Religion, War & Peace Flashcards
Why might people go to war?
- To defend their country against attack.
- To defend their beliefs, religion, freedom and way of life or to extend these to others.
- To defend an ally or protect a weaker country that was unfairly attacked.
- To remove their own leader or government (civil war).
- To gain more land or regain territory lost in a previous war.
- To gain wealth, power or important resources.
- To stop atrocities such as genocide in another country or to depose a dictator.
Describe a modern war.
- The Vietnam War (1959-1975) was fought between the communist North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The North won.
- Besides the many millions killed in the conflict, the war created a massive problem of refugees.
Describe a modern conflict of territories.
- The Falklands conflict occured in 1982 after Argentina invaded to British territories in April. Britain sent a taskforce to protect the islanders and regain control of the islands.
- Argentina surrendered in June, the ‘war’ had not yet officially declared and was over in 74 days, although 907 people died.
What are the consequences of war, good and bad?
✅Freedom from an occupying power.
✅Replacement of a corrupt government.
❌Deaths and injuries.
❌Destruction of country’s economy, culture and infrastructure.
❌Disease and famine can spread.
❌Homeless refugees often reduced to living in squalid conditions.
❌Every hour £100 million is spent worldwide on weapons of war➡️Money could go towards solving problems like world poverty and hunger.
Define peace.
An absence of conflict which leads to happiness and harmony.
Define justice.
Bringing about what is right, fair, according to the law or making up for what has been done wrong.
How can someone find peace even during conflict?
Through their religious faith.
This sense of peace is a constant presence in their lives which they may encourage through prayer and meditation.
Why do some people believe that without justice there can never be peace?
Because unfairness makes people angry and this can lead to conflict with those who are seen to be the cause of unfairness.
How is the sanctity of life used as an arguement against war?
The sanctity of life is the idea that life is sacred and God-given, therefore it is not up to humans to take it away.
Define pacifism.
The belief of people who refuse to take part in war and any other form of violence.
Who are Quakers?
Members of the Society of Friends, a Christian denomination. Quakers have a strong tradition of pacifism.
What do pacifists believe?
- Religious➡️Sanctity of life.
- Religious➡️Killing goes against teachings.
- War causes suffering, bitterness, hatred, prejudice and greed.
- War damages the environment and wastes precious lives and resources.
- Loss of life will have achieved very little, as quite often negotiation is needed to end disputes.
- Using violence to achieve freedom or other positive goals is sinking to the same level as the opressor.
What are the Buddhist beliefs about war?
- Buddhists follow First Precept➡️Do not harm any living thing.
- Compassion for all life (metta) makes war unacceptable.
- Many Buddhists say it is better to be killed than to kill.
- Therevada➡️Killing is always wrong. Anyone who kills will have serious consequences in this or another life, despite intentions.
- Mahayana➡️Killing is wrong but may sometimes be necessary to save others.
What are the Christian beliefs about war?
- Early Christians practised non violence and would not take revenge, even on persecutors➡️Jesus did not resist arrest and allowed himself to be crucified.
- Christians pacifists are willing to die, but not to kill for their beliefs.
- During WW1 and WW2 many pacifists were imprisoned for refusing to fight.
What is ‘Turning the Tide’?
A Quaker campaign group working for peace.
It aims to show how cycles of conflict can be broken through negotiation and non-violent strategies.
When have some Christians accepted to necessity of violent action?
- Jesus used force to drive out those who turned the Temple into a ‘den of thieves’.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Christian minister, took part in a plot to assasinate Hitler in WW2.
- Some South American Christians support ‘liberation thoelogy’➡️The need for fighting to overthrow unjust, oppressive governments.
What is the United Nations?
The UN is an organisation set up at the end of WW2 to prevent war by discussing problems between countries.
What is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation?
NATO is an alliance formed to prevent war in Europe.
What is terrorism?
The unlawful use of extreme violence, usually against innocent civilians, to achieve a political goal.
The object is to achieve maximum publicity and terrify the public.
Why do most people think terrorism can never be justified?
Because it harms innocent people and promotes fear.
What are WMDs?
Weapons of mass destruction are weapons that can kill large numbers of people and/or cause great damage.
What are biological weapons?
They have bacteria, viruses or other infective material in them that can lead to disease or death.
They are banned under the Geneva Conventions but have been used since then and are still developed by many nations.
What are chemical weapons?
Used in WW1 by both Britain and Germany and despite being banned in 1925 were used by the USA in Vietnam and by Iraq against Iran and the Kurds.
Different types of chemical weapons can cause choking, burning paralysis and destruction of the environment.
What are nuclear weapons?
Weapons that work by nuclear reaction, they can cause huge devestation and afterwards radioactive fallout kills more than the original explosion. America dropped 2 such bombs on Japan in WW2.
Today’s nuclear weapons could create a nuclear winter lasting months and a 50% increase in ultraviolet radiation, destroying life on Earth.
