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Religious Studies > Religion, peace and conflict > Flashcards

Religion, peace and conflict Flashcards

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1
Q

Define peace

A

Peace is the absence of conflict and war, which leads to happiness and harmony

Prayer is also a feeling of happiness and tranquillity that can come through prayer and meditation, which helps people to avoid conflict

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2
Q

Define justice

A

Justice is bringing about what is right and fair, according to the law, or making up for a wrong that has been committed

Justice is linked to equality and the idea that it is just to give everyone the same opportunities

If certain governments or parts of the world are seen to be the cause of inequality and injustice, conflict may result

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3
Q

What do Christians believe about justice?

A

Christians believe that God, as the ultimate judge, will establish justice at some point in the future (Isaiah 2:4)

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4
Q

What do Buddhists believe about justice?

A

Buddhism teaches that non-violent methods should be used to bring about justice

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5
Q

Define forgiveness

A

Forgiveness is showing compassion and mercy, and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong

Forgiveness does not necessarily mean no action should be taken to right a wrong, but when conflict is over forgiveness should follow

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6
Q

What do Christians believe about forgiveness?

A

Christians are taught to forgive others if they wish to be forgiven (the Lord’s Prayer). They believe God is the example by offering forgiveness to all who ask for it in faith

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7
Q

What do Buddhists believe about forgiveness?

A

For Buddhists, forgiveness is important because it expresses loving-kindness, and allows them to let go of anger and hatred

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8
Q

Define reconciliation

A

Reconciliation means restoring friendly relationships after conflict

It required a conscious effort (and sometimes much work) to rebuild the relationship

Reconciliation doesn’t mean ignoring the past but building a construction relationship for the future

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9
Q

What do Buddhists believe about reconcilaition?

A

For Buddhists, letting go of blame and resentment is important in reconciliation

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10
Q

‘Religious believers should not take part in wars’

FOR

A

Christianity teaches that killing is wrong

Jesus’ teaching does not support war

Jesus told people to love their enemies

Wars express violence and hatred, rather than compassion (the basic Buddhist principle)

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11
Q

‘Religious believers should not take part in wars’

AGAINST

A

Some Christians believe in the just war theory

It is necessary to take part in war for self-defence

War can help create a more just and fair society (eg if it is being used to end an oppressive dictatorship)

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12
Q

What is an example of a peaceful protest organised by a Christian leader?

A

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Christian pastor Dr Martin Luther King Jr organised peaceful protests against unjust racist laws in the USA

These succeeded in changing US law and bringing civil to all its citizens of any race

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13
Q

What is an example of a peaceful protest organised by a Buddhist leader?

A

In the 1990s, the Cambodian Buddhist monk Ghonsananda led peaceful marches in protest at a repressive Vietnamese government

His aim was to encourage reconciliation and peace after decades of civil conflict

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14
Q

What are Buddhist responses to terrorism?

A

It is important to condemn terrorism because it expresses hatred however their response should express love rather than hatred.

Revenge and retaliation are not appropriate answers

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15
Q

Give two reasons why religious believers may wish to protest

A

There is an injustice

They believe in loving their neighbours

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16
Q

‘Terrorism is never justified’

Develop this argument to support the statement by explaining in more detail, adding an example, or referring to a relevant religious teaching or quotation

A

‘You shall not murder’

Buddhists believe it is important to condemn terrorism because it expresses hatred

There are peaceful and democratic ways to express protest and draw attention to important issues

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17
Q

Greed as a reason for war

A

Wars may be fought out of greed to gain more land or control of important resources (such as oil)

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18
Q

Religious attitudes towards greed as a reason for war

A

Christianity teaches that greed is wrong

‘For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil’

Buddhism teaches that greed is one of the three poisons and one of the main causes of suffering

It teaches there are always unhealthy consequences to actions based on greed

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19
Q

Retaliation as a reason for war

A

Wars are sometimes fought in retaliation against a country that has done something very wrong

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20
Q

Religious attitudes towards retaliation as a reason for war

Christian

A

Christians try to follow the advice of Jesus, who taught that retaliation is wrong

‘But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them with the other cheek also’

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21
Q

Religious attitudes towards retaliation as a reason for war

Buddhist

A

For Buddhists, retaliation is a form of vengeance and expresses hatred (another one of the three poisons)

It therefore increases suffering and should be avoided

‘For not by hatred are hatreds ever quenched here, but they are quenched by nonhatred. This is the ancient rule’

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22
Q

Self-defence as a reason for war

A

People might fight in self-defence when their country is under attack, or to help defend other nations who are under threat

E.g. during the Second World War the UK fought to defend itself against Nazi invasion, and also to defeat what it saw as an evil threat to the whole of Europe

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23
Q

Religious attitudes towards self-defence as a reason for war

Christian

A

Many Christians believe fighting in self-defence is morally acceptable, providing all peaceful ways of solving the conflict have been tried first

24
Q

Religious attitudes towards self-defence as a reason for war

Buddhism

A

In Buddhism the most fundamental ethical principle is not to take life, even in self defence.

Instead develop compassion towards those who wish to harm them

Not all Buddhists agree and some are willing to fight in self-defence

25
Q

‘Retaliation is a justifiable reason for war’

FOR

A

If a country has attacked you for no reason, you have every right to get back at them by harming them. They started the conflict so they should expect a response

The Bible teaches, ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,’ so you should be able to retaliate when an enemy causes you harm. It’s a matter of justice which is an important principle

26
Q

‘Retaliation is a justifiable reason for war

AGAINST

A

Retaliation is wrong because it simply continues the cycle of violence and is not the way to lasting

Retaliation is different from self-defence. It may sometimes be justifiable to defend your country to protect other from harm, but retaliation is a kind of spiteful action, taken to punish the enemy for something they’ve done

27
Q

An example where there has been use of nuclear weapons

A

US forces used atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War. In response, Japan surrendered, ending the war

Some people say that as the atom bombs ended the war, their use was justified

Since then, many countries have developed powerful nuclear weapons as a deterrent

28
Q

What are other weapons of mass destruction excluding nuclear weapons?

A

Chemical weapons (using chemicals to harm humans and destroy the natural environment)

Biological weapons (using living organisms to cause disease or death)

29
Q

What are Christian views towards nuclear war and weapons of mass destruction?

A

Only God has the right to end life

One of the Ten commandments is ‘You shall not murder’

Weapons of mass destruction kill huge numbers of innocent civilians, so their use can never be justified

Their use goes against the teachings of Jesus

Some Christians see the stockpiling of nuclear weapons as a useful deterrent to maintain peace and prevent attack

30
Q

What are Buddhist views towards nuclear war and weapons of mass destruction?

A

Weapons of mass destruction cause large-scale suffering and their use goes against the first moral precept which is to abstain from taking life

Most Buddhists believe nuclear weapons should be abolished, as there is always a risk they will be used as long as they exist

They also believe that the real problem is not the weapons themselves but the attitudes of human beings

Where there is hatred, it will seek a means to hurt others

‘For peace, the basic things to do is not to remove nuclear weapons but to remove the fear, anger and suspicion in us’

31
Q

Explain two contrasting beliefs in contemporary British society about weapons of mass destruction

A

All religions are against the use of weapons of mass destruction/Christians believe life is sacred (sanctity of life) meaning only God has the right to take life

Some people agree with the possessions of nuclear weapons as a deterrent and believe they maintain peace and prevent attack. Some people believe that the use of WMD can be justified eg ending a war

32
Q

‘There are no good reasons for countries to possess nuclear weapons’

FOR

A

If nuclear weapons were used, they could kill huge numbers of people and destroy much of the Earth

‘You shall not murder’

Many Buddhists believe that as longs as nuclear weapons exist, there is a risk they could be used

There are less threatening ways to maintain peace

33
Q

Who was the just war theory developed by?

A

Augustine (in the fourth century)

Thomas Aquinas (in the thirteenth century)

34
Q

What are the 6 conditions for a just war?

A

Must be fought for a just cause

Must be declared by the correct authority

Must have a just intention

Must be a last resort

Must have a reasonable chance of success

Must be proportional

35
Q

What are the three rules for fighting a just war?

A

Must be fought by just means

Only appropriate force should be used

Internationally agreed conventions must be obeyed

36
Q

‘The just war theory is the best religious response to whether it is right to fight’

FOR

A

The just war theory says that war should be a last resort and all other means of settling disputed should be tried first

Limited retaliation is accepted by some Christians based on the teaching ‘eye for an eye’

37
Q

‘The just war theory is the best religious response to whether it is right to fight’

AGAINST

A

Quakers believe war is never justified

Most Buddhists believe war cannot be justified in any circumstance, even in self-defence (Ahisma)

Responding to violence solves nothing

38
Q

What is a holy war?

A

It is a war fought for a religious cause for God, controlled by a religious leader

39
Q

What are the three conditions for there to be a holy war?

A

It must be fought for a religious cause

There must be a spiritual reward

It must be authorised a religious leader

40
Q

What are Christian views on religion as a cause of violence?

A

Most Christians today do not respond violently to an attack on their faith

Most Christians accept Jesus’ teaching that not only violence, but the anger that leads to violence, is wrong (Matthew 5:21-22)

41
Q

What are Buddhist views on religion as a cause of violence?

A

There is basic commitment to non-violence in Buddhism

Buddhism teaches that instead of responding to violence with violence, people should conquer the violent tendencies within themselves, and have confidence this will have a positive impact on the world

42
Q

What do pacifists believe?

A

War and violence can rarely or never be justified

It is best to prevent war from becoming a possibility by promoting justice and peace

Prayer and meditation can help people to be at peace with themselves and others

43
Q

What are Christian views on pacifism?

A

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is a Christian denomination that strongly supports pacifism

Many Christians are not pacifists because they believe war can be justified under certain criteria

44
Q

What are Buddhist views on pacifism?

A

Buddhist teaching strongly promote pacifism

The first moral precept teaches that Buddhists should not harm or kill any living being

The Buddha taught that Buddhists should try instead to develop compassion for all beings and that violence should be avoided

Buddhism teaches that to live in peace, Buddhists must try to create a world that favours peaceful states of mind

45
Q

Christian example of modern day peacemaker

A

Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams

A Catholic and Protestant from Northern Ireland who formed the ‘Peace People’ organisation in 1976

Organised peace marches and other events throughout the UK to bring Catholic and Protestants together, and to call for peace between the two sides in Northern Ireland

Awarded the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize

46
Q

Buddhist example of modern day peacemaker

A

Thich Nhat Hanh

A Vietnamese Buddhist monk who supports non-violent protest

Combines meditative practices with non-violent protest

A pioneer of engaged Buddhism, which aims to use the Buddha’s teachings to improve social justice

Believes that to create peace, Buddhists must work to change the structures of society that influence people’s mental states and behaviour

47
Q

Explain two contrasting beliefs in contemporary British society about pacifism

A

Many Christians are not pacifists because they believe war can be justified under certain circumstances as explained by the war theory

Many Buddhists are pacifists who refuse to take part in war or violence of any kind.

The Buddha taught that violence should be avoided and Buddhists should try instead to develop compassion for all beings

48
Q

‘Promoting justice and human rights is the best way of preventing conflict’

FOR

A

One of the causes for war is when people feel an injustice has been done for example, if a group of people in a country feel they are being treated unfairly by the government they could retaliate, leading to a civil war

If everyone has access to basic human rights, this might prevent conflict that tries to gain these rights by force for example if everyone had access to food this might prevent conflict in regions where food is very scarce

49
Q

What are Christian views towards providing help to victims of war?

A

Christians support such organisations because Jesus taught people to ‘love thy neighbour as yourself’

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught that everyone is everybody else’s neighbour, regardless of race, age, gender, religion or political beliefs

50
Q

What are Buddhist views towards providing help to victims of war?

A

Buddhists support such organisations because they believe all suffering should be stopped

Many Buddhists believe victims of war need psychological and spiritual help in addition to the basic necessities required for survival

Victims should be encourages to develop compassion towards the aggressors, as this not only helps the victims but also enables the aggressors to change

51
Q

What is a Christian example of an organisation that helps victims of war?

A

Caritas

A Catholic organisation that helps the poor and promotes justice worldwide

Inspired by the teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church

Aims to provide practical help to those suffering through conflict

In 2015, provided food and shelter to refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria

Also provided translators and legal services to the refugees could make informed decisions about their futures

52
Q

What is a Buddhist example of an organisation that helps victims of war?

A

Tzu Chi Foundation

A Buddhist organisation founded in Taiwan

Inspired by the Bodhisattva goal to help all beings become free from suffering

Runs educational, welfare, health and cultural projects

Opened a clinic in Istanbul to help the medical needs of Syrian refugees

All treatment in this clinic is free. Refugee Syrian doctors work in the clinic to help reduce language barriers and make meaningful use of their skills

53
Q

Give two ways in which religious believers help victims of war

A

By raising money to help refugees through organisations such as Caritas and the Tzu Chi Foundation

By going to war-torn areas to deliver emergency supplies to victims

54
Q

‘The points of war is to kill the enemy, not help them survive’

FOR

A

To win a war there should be a strong, decisive victory against the enemy. Killing the enemy demonstrates strength and resolve.

War should also be ended as quickly as possible and this means causalities are sometimes unavoidable.

For example, many Japanese died as a result of the atom bombs being dropped in the Second World War, but these won the war

55
Q

‘The points of war is to kill the enemy, not help them survive’

AGAINST

A

The point of war is to win and create peace, not to kill the enemy. Showing compassion towards the enemy means there will hopefully be less tension when the war end, making reconciliation easier.

Helping the enemy to survive also demonstrates Christian teachings such as Jesus’ teaching to love your neighbour and Paul’s teaching to live at peace with everyone

Religious Studies (17 decks)

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