner peace by loving others because the spirit and nature of God are reflected in every human person
Together For Humanity “An Australia where racism and prejudice have been eliminated and all young people feel that they belong”
YOUTH ALIYAH
International Jewish child rescue organisation
Establishes youth villages and provides homes, education, freedom and opportunities for children so they are no longer victims of abuse, war, poverty and anti-semitism
The villages aim to provide a 'home away from home' for at-risk and immigrant youth; to give them pride in their past; a feeling of self-worth and awareness of personal strengths; and a sense of direction and security about the future
Lives out the principal of Tzedakah
Creates justice through establishing a safe home and environment for children
They strive for inner peace by loving others because the spirit and nature of God are reflected in every human person
Youth Aliyah “We provide a ladder of opportunity empowering young people to climb from poverty, neglect and violence up towards becoming fulfilled, contributing, invaluable members of Israeli society”
MEALS THAT MATTER
Launched in February 2015 by Our Big Kitchen
Prepare meals for functions and for all those in urgent need of food
Pack hampers and cook meals which are then distributed to the needy
Ensures that many people will continue to be supported in practical ways that assist them to live with dignity and peace
Lives out the principals of Gemilut Chasadim and Tikkun Olam
Support the community by helping people sustain themselves in their lives, essentially ‘repairing the world’ and by preparing food for the disadvantaged
Strives for inner peace by practising the mitzvot and leads an ethical life by helping others and loves others because the spirit and nature of God are reflected in every human person
Our Big Kitchen “OBK believes in the power of giving. Through giving you receive”
Daniel 12:3 “And the deed of charity is peace”
Mishneh Torah 10:7-14 ““A person who supports a Jew who has fallen into poverty by giving him a present or a loan … so that he will not have to ask others”
Leviticus 25:35 “You shall support him, the stranger, the resident, and he shall live among you”
CHRISTIANITY
THE NEW TESTAMENT
GOSPELS
New testament expresses values of mercy, justice, compassion, respect and dignity
Peace is at the heart of Jesus’ ministry and a foundational element of the communities that follow him
Peace is a sense of wellbeing and freedom from anxiety, more than just the absence of conflict
Luke’s gospel uses peace often as a term for salvation
Mark’s gospel uses peace as Jesus’ instructions to his disciples
Matthew’s gospel uses peace as gift from the apostles to those who would listen to Jesus’ message
John’s gospel uses peace as a gift from Jesus to his disciples for their reassurance, comfort and strength in times of uncertainty, doubt and fear
Luke 8:43-48 “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”
Mark 9:50 “Be at peace with each other”
Matthew 10:12-13 “And if the house deserves it, may your peace come upon it; and if it doesn’t, may your peace come back to you”
John 14:27 “Peace I bequeth to you, my own peace I give you, a peach with the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”
Romans 1:7 “Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ”
Romans 12:18 “be at peace with all”
John 14:27 “My peace I give to you all”
ST PAUL’S LETTERS
Reminded the early Christian communities that “we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1)
The letters begin with words of blessing for grace and peace
The letters end with prayers for individual and community peace
Emphasised that all converts must love and help one another, even enemies, as one family (Romans 12:1-21)
The letters outline that Jesus is the source of peace among communities and nations
Ephesians 2:14 “For he is the peace between us”
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness”
PRINCIPAL TEACHINGS
EIRENE
Peace - living in unity with God and with other people
Eirene - wholeness, success, harmony, security and well-being
Refers to salvation that comes from God or to the peaceful relationships between people
Ephesians 2:14-15 “Jesus himself is our Eirene”
BEATITUDES
Christians are encouraged to model their peace making on Christ’s example
Show what is key to the kingdom of heaven and the moral character that is required to reach eternal life, peace being one of those aspects
Teaches that instead of admiring the rich, powerful and famous, it is the poor, gentle and merciful who are blessed and are open to receive the blessings of God’s peace
Those with moral attitudes of mercy, purity of heart, working for justice and peacemaking are in unity with God
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall be recognised as children of God”
JESUS’ COMMANDMENT OF LOVE
Peace teachings are culminated in Jesus’ great Commandment Of Love
Luke 10:27 “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself”
Luke’s gospel also has the Good Samaritan parable illustrating that ‘your neighbour’ means everyone
Christians strive to understand and live out this central principle of the Gospel
Fundamental law of the Gospel and of human existence
Foundational belief of Christianity that believers should endeavor to be at peace with everyone and seek reconciliation where there is disharmony
Romans 12:14-16 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse … live in harmony with one another
FORGIVENESS
Jesus’ own life and death are examples of finding courage and the peace of God
As Jesus was being crucified, he said “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34)
PAX CHRISTI
Pax Christi - peace of Christ
Jesus is the prince of peace
The essential requirement of Christianity in relation to peace is to follow Jesus’ example as the source to achieve the peace of God
Seen as a way of life
Christians are instructed by God to emulate Jesus and follow his teachings
Jesus was sent by God, who offers peace and who has become this peace through his life, death and resurrection
Jesus’ response to violence was “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27)
John 14:27 “Peace I leave you; my peace I give you”
PACIFISM
Pacifism - the refusal to participate in military service or warfare
Jesus’ pacifist nature was part of his unique role as redeemer of humanity
In the example that Jesus sets Christians through his life
Early Christians were marginalised in the wider community and persectued by the Romans for this
They believed it would be contrary to their faith
When Emperor Constantine (4CE) converted to Christianity, it led to a number of philosophical challenges to the pacifist stance
This continues today
Quakerism/the Society of Friends is a pacifist denomination
Matthew 5:39-44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
CHALLENGES OF PEACE
CHALLENGES
Modern times has placed emphasis on the underlying causes of conflicts
Increased focus and attention on the relationship between poverty, justice and human rights
Then the escalation of conflicts
INNER PEACE
CONTEXT
Inner peace is achieved by living out their vocation as disciples of Jesus
It’s promised to Christians who live faithfully according to the requirements of the Gospel and who place their faith in God
Inner peace is the important relationship between an individuals fidelity to the requirements of the Gospel and their own sense of peace and wellbeing
LIVING OUT THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are the model of peace
He also offered peace
Mystery of God is revealed in Jesus and he gives God a human face
He reveals a God of love and compassion: a God who is a loving Father, a faithful Son united in a spirit of love and peace
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)
To find inner peace requires a commitment to Christ who is the ‘light of the world’ (John 8:12)
Belief in Jesus leads adherents to follow the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes to live a life of virtue which brings inner peace
The practice of Christianity enables adherents to maintain inner peace
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES
It is a spiritual experience
From the scriptures, Christians hope and pray this sacred literature will draw them closer to God
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection give inner peace and reassurance that “... [they] can be free; [they] do not need to act from fear; life can well up inside [a person] like a spring; it is love that is all important; life, whatever its mystery, does have a meaning; God is a Father, the source of [a person's] life; it is possible to live and to find peace, freedom and wisdom”
A way for adherents to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength
Christians see Jesus, listen to his words, come to know what moved his heart and find an echo in their own hearts in the gospels
Encourages adherents to pray first, be in touch with the Spirit of God and their own hearts, then read a bible passage
Reflecting thinks about the setting, the teachings about God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit and how it relates to life today
PRAYER
Prayer keeps balance and allows adherents to reflect on the nature of peace in their lives
Prayer was Jesus’ source of wellbeing and inner peace
Gives adherents a sense of Gods presence and creates a peaceful space and time to reflect on their lives
They consider that worry can disturb their peace of mind and trust in God is what really matters
They pray for inner peace, a relationship with God and with others, a relationship that will be part of every day life
Christians turn to God in prayer for consolation, hope and peace
Meditation – time for reflection to search for God within the person, enabling time to quieten the mind and catch sight of Jesus in the life of the day
Taize – simple meditative form, using phrases, music, silence and scripture
Lectio Divina – practice of scripture reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation to promote communion with God
Ignatian prayer – guided scripture meditations that answer a need in the contemporary world, where people strive for a way of understanding and living a relationship with God
Hesychasm – quiet, stillness and peace and is interior prayer or prayer in the heart
The Rosary – contemplative form of prayer as a meditation on the life of Jesus and beads aid the person in reciting the component prayers
Other means – candles, votive lamps, incense and icons
Balance between prayer and service is fundamental to inner peace and wellbeing
COMMUNAL WORSHIP
Find acceptance, identity and purpose
Gathering together, to remember, to offer prayers of thanksgiving and petition is a time for the blessings of inner peace
Church is a place of inclusion and acceptance, a place of peace where the dignity of all is respected
Eucharist is the main source of nourishment and peace for Catholics spiritual life
FORGIVENESS
Christ’s forgiveness is the very foundation of inner peace
By forgiving others, Christians are more likely to experience inner peace than anger
Someone who is angry, resentful, vengeful and bitter is unable to extend peace and love others
Loving one’s neighbour comes when the individual experiences inner peace
To be known and loved by God is the source of inner peace
God offers forgiveness in all situations, meaning peace of mind is restored when an individual asks for and accepts forgiveness (Luke 15:11-32)
Inner peace comes from loving and forgiving oneself
Jesus is the example of forgiveness
Accepting forgiveness means being a peaceful, forgiving person
Acts 13:38 “Through this man forgiveness of sin is proclaimed to you”
Luke 6:37 “forgive and you will be forgiven”
Colossians 1:19-20 “Reconciled all things in heaven and earth, making peace through the blood of his cross”
GRATITUDE
Response to forgiveness is gratitude
Adherents are to be a forgiving person who recognises God’s love in a grateful manner
True believers in Jesus follow his example and give thanks to God and people
True gratitude is seeing each other and everything as a gift
To be grateful is to grow in holiness
SERVICE
Individuals achieve inner peace by contributing to service
Jesus did by washing his disciples feet (John 13)
Inner peace comes from a loving relationship with God, expressed in prayer and worship, leading to peace in relationships with others
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10) teach a Christian to work for the welfare of others to create a peaceful ‘kingdom’ on earth
Christians are called to be a peacemaker, a bride builder between people, a good neighbour and a good person
Committing to building up the ‘kingdom’ assists in attaining inner peace
Community offers spiritual and practical support in times of celebration and of in need
Promote peace by offering service to the poor, lonely, refugees, homeless and disadvantaged through organisations
Eucharist is a sign of peace
Eucharistic prayers offer peace of the world “advance the peace and salvation of all the world”
Supporting family life, promoting human dignity, ensure safety and security are fostering peace
Balance between prayer and service is fundamental to inner peace and wellbeing
WORLD PEACE
CONTRIBUTIONS
Christianity contributes to world peace through -
Significant individuals
Work of Christian world organisations
Annual celebrations, special days and places to commemorate world peace
DOROTHY DAY
Born 1897 in San Fransisco and Chicago and died in 1980
Baptised in 1927
Married to an anti-Catholic so raised her daughter alone
Co-founder and editor of The Catholic Worker 1933
Became part of a movement to set up houses of hospitality to provide food, clothing and shelter to the unemployed
Established farming communities across the USA
Offered Christian living in over 200 local communities worldwide providing for people in need
Advocated for the vulnerable and those in need (following Jesus’ model)
She protested against war, injustice, racism and violence of all kind
Leader of pacifist and social justice movements
Tried to influence bishops gathered for the Second Vatican Council to accept non-violence as a basic principle of Catholic life
She committed herself to healing human suffering and poverty
Her purpose was to affirm the peace message of Jesus and she was willing to risk all to promote peace
She was committed to peace and social justice, with remarkable faith and determination
Travelled around the world and was imprisoned a number of times for acts of civil disobedience
She is regarded as a model of integrating faith in everyday life with works of mercy for others
She lived out the principles of Pax Christi and Pacifism
Dorothy Day “The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us?”
Dorothy Day “When you love people, you see all the good in them, all the Christ in them. God sees Christ, His Son, in us and loves us. And so we should seek Christ in others, and nothing else, and love them”
Dorothy Day “We have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community”
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF AUSTRALIA (NCCA)
NCCA is an ecumenical organisation with the World Council of Churches
Run initiatives like Act for Peace to save lives in times of catastrophe, protect refugees, reduce poverty and prevent conflicts
They lobby governments and decision makers to promote peace and take positive action to support people affected by conflict and disaster
Aims to empower people to work together to achieve safety, justice and dignity in communities threatened by conflict and disaster
Offer different support networks that let individuals work for the love of their neighbour to achieve a peaceful world where all people share a safe, just and dignified life
Lives out the principal of Jesus’ Commandment of Love
They work to help all people out of love for their neighbour
Act For Peace “At the heart of our work is a powerful conviction: to create a just and peaceful society, we have to work together”
Act For Peace “A world where everyone belongs”
Act For Peace “Together, we’re working … to create a world where everyone has a safe place to belong”
NETWORK OF CHRISTIAN PEACE ORGANISATIONS (NCPO)
NCPO is an ecumenical association of a wide range of organisations
They share the same belief that peace is an essential element of a church community
Each organisation, in unity, follows Christian teachings of peace, takes action to establish peace and encourages involvement in the peace movement
Believe that a united Christianity will have a more lasting impact and effect on achieving peace
They have peaceful protests and lobbying of government
Lives out Eirene, Jesus’ Commandment Of Love and Pacifism
Non-violence approach to war
NCPO “We believe that the possession and threat of use of nuclear weapons is a sin against God and humanity. We affirm that the trillions of dollars being squandered on these weapons are, in the words of President Dwight D Eisenhower, ‘a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed’”
NCPO “We are committed to peace as central to the meaning of church community”
PEACEWISE
Provides practical help and real hope to a conflict-weary world
Teach personal peacemaking and Christian conflict resolution skills
Provide Christian meditation
Share the reconciling power of the Gospels
Have educational programs that help individuals, communities and organisations learn life-changing biblical peacemaking principles and build cultures of peace
Lives out the Beatitudes and forgiveness
PeaceWise “We believe that biblical peacemaking is the most hope-filled, practical and profound approach to dealing with conflict available to people”
PeaceWise “Equipping people to use these principles to have stronger, better relationships is at the heart of what PeaceWise is about”
PeaceWise “We seek … to build true communities of peace”