Religion, Peace and Justice Flashcards
What is Holy War?
x War which is fought over religious issues by people who believe that this is what God wants
What are The Crusades?
x The Crusades is an example of Holy War
x The Crusades were military expeditions undertaken by Christians between 1095 and 1270 to recover the Holy Lands from Muslim control.
x Crusaders thought they were doing the will of God
x The name Crusade comes from Latin meaning ‘cross,’ they wore a cross as an emblem of their cause
What do the Quakers (The society of friends) believe about war?
x Quakers believe that war can never be justified
x Quakers are a group of pacifists
x They believe that evil can never be overcome by weapons which harm and kill
What are the aims of punishment?
x The punishment of criminals or break the law, there are four possible aims of punishment
x Deterrence - this may be applied individually to deter the person from doing it again, or generally to deter other people from doing the same thing
x Protection - to protect society and innocent people from harm of others
x Retribution - so that society and the victims of crime can see that the person has been punished
x Reformation - to give the criminal the chance to reform and live a better life
What is Pacifism?
x When a person believes that armed conflict is wrong and can never be justified
x They take Jesus’ word literally, ‘ If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too’
x ‘Thou shalt not kill’
Who are some notable Pacifists?
x Donald Soper - A methodist minister who spoke out against the use of armed agression. He was banned from speaking on the radio during WW2, he devoted much of hid life to preaching on Hyde Park corner
x Bruce Kent - A former Roman Catholic priest. He spoke out against the British governments nuclear weapon programme during the 1980s
What did the Old Testament say about punishment?
x In the Old Testament, revenge or retribution is seen as a legitimate aim of punishment
x ‘If anyone injures his neighbour, whatever he has done must be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he is injured, so he is to be injured’
x Old Testament portrays God as being vengeful
What are Christian beliefs on Non-Violent protests?
x Some Christians believe that non-violence is the best response to aggression
x MLK was inspired by Mahatma Ghandi
x MLK believed it was wrong to use violence against racism
x He used speeches, sit ins and other forms of peaceful protesting
What are the arguments for and against the Death Penalty?
For:
x Deterrent - If a potential murder knew that they would be executed when caught, they wouldn’t do it. Stops other people from committing the same crime
x Revenge - People need revenge for the death of a murdered victim, the bible says ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ it is only right that you take a murderers life away
Against:
x Cruel - No form of execution is painless
x Discriminates against the poor - In the USA more blacks are executed than whites. Those who can afford good lawyers are more likely to get off the Death Penalty
x No evidence of a deterrent - Murder rates continue to rise even even in those states that have a Death Penalty
What does Agape mean?
x Selfless love, taught by Jesus, and felt by Christians for their fellow human beings
What is the Four Cardinal Virtues?
x the four most important virtues or good actions:
- prudence (carefulness)
- temperance (self-control)
- fortitude (courage/resilience)
- justice (fair treatment)
What is Just War?
The idea of just war has developed over the years, and now must have the following criteria:
- Jus ad bellum: whether it is right to go to war
- Jus in bello: correct conduct during a war
- Jus post bellum: conduct after the war
St Augustine’s Just War Theory
x St Augustine thought that it was right to go to war if it was going to defend the innocent
St Thomas Aquinas’ Just War Theory (13Th Century)
x War should be declared by the proper authority
x There should be a good reason for going to war
x The reason for going to war must be to do good
x It must be possible to win
x War must be the last resort
x The war must produce more good than evil
x The amount of force must not be too excessive
Modern Just War Theory:
x Going to war must be in defence after an unjust attack
x There must be a realistic chance of success
x The cost of rebuilding the country after the war should be taken into account
x Only military targets should be attacked not civilians
x The force used should be for a good reason
What is a conscientious objector?
x people who refuse to join the armed forces because of their beliefs
x Quakers
What did Jesus teach about violence?
x Jesus said to his disciples that they must offer no resistance or retaliation towards their enemies
x ‘if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too’
x When Jesus was arrested, one of the disciples cut off the ear of one of the guards, he said ‘those who live by the sword shall themselves die by the sword
Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer?
x Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran minister who was involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler (Non-passive resistance)
x He believed it was his Christian duty to use force against an evil regime
x He was caught by the Nazi’s and hung for treason in 1945
What did Jesus teach about punishment?
x Love your neighbour - pray for those who prosecute you
x no retaliation - ‘if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too’
x Forgiveness - ‘i do not say to you, seven times, but up to seventy times seven times’
What is Social Injustice?
x Unfair treatment of society, refers to race, sex, age, class
x Christians might respond to social injustice through peaceful demonstration or civil obedience
x MLK Jr is a good example of a Christian who campaigned against the injustice of segregation
x Some Christians might join organisations like
- Anti - Slavery International
- Amnesty International
- Mencap
What is Social Justice?
x Social justice is when a society treats people fairly and equally without discrimination
x Christians believe that humanity has been created in the image of God
What is Liberation Theology?
x The movement, which tries to help the poor, who are oppressed by social injustice, especially in South America
x It claims that God speaks primarily to the poor
x It incorporates Jesus’ teachings in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions
x The two most important priests in this movement was Oscar Romero and Father Camillo Torres
x Father Camillo Torres took part in armed uprisings - He said ‘Any Catholic who isn’t a revolutionary is living a mortal sin by not fighting for justice for the poor
x Oscar Romero became an outspoken critic of the El Salvador government and the army, often speaking on the radio. He was assassinated in 1980
