Religion, Peace and Justice

Question 1

How does the Old Testament portray God?

Answer 1

As wrathful and vengeful

Question 2

What did the ancient Israelites often go to war carrying?

Answer 2

The Ark of Convenant

Question 3

What is ‘Thou shall not kill’ usually understood to mean?

Answer 3

Do not murder rather than do not kill

Question 4

What does Jesus teach about violence in the Sermon on the Mount?

Answer 4

You must offer no resistance or retaliation towards your enemies

Question 5

Matthew 5:9- quote about violence/ peace

Answer 5

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God’

Question 6

Matthew 5:39- quote about violence/ peace

Answer 6

‘If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too’

Question 7

Matthew 26:52- quote about violence

Answer 7

‘All who draw the sword will die by the sword’

Question 8

What are the 7 criteria for St Thomas Aquinas’ Just War Theory?

Answer 8

1. War should be declared by the proper authority
2. There should be a good reason for going to war
3. The reason for going to war must be to do good
4. War must be the last resort
5. It has to be proven that the war will produce more good than evil
6. It must be possible to win
7. The amount of force must not be too excessive

Question 9

What are the 5 criteria for the Modern Just War Theory?

Answer 9

1. Going to war must be in defence after an unjust attack
2. There must be a realistic chance of success
3. The cost of rebuilding the country after the war should be taken into account
4. Only military targets should be attacked, not civilians
5. The force used should be for a good reason

Question 10

What does ‘Islam’ mean?

Answer 10

Peace

Question 11

What do Quakers believe?

Answer 11

War can never be justified and evil can never be overcome with weapons that harm and kill

Question 12

What are the 4 aims of punishment?

Answer 12

1. Deterrent
2. Reform the criminal
3. Protect society
4. Retribution

Question 13

Leviticus 24:19- quote for punishment

Answer 13

‘If anyone injures his neighbour, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for an eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured, so he is to be injured’

Question 14

What was the original intention of the commandment ‘eye for an eye’?

Answer 14

To limit revenge

Question 15

4 of Jesus’ teachings about punishment

Answer 15

1. Love your neighbour and pray for those who persecute you
2. Don’t retaliate- turn the other cheek
3. Don’t judge- lest you might be judged
4. Forgive- seventy times seven

Question 16

John 8:7- quote about punishment

Answer 16

‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her’

Question 17

Matthew 7:3- quote about hypocrisy and punishment

Answer 17

‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?’

Question 18

2 arguments for the death penalty

Answer 18

1. Deterrent- if a potential murderer knew that if they were caught they would be executed, the might not do it: it stops other people from committing the same offence
2. Revenge- people need revenge for the death of a murdered victim

Question 19

3 arguments against the death penalty

Answer 19

1. Cruel- no form of execution is painless
2. Discriminates- in the USA more blacks are executed than whites, those who cannot afford good lawyers are more likely to be convicted than those who can
3. No evidence of a deterrent- Murder rates continue to rise even in states that have the death penalty

Question 20

What did Father Camillo Torres say about revolution?

Answer 20

‘Any Catholic who isn’t a revolutionary is living a mortal sin by not fighting for justice’

Question 21

Isaiah 1:17- quote for social injustice

Answer 21

‘Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows’

Question 22

Amos 5:15- quote for social injustice

Answer 22

‘Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts’