[Part 2]- Theme D- Peace and Conflict ☮️⚔️

Question 1

What is terrorism ?

Answer 1

• terrorism is, the unlawful use of violence and threats to intimidate others; used for political purposes to build fear in the ordinary population, and to secure demands from the government. [to achieve a political goal]

Question 2

Is terrorism a big problem in the world today ?

Answer 2

• In 2020- 22,847 people died because of terrorism; 6.6 million have died from covid so far [from 2020]- the reflects how the death toll/deaths from terrorism is quite low.

Question 3

What’s more evidence to support, if terrorism is a big promblem in the world today ?

Answer 3

It also has other impacts such as psychological impacts/influences it has on the [global] population.

• For example, terrorism can lead to PTSD or depression.
• The deaths from Terrorism is not in proportion/is disproportionate, to the severe impact it has on society as a whole- it causes fear.

Question 4

Why do some Christians view terrorism as wrong.

Answer 4

• it contradicts the Ten Commandment: ‘that shalt not kill’ [20:13] as life is made by God and is sacred, therefore no one has the right to take it because of the sanctity of life.
• Genesis 1 also teaches Christians the concept of imago dei [in his own image]- all life is holy/sacred as humans are made ‘in his own image’- terrorism directly contradicts this, therefore it is wrong [and evil] as it doesn’t honour God’s creation.

Question 5

Why do most Buddhists view terrorism as wrong ?

Hint: ☸️

Answer 5

• Most Buddhists view terrorism as wrong, since it breaks multiple teachings which Buddhists are taught such as: ahimsa [non-violence], the first moral precept [to refrain from harming or taking life]
• Aswell as the right action- which is an aspect of the eightfold path including Buddhist sila [ethics] which is a section of the threefold way.

Question 6

What are some other reasons why Christians condemn terrorism ?

Answer 6

• some other reasons why Christians condemn terrorism are:
• Because St Paul [is seen as important in Catholicism, since he is one of the first people to spread the words/teachings of Jesus] taught in Romans 12:18, to ‘live at peace with everyone’- terrorism doesn’t allow you to live in peace with everyone, because you are spreading fear, harming them and taking lives.

Question 7

What are some other reasons why Buddhists condemn terrorism ? 🪷☸️

Answer 7

• terrorism is unskillful, as it not only causes Dukkha-dukkha [known as the suffering of suffering], which involves physical or emotional pain, but also breaks the Buddhist teaching of karuna [compassion] and having a loving-kindness, meta mindset, since it’s never compassionate to cause fear and take lives.
• This is because not only does terrorism takes lives, it can lead to mental health issues such as depression. Buddhism teaches to try and avoid causing suffering to others, yet terrorism directly causing suffering to others, so consequently it is immoral and unskillful.

Question 8

Why else might some Christians condemn terrorism ?

Answer 8

• Pope Francis teaches Roman Catholics that terrorism ‘abuses religion’ and that we cannot be silent when this happens- by trying to use religion, to justify terrorism it abuses religion and is therefore wrong.
• It is never justifiable to take a life, especially when murder is involved
• Since the Catechism of the Catholic Church also teaches that ‘terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately’-

Question 9

Can you think of other reasons why Christianity opposes terrorism.

Answer 9

• Jesus taught to ‘love thy neighbour’ in Mark 12 and that ‘God is love’ in 1 John 4:16- firstly terrorism is never loving, but using it in ‘God’s name’ is never acceptable because God is love, not hatred or anger.
• He values everyone part of his creation, yet terrorism destroys those lives so it’s therefore wrong.

Question 10

What is war ?

Answer 10

• war is armed conflict between two or more sides

Question 11

What are victims of war ?

Answer 11

• victims of war, are those who are harmed during a war. For example, those killed, injured or left homeless.

Question 12

What are some reasons for war ?

Answer 12

• greed [for power, resources or control]
• self defence
• retaliation
• fighting against injustice and aggression
• pride
• religious cause- [e.g- to defend the faith from attack]
• [to create] fear

Question 13

What are some consequences of war ?

Answer 13

• malnutrition
• death
• homelessness
• psychological trauma
• poverty
• destruction of nature/environmental impact- [link to concept of dependent arising]
• economic ruin for the countries involved

Question 14

What could religious believers do, to help victims of war ?

Answer 14

• religious believers could:
• donate to charities that work to help victims of war- [e.g- Christian aid delivers urgent aid to victims of conflict, or the Tzu Chi Foundation- a Buddhist organisation formed in Taiwan]
• raise awareness of the conflict
• take in refugees- Afghanistan and Ukrainian refugees
• also donate items to help people affected by conflict.

Question 15

What’s a view about greed, for a reason of war ? 💸

Answer 15

Christian: greed is never an acceptable reason for war.

• This is because, Timothy 6:10 teaches Christians that ’for the love of money, is a root of all kinds of evil’.
• greed can lead to different types of evil such as war or taking lives in conflict, therefore greed is never acceptable as a reason for war.

Question 16

What is a Buddhist view about greed for a reason of war ? 🤑💸

Answer 16

Buddhism: greed is one of three poisons which causes suffering to others. This is because greed not only harms yourself, but other people. Leeching onto greed causes bad karma.

• Since It can lead to Dukkha-dukkha [the suffering of suffering], as there are physical and emotional tolls of war; it can also lead to Viparinama-dukkha- suffering because of change.

Question 17

What is a Buddhist view about greed for a reason of war ? 💸

Answer 17

• Moreover, the one of the three marks of existence is anicca [impermanence] which teaches that because everything is changing, people suffer so this is why greed as a reason for war can lead to suffering because it harms you- you cling onto it.

Question 18

Why might greed, be a reason for war ?

Answer 18

• Likewise, countries may not always have lots of money, therefore this can lead to greed, as they may want more resources or territory.
• This then which traps people in the cycle of samsara [rebirth] and prevents them from reaching enlightenment and gaining nirvana.
• Therefore greed as a reason for war, is unskillful, as it not only causes dukkha for yourself but for others.

Question 19

What is a Christian and Buddhist view about retaliation for a reason of war ?

Answer 19

• Christian: Jesus taught that retaliation is wrong, which is why some Christians may oppose retaliation as in Matthew 5:39 he taught to do not resist an evil person and ‘if anyone slaps you on the right check, turn to them to the other cheek’
• ; Exodus [in the Old Testament] teaches ‘eye for eye, tooth for tooth’- this suggests retaliation should be allowed, but it must be done in the same proportion.

Question 20

What is a Buddhist view about retaliation for a reason of war ?

Answer 20

• Buddhism: Buddhism condemns retaliation, since it can lead to hatred which is one of the three poisons.
• This is because it causes Dukkha-dukkha [the suffering of suffering- physical and emotional suffering] to others which is unjust, because it promotes having a vengeful nature [and is a form of vengenace]-
• this contradicts Buddhism, which teaches that although suffering is unavoidable, Buddhists should avoid to cause dukkha [suffering], therefore retaliation opposes: Buddhist sila [ethics] and the first moral precept.
• since causing dukkha to to others not only keeps people trapped in the cycle of samsara [rebirth], but goes against the right action.
• The right action is an aspect of the eightfold path, as a part of Buddhist sila [ethics] which is a section of the threefold way.

Question 21

What is a Christian view about self-defence for a reason of war ?

Answer 21

Christian: Some Roman Catholics might argue that self-defence is acceptable, because it would be the most loving thing to do if a country is under attack. Jesus taught to ‘love thy neighbour’ in Mark 12 and wouldn’t it be more loving to protect your pcountry, than let people die because of your objections to taking lives ?

Evaluate= ; how is it ever loving to take a life? The sanctity of life teaches that life must be respected because life is sacred and made by God, therefore only God has the sole right to take life as it isn’t loving to destroy God’s own creation.

Question 22

Referring to Fletcher’s situation ethics, explain how self-defence can be a reason for war.

Answer 22

Evaluate #2= Contrary to this, some Christians may argue that self-defence as a reason for war, can be justifiable because of [Joseph] Fletcher’s situation ethics.

• Situation ethics proposes that ‘the most loving thing should always be done’- and is consisted of agape [known as Christian love, and a unselfish love for your neighbour]- based on Jesus’ teaching and commandments to love each other.
• therefore it could be argued that self-defence is the most loving thing, if it protects and preserves a greater number of lives, removing those who are harmful to society as they deliberately take lives. And as a result of this, self-defence is an acceptable reason for war.

Question 23

Evaluating situation ethics, explain how self-defence is a reason of war

Answer 23

• Evaluate #3= in light of situation ethics, this argument is unconvincing because it can be used to support injust actions, such as the taking of life which goes against God’s commandment ‘thou shalt not kill’ [Exodus].
• situation ethics also contradicts and dismisses core Christian teachings, such as ‘thou shalt not murder’ and the belief that all life is made in the image of God- link to imago dei- therefore self-defence can’t be justified if it involves the taking of a life.

Question 24

Once again referring to situation ethics, explain how self-defence is a reason of war, and evaluate the concept of situation ethics whilst also referring to Aquinas’ natural law.

Answer 24

• This view is also reinforced by Aquinas’ natural law, one of the five natural moral laws being ‘self-preservation’- meaning to preserve life, including others.
• Situation ethics attempts to dismiss Christian teachings, arguing only loving others is the ultimate teaching, yet this isn’t true because Jesus’ didn’t just want people to follow one rule of love, whilst avoiding God’s original and core teachings- link to Mouw- [an American philosopher]
• Ultimately, this is a flawed argument because situation ethics only highlights to ‘love’ one another, ignoring the natural Christian laws that has been set in place- as self-defence is never justifiable, if it takes human life [regardless of if the opposition are innocent or not]