Christianity 1 ~ War, Peace And Human Rights

Question 1

What are some just war principles?

Answer 1

~ It must be in defence after an attack - Christians shouldn’t be first to declare it
~ Civilians should not be attacked
~ Must be declared by a proper authority
~ A last resort after everything else has been attempted

Question 2

What do pacifists do?

Answer 2

Fight against injustice and aggression without using violence

Question 3

What are the Religious Society of Friends known as?

Answer 3

Quakers

Question 4

Who are Amnesty International?

Answer 4

The largest human rights organisation

Question 5

What do Christians generally think about war?

Answer 5

~ It’s wrong

~ God desires everyone to live in peace

Question 6

What are some pro-war bible quotes?

Answer 6

~ ‘No one will stand up against you; you will destroy them’
~ ‘Proclaim this among nations; prepare for war!’
~ ‘Rescue the weak and needy’

Question 7

What are some anti-war bible quotes?

Answer 7

~ ‘If he strikes you on the left cheek turn to him the right also’
~ ‘Bless’d are the peacemakers’
~ ‘All he draw the sword, die by the sword’

Question 8

Who are pacifists?

Answer 8

People who believe that it is never right to use violence to resolve conflict

Question 9

What is the difference between pacifists and Quakers?

Answer 9

~ Pacifists do fight against injustice in a non violent way

~ Quakers believe that only love, truth and peace are needed to overcome evil

Question 10

Who are conscientious objectors?

Answer 10

People who are firmly opposed to any kind of warfare in any circumstances

Question 11

In what ways can non-violent protests be done?

Answer 11

~ Marches
~ Boycotts
~ Sit-ins
~ The vote

Question 12

When was the Declaration of Human Rights introduced?

Answer 12

1948 after witnessing WW2, Holocaust, African Slave Trade

Question 13

Who are ‘prisoners of conscience’?

Answer 13

People who are locked up because of their religious or political beliefs

Question 14

What is Liberation Theology?

Answer 14

The belief Christians should unite with the poor and oppressed to speak out against unjust governments and abuses of human rights

Question 15

Who was Camilo Torres?

Answer 15

~ Roman Catholic priest
~ Fought for the poor
~ He joined Columbia’s National Liberation Army
~ Died in 1966

Question 16

Who was Oscar Romero?

Answer 16

~ Roman Catholic archbishop
~ Believed it was his duty to defend the weak
~ Spoke in his sermons about rights of the poor and criticised the government
~ Shot dead in his cathedral in 1980

Question 17

When did Amnesty International begin?

Answer 17

1961 when a British lawyer called Peter Beneson read about two girls being sentenced to 7 years for raising a toast to freedom

Question 18

What is the purpose of Amnesty International?

Answer 18

~ Free prisoners of conscience 
~ Gain a fair trial for political prisoners 
~ End torture and 'disappearances'
~ Abolish the death penalty 
~ Protects human rights

Question 19

Who was Martin Luther King?

Answer 19

A Christian baptist minister who fought for equal rights for black people in America

Question 20

What did Martin Luther King do?

Answer 20

~ Led the campaign to release Rosa Parks from prison
~ Organised bus boycotts, marches and campaigns
~ Gave speeches incl. ‘I have a dream’
~ He was shot dead in 1968

Question 21

What are some teachings from the United Nations deceleration of human rights?

Answer 21

~ ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’
~ ‘Everyone has a right to an education’
~ ‘No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’

Question 22

What are human rights?

Answer 22

The basic rights and needs humans are entitled to simply because they are born and are humans

Question 23

When was the UN declaration of Human Rights drawn up and by whom?

Answer 23

1948 by the United Nations

Question 24

Describe one Christian teaching that might be used in a discussion about supporting war

Answer 24

One teaching is “An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth” which means that if someone hurts you, you have the right to hurt them back. An example of this teaching being followed is in WW2

Question 25

Explain how and why a Christian may respond to the Just War Theory

Answer 25

~ Against it if they’re a pacifist. This means they believe all violence is wrong and may follow the teaching “Blessed are the peacemakers”
~ Support it because they may think war is sometimes justified. “Rescue the weak and needy” shows how you must help others
~ Support it as long as the just war conditions are fulfilled, for example if it is in defence and a last resort

Question 26

“Supporting Human Rights is the most important thing for a Christian to do”

Answer 26

+ Every life is sacred because it is a gift from God. An example of this is “God created man in his own image” which shows every life is important
- Other things are important, for example strengthening your relationship with God
+ Every person is equal so everyone is entitled to human rights. “Christ is all and in all” shows everyone is special and equal
- Everything a Christian does is of equal importance, therefore one thing is not above another