peace and conflict

Question 1

“religious people should be the main peacemakers in the world today”

Answer 1

support:
-“blessed are the peacemakers” Christianity
-Buddhism promote peace in order to reduce suffering
against:
-global conflict requires global solutions
-equal responsibility

Question 2

“religion is the main cause of war”

Answer 2

support:
-holy wars- fighting for God
-e.g. Crusades, israel- palestinian conflict
against:
-greed, power, political defenses
-“put your sword back in its place” Christianity- prevent war

Question 3

“religion is a justifiable reason to go to war”

Answer 3

support:
-justice= country attacks first
-“eye for an eye”= Christianity- just war theory
-islam= saving innocents, retaliation- measured and not excessive
against:
-causes more problems- use negotiation
-“turn the other cheek”-Christianity- self defence

Question 4

“its wrong to possess nuclear weapons”

Answer 4

support:
-lots of deaths, damages environment
-Christianity- against nuclear weapons= just war, sanctity of life
against:
-deterrent+prevent war
-lesser of 2 evils- last resort

Question 5

“violent protest is never justified”

Answer 5

support:
-causes harm= sanctity of life, 1st moral precept
-Christianity= “turn the other cheek”
against:
-lesser of the two evils
-muslims= retaliation is fine- for justice

Question 6

“the just war theory is the best religious response to whether it is right to fight”

Answer 6

support:
-good moral guidance
-causes minimum harm + damage
against:
-buddhists= no justification for war - 1st moral precepts+3 poisons
-Christian= “thou shall not kill”