Religious Studies (Short Course) Revision
Religion, War and Peace
How to use this presentation
• The first part of this presentation (blue headings) will give you brief information, religious viewpoints and pictures for the Religion, War and Peace topic.
• The second part of the presentation (green headings) will have exam
questions and tasks for you to work
through for this topic.
What topics could be on the paper?
Peace, Justice and the
Sanctity of life The causes of war Conflict including examples
of recent wars
The reasons why religious people may go to war
including Just War and Holy War
Religious believers and
pacifism Victims of war including
refugees and those maimed
Organisations to help the victims of war – Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Crystal
The work of a religious believer who has worked for peace
Peacekeeping forces, UN and NATO
Terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and nuclear proliferation
Arguments for and against nuclear weapons
Religious beliefs and teachings and modern statements about war and peace
Peace, Justice and the Sanctity of life
Peace
Stillness or silence, absence of anxiety, freedom from war,
harmony between people.
Justice
Fairness – bringing about what is fair according to the law or making up for what
has been done wrong.
Sanctity of life The belief that all life
is precious and should not be destroyed.
Religious people say life comes from God.
Make sure you know these definitions and how they link to war.
The causes of war
You will need to be aware of a range of different reasons why countries may go to war.
• To defend their country from attack.
• To defend their beliefs, religion, way of life, or to protect these things for other countries.
• To defend an ally or weaker country from attack.
• To remove their leader or government (civil war).
• To gain more land or land lost in a previous war.
• To gain wealth, power or resources such as oil.
• To stop genocide (mass murder) or to depose a dictator.
Can you think of
examples of war for each of these?
Conflict including examples of recent wars
The Vietnam War
From 1959-1975 a war took place in Vietnam, South Asia. The communist North fought against the non communist south. The south was supported by the USA as the USA did not want
communism to spread.
Despite the USA having much superior equipment, the north was successful and the USA eventually withdrew.
Millions of lives were lost in what was a very unpopular war. Vietnam eventually united under a communist government.
The Falklands Conflict
In 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. These are small islands in the Southern Atlantic. They claimed that the islands belonged to them, but the people wanted to remain British.
The UK government led by Margaret Thatcher, sent a task force down to the islands. They quickly won the war, but soldiers on both sides died. Civilians however were protected. The islands remain a self governing overseas
territory of Britain, but the
Argentinians still claim sovereignty.
Any recent wars can be used as examples.
These are two we studied in class.
The reasons why religious people may go to war including Just War and Holy War - Christianity
The Just War Theory The war must . . .
• Have a just cause
• Be declared by a proper authority
• Have a good intention
• Be the last resort
• Have a good chance of success
• Be fought by just means
• And the good achieved must
outweigh the evil of going to war
The Holy War Theory The war must . . .
• Have a religious aim or goal
• Be authorised by God or a holy leader
• Have a spiritual reward for those taking part
It can be declared to:
• Defend their religion
• To protect followers in other countries
• To win back a country that once followed the faith
• To spread the faith
An example of a Holy War would be The Crusades.
Some Christians believe that war is never justified. Others will follow the Just War or Holy War theory.
Other Christians believe they have a responsibility to fight for reasons of self defence or injustice.
The reasons why religious people may go to war including Just War and Holy War - Islam
Jihad
Muslims believe in the concept of Jihad which means struggle.
Greater Jihad is the fight or struggle against temptation in everyday life.
Lesser Jihad is military struggle in defence of Islam.
The Qur‟an gives those who have been attacked permission to fight back.
A Jihad or Holy War must . . .
• Be started and controlled by a religious leader
• Have a just cause
• Be a last resort
• Keep suffering, including that of innocent civilians to a minimum
• Protect trees, crops and animals
• Not be fought to gain territory or an act of aggression
• Aim to restore peace and freedom
• Enable the release of all prisoners of war
Those killed in Jihad are seen as martyrs who will enter Paradise.
Religious believers and pacifism
• Pacifism is the belief that violence against other human beings is wrong.
• The sanctity of life is important. Every human life, even the enemy, deserves respect.
• Killing goes against teachings in sacred writings.
• War causes suffering to people and to the environment.
• There are other ways of solving disputes.
• Using violence to solve a problem can never be justified.
Not all Christians are pacifists, in fact most are probably not.
Early Christians tried to live without violence which is where modern Christian pacifists
take their example.
Many Christian groups support pacifism, but allow their members to make up their own minds.
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
completely support pacifism.
Many Christians are prepared to die in a war, but not kill, so will serve as
ambulance
drivers, nurses or in other non
fighting roles.
Victims of war including refugees and those maimed
• People can be victims of war in many different ways.
Soldiers can be
killed or injured Cities can be destroyed
Families and friends can be
separated
Children can be
orphaned People may lose their homes
Refugee camps may have poor conditions and little food and
water
Organisations to help the victims of war – Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Crystal
The Red Cross was founded in 1859 by
Henry Dunant.
The aim was to establish a voluntary relief
organisation to protect neutral medical staff on the
battlefield.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
now has 97 million volunteers worldwide.
They do not discriminate on the
grounds of nationality, religion,
race, class or political opinion.
It organises care for wounded
soldiers and supervises the
treatment of prisoners of war.
It searches for missing people in
war time.
The Red Cross, Red Crescent and more
recently Red Crystal are all equal
organisations.
Despite being neutral, ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) workers
have been killed in recent conflicts.
The work of a religious believer who has worked for peace
Irene Sendler She was a
Christian who helped protect Jewish children in WW2.
Bono
He is a Christian and is particularly interested in
poverty and third world debt.
Muhammad Ali A Muslim who
refused to fight in the Vietnam War.
Involved in many charities helping victims of war.
Cat Stevens A Muslim who is an ex pop star. He words to help refugees and co- founded Muslim Aid.
Make sure you have detailed information of how one of these people has worked for peace.
Peacekeeping forces, UN and NATO
The UN (United nations)
• It was set up at the end of World War II and has 192 member states.
• It aims to help countries cooperate through international law.
• Economic development and social progress for all countries is encouraged.
• It helps to protect human rights.
• World peace is a long term aim.
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
• Was created in 1949 as a military alliance.
• It has 26 members from Europe and the USA and Canada.
• If a NATO country is attacked the others see it as an attack on their own country.
• It was initially set up because of the perceived threat from the Warsaw Pact countries (in Eastern Europe), but some of these are now members.
Terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and nuclear proliferation
Terrorism is the use of extreme violence, usually against civilians (non military) to achieve a political goal.
Most people believe it can never be justified as innocent people are affected.
The attack on the World Trade Centre on September 11th 2001 is an example of a terrorist attack.
Weapons of mass destruction are weapons that can kill large
numbers of people at once.
These include chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear weapons.
Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons to more countries worldwide and countries holding on to more and more of them.
The nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan by the USA at the end of World War Two are the only nuclear weapons to have been used in wartime. They caused a huge number of deaths as well as devastation to buildings and the environment. These bombs were tiny in comparison to the weapons available today.
Arguments for and against nuclear weapons
For Against
• It is OK to have them but not to use them.
• They act as a deterrent – this means that you will not be attacked if you have the power to retaliate.
• If you do not have nuclear weapons it makes you vulnerable.
• Nuclear weapons are an unacceptable risk to humanity.
• Nuclear proliferation means that unstable governments could get hold of nuclear weapons and use them.
• Their use is never justified as too many innocent people are affected.
Christians and Muslims would look to their Just War and Holy War theories to decide if nuclear weapons should be used.
As both religions believe that innocent civilians should be protected in wartime, nuclear weapon would not be seen as acceptable.
Key Christian quotes and
teachings about war and peace
One of the Ten
Commandments in the Bible is „Do not Murder‟.
The Just War Theory and the Holy War
Theory will be used by Christians to decide whether war is right or wrong.
Jesus said . . .„Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If
anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too‟.
• Some Christians are pacifists but most are not.
• Jesus said „Blessed are the peacemakers‟. Also he did not resist arrest, perhaps indicating that he was a pacifist.
• However, Jesus is recorded as turning over the
tables of traders in the Temple. This may indicate that it is right to fight for something that is
important.
Key Muslim quotes and teachings about war and peace
• The word „Islam‟ means „Peace‟.
• The Qur‟an teaches that peace and reconciliation are better than fighting.
• Muslims should not seek revenge and should be prepared to forgive each other.
• Muslims believe in Jihad (struggle). Greater Jihad is the struggle to fight against temptation in their lives, Lesser Jihad is military struggle in defence of Islam.
The Qur‟an says: Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the Shaitan (Satan).
The Qur‟an says: „Fight in the cause of God
against those who fight you, but do not
transgress limits. God does not love
transgressors.‟
Holy war is allowed but must meet certain
conditions which include civilians and the
environment being protected.
Tasks
• The following slides contain tasks.
• Complete these in your book or on
paper.
Alphabet challenge -
Find a word or phrase linked to the war and peace topic for each letter. Try to include some religious teachings on your list.Quick quiz
• Answer these one and two mark exam questions without using notes.
1. What is pacifism?
(1 mark)
2. Give two examples of weapons of mass destruction. (2 mark)
5. Briefly explain what is meant by nuclear proliferation (2 mark) 3. Give two causes of
war (2 mark)
4. Give an example of a group which supports victims of
war (1 mark)
6. What is a Just War?(1 mark)
7. Give one reason why a religious person
may refuse to fight in a war(1 mark)
8. Explain briefly how someone may be affected by war(2
mark)
Quick quiz - answers
• Answer these one and two mark exam questions without using notes.
1. The belief that war is wrong.
2. Chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
5. The spread of nuclear weapons to more countries and countries building up their supplies of them.
3. Protecting your country, wanting to expand your empire,
wanting more resources etc.
4. Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Crystal.
6. A war that is acceptable for a religious person if it follows certain rules.
7. They are a pacifist;
it is not a just war;
they don’t think the cause of the war is
moral etc.
8. They may lose their home, relatives may
die, families separated, children
orphaned etc.
Print and complete the crossword
Brief religious teachings
• Without checking previous slides, can you identify a Muslim and a Christian teaching that could be used for each of the following topics.
Pacifism
Terrorism
Weapons of mass destruction
Refugees
Nuclear proliferation
Just War and Holy War
Flash cards
• Choose key religious information and create flash cards to help you remember. Aim for the key teaching and some pictures to help you remember. For example:
Christianity
„If someone slaps you on the left cheek, turn to him the other also‟.
How can you „develop‟ an explain type answer?
• Some questions will ask you explain something.
These questions will usually be worth 4, 5 or 6 marks.
• In order to get higher marks for these
questions you will need to develop your answer.
This means you will need to give reasons and examples to improve your answer.
• Look at the next slide to see how this can be done.
Question - Explain different viewpoints
religious people may have on pacifism. (4 marks)
Christians and Muslims are not always pacifists although some are.
Some Christians will say that war is always wrong because it goes against the teaching „Do not murder‟. Quakers will never fight in a war because they are all pacifists. Muslims believe that they should aim to bring about a peaceful world and not seek revenge, so many will be pacifists.
Other Christians will follow the Just War Theory to decide whether or not they should go to war. This theory gives reasons why a war could be
acceptable so some Christians are not pacifists because they believe that there are sometimes good reasons to go to war. They may also fight if the war is a Holy War. Muslims also have a Just War theory which is similar to that of Christians. It also sets out reasons why a war could be acceptable.
Neither Christians or Muslims believe that war is a good thing, but they sometimes think it is necessary.
This answer has backed up each point. It has explained why Christians and Muslims may or may not be pacifists. There is clear reference made to religious teachings (Do not Murder, Just War and Holy War etc.) and how this teaching affects the decision of a Christian or a Muslim. It would score 4 out of 4.
Try these explain questions
• Have a go at some of these explain questions.
Try to develop your answers by thinking:
What quote links with this? What would a Christian do? What would a Muslim do?
Why?
Explain the attitude of religious people nuclear weapons.
Explain how religious people may help
victims of war.
Explain how one religious person has worked for peace.
Giving opinions
• Look at the statements below. List reasons why you may agree and disagree with what they say and why a religious person may agree or disagree.
“War doesn‟t solve anything”.
“If your country goes to war you should be
prepared to fight”.
“In this Bible it says
„Do not murder‟. This means you should never kill in a war”.
“There is no such thing as a „Just War‟”.
“It is unacceptable for any country to have
nuclear weapons”.
How to answer 6 mark evaluation questions
Try to remember FARMER
F – For – give arguments for the statement.
A – Against – give arguments against the statement.
R – Religion – say what religion thinks.
M- Me – say what I think.
E – ) Evaluate
R - ) Religion – Say what you think about the religious arguments.
Click to see how this answer uses the „FARMER‟ requirements
„Terrorism can never be justified‟. Do you agree? Give reasons showing you have considered other viewpoints. Refer to religious arguments in your answer.
I agree that terrorism can never be justified. The point of terrorism is to frighten people and to kill innocent people for a political aim
which is always wrong. Muslims would agree with me because one of the conditions of their Jihad (Just War) theory is that the suffering of civilians should be kept to a minimum which terrorism doesn‟t do.
Christians would also disagree with me because one of their conditions for a Just War is that the war has to have a good intention which
terrorism never does.
I understand that some people will believe that terrorism is often a last resort that groups use to make their point when other means have failed. I however agree with the religious views as they are concerned with protecting life.
Now use your mark scheme to work out how many marks this answer would achieve.
Try one of these exam questions using the FARMER requirements
• „Weapons of mass destruction are a good deterrent‟. Do you agree? Give reasons
showing you have considered other viewpoints.
Refer to religious arguments in your answer.
• „War brings about peace‟. Do you agree? Give reasons showing you have considered other
viewpoints. Refer to religious arguments in your answer.
Now use your mark scheme to check your answer.
