3.1 Conflict and war

Question 1

3 Causes of conflict or war

Answer 1

1) Economic reasons like gaining another country or states wealth.
2) Religious reasons like groups fighting over religious ground
3) Social Reasons like the legality of slavery in US Civil War

Question 2

3 places of conflict

Answer 2

1) Isreal
2) Ukraine
3) Yemen

Question 3

2 acceptant religious attitudes towards war

Answer 3

1) Just War Theory states that some wars are just if they follow a set of criteria. For example the war must have a just cause, create emergent peace, and have right intention. If these are met, war is just
2) Holy War where religion is the driving force of that war. They have to achieve a religious goal, be overseen by religious leader etc. Means they are permissible but not encouraged

Question 4

3 conditions for a Holy War

Answer 4

1) Achieves a religious goal
2) Authorised by a religious leader
3) With a spiritual award for those who take part
Religion has to be the driving force

Question 5

2 Religious views against war

Answer 5

1) Jesus displayed pacifist views, in his Sermon on the Mount he told his followers to “turn the other cheek” - Matthew 5 and so we should follow the actions of Jesus as “in him there is no sin”- 1 John 3:6
2) All life has intrinsic value because we are made “imago dei” “so God made man in his own image” -Genesis 1:27. war desecrates the divine

Question 6

Reply to Jesus displaying pacifism

Answer 6

Jesus displaying pacifist views is based of a blinkered reading of the scriptures. “I do not come to bring peace, but a sword” - Matthew 10.

Question 7

2 Arguments for possession of WMD’s

Answer 7

1) It works as a deterrent to other countries from attacking you. if they know you have WMD’s they are less likely to start a war with you because of the fear of being attacked back
2) Principle of lex talionis “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” - Exodus 21 so if someone attacks you, you should have the capability to attack them the same way. As we know countries do have WMD’s….

Question 8

2 Arguments against the possession of WMD’s

Answer 8

1) Humans are fallible and make mistakes therefore it is likely that at some point in the future human error will lead to the use of WMD’s. This would lead to retaliation and consequences would be huge
2) The possession of WMD’s will undoubtedly lead to the use of them and since all life has intrinsic value, “imago dei” it would desecrate the divine