Peace And Conflict Mock Revision

Question 1

Ways that religious believers can work for peace

Answer 1

• Accept peace on a personal level between individuals e.g no hatred, no discrimination, no retaliation and live in a peaceful way
• Join a religious organisation that campaigns for peace e.g. The Anglican Pacifist Fellowship + follow the example of those who have worked for peace
• Start a petition, with to MPs and write letters to the press

Question 2

Buddhist beliefs about reconciliation

Answer 2

• Buddhist teachings stress importance of letting go of blame and resentment because these attitudes prevent a person developing a more harmonious relationship with others and contribute to the person’s own suffering.
• Encouraged to forgive the past and appreciate and accept each other for what they are.
• Forgiveness can be developed from meditation so reconciliation can take place
• It is better to develop compassion than hatred or resentment.

Question 3

Christian beliefs about reconciliation

Answer 3

• The mission of the Church is to proclaim that Jesus came so that the relationship between God and people can be restored.
• Catholics have a sacrament of reconciliation – the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

Question 4

Why religious people help victims of war?

Answer 4

. Believe in working to prevent suffering
. Help refugees overcome anger, bitterness and hatred towards the aggressors
. Encourages Right Conduct and Right Occupation – two EF
. Helping victims brings good karma and helps all beings become free of suffering and ultimately reach enlightenment, etc.
. Jesus had compassion for those in need
. Matthew 22v39: ‘Love your neighbour’ + Parable of the Sheep and Goats encourages Christians to provide food and shelter for those in need
. Christians organisations like Caritas and Christian Aid help victims of war
. Christian duty to raise funds to help those suffering the consequences of war, including the families of those who are killed

Question 5

Should religious believers fight in a war? - intro

Answer 5

. Religions teach that war is an evil which should be avoided as it kills innocent civilians and ruins the environment.
But
. Sometimes it is seen as right for religious believers to fight if there is a just reason for a war.

Question 6

Should religious believers fight in a war? - Paragraph 1

Answer 6

• Religions teach their followers to work for peace so it is hypocritical to fight in war.
• Wars are fought because of motives like greed and wanting more power or land or to impose beliefs on other people which is not what religions teach.
• Disputes should be settled in other ways eg negotiations, through the United Nations, trade sanctions.
• Religions teach forgiveness and overcoming evil with goodness
• Advocates of overcoming injustice in peaceful ways include Martin Luther King, The Dalai Lama, Gandhi, etc.
. Buddhism is a religion of peace and teaches that there are no justifiable reasons for war
. Cannot relieve their own suffering through making others suffer
.First precept
Buddha taught peaceful minds = peaceful speech actions.

Question 7

Should religious believers fight in a war? - Paragraph 2

Answer 7

• St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas developed the criteria for the Just War theory
• Just War conditions eg just cause, lawfully declared by proper authority, good intention, last resort, chance of success, fought by just means, avoidance where possible of injury to civilians, protect trees, crops and animals, self-defence.
• May be classified as a Holy War eg fighting to protect their religion.
• May be seen as the only way to bring peace in the end.
• Lesser of two evils such as the only way to destroy weapons of mass destruction or stop genocide or an aggressive regime, etc.
. While the Christian Church may speak out against killing (the Ten Commandments include ‘Do not kill’) many Christians are prepared to fight for their country or religion against evil
. Jesus used violence in the Temple to throw out those who were exploiting the pilgrims.

Question 8

Should religious believers fight in a war? Conclusion

Answer 8

. No
. There have to be better ways of solving a dispute as war creates more problems than it solves.
. Goes against the religions’ golden rules and peace is priceless.