Religion, Peace And Conflict Flashcards
Teachings of violence
Old Testament - Abel murder by brothers Cain - God forbidden - ‘you shall not murder’
God allowed violence for wars - Israelites fought to claim promised land
Righteous anger - violence acceptable for justice - Jesus angry at traders in Jerusalem temple so drove them out
Christians in violence
C serve in armed forces - protect innocent, challenge evil, find peace
‘Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed’
Religion in politics
Authorities appointed by God so should trust - apostle Paul
- Plymouth Brethren - don’t vote, pray for good gov. / others say important to know gov. decisions - speak up at injustice
CofE state church, monarch is Supreme Governor, church does official functions (royal marriage)
Lords Spiritual - 26 Bishops in House of Lords - GB more multicultural so not fair
PM Margaret Thatcher criticised by CofE for poor welfare policies
Terrorism
Illegal use of violence to cause fear for political aims - believe actions have potential for change and no other alternative
- groups made from social marginalisation - less rights to minority
Islamic extremists use Jihad - put Allah first and reflect on spiritual battle
Radicalisation - persons thinking altered from majority - want to make change
- CONTEST - counter intl. terrorism - promote British value in schools
RC against terrorism - ‘gravely against justice and charity’
- promote respect for community - stronger community of different faiths
Just war
War fought that meets justifiable criteria - Thomas Aquinas
Jus ad bellum - whether right to go to war
- started by authority, just reason, done for good, last resort, only necessary force
Jus in bello - correct actions in war
- civilians not harmed, only appropriate force, obey rules
Jus post bellum - actions after war for peace
- punish war criminals, help retrain defeated country of bad govt.
Holy war
Violence necessary to defend religion - land, spread faith, defend
- religious goal, authorised by religious leader, promise of spiritual reward
Book of Joshua - God sent Israelites to war promising land
Crusades - holy wars to claim holy land of Jerusalem from Muslims
Gulf war holy? - President Bush said God told to invade Iraq for peace
- said Bible quotes in briefings / purpose to protect from WOMD
Behaviour during war
Geneva Conventions (1949) - agreed on Intl. humanitarian law
- rules to limit effects of armed conflict - to protect human life
If surrender, take prisoner instead of kill / if injured, give medical care
Conventional warfare
Bible says aim for peace and justice - war sometimes necessary
- RC - peace possible so aim for it
- RC + CofE - war regrettable - peaceful methods failed
Apocalyptic war
We leading to widespread destruction - WOMD - not just war - Methodist + United Reformed church against
Technological war
Better tech to advance weapons - drones - surgical strikes
Still causes civilian deaths - against just war
Pacifism
Violence is wrong - always peaceful solution - Jesus said on Sermon on the Mount to love enemies and turn cheek
Absolute pacifism - no military at all - Jesus gave himself up to death to Romans and stopped followers using violence
- Brethren, Amish, Quakers - believe Jesus was pacifist
Conditional pacifism - war unacceptable but sometimes necessary - God sent people to war in Old Testament
- RC + CofE - war only necessary as last resort
Working for peace
Jesus came to earth to guide to peace - ‘make every effort to live in peace’
CCND - campaign against nuclear weapons in faith - protests
Pax Christi - promote peaceful relationships
Desmond Tutu - noble peace price for non violent work against apartheid
Violence
Nelson Mandela - used violence in struggle against apartheid
Dietrich Bonhoeffer - planned to assassinate Hitler to stop Nazi dictatorship
Christian teachings on forgiveness and reconciliation
Forgiveness - making choice to let go of wrongs
Reconciliation - restoring relationships between former enemies
Jesus says to deal with own wrong doings before saying others
Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation- confess sins and given absolution - restores relationships with God + treated others with reconciliation
‘I despise your religious festivals’ - God says shouldn’t show religious behaviour where corruption
Impacts of forgiveness teachings
Mary Johnson’s son murdered - Mary regularly met killer in prison - forgave him and helped get flat next to her
Dialogue Cub - brought victims and perpetrators of Rwandan Genocide (1994) - talked, forgave, reconciled
