SHHS Unit 8 Peace and Conflict Cards

Question 1

3.1 Why is the United Nations (UN) important for peace?

Answer 1

1. Imposing sanctions (banning trade etc.) on countries threatening world peace
2. Authorising the use of force by member states to stop an aggressor
3. Assist in putting peace agreements into practice
4. The UN also tries to keep world peace by running the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) which ensures that international laws are upheld and prosecutes anyone committing war crimes.

Question 2

3.1 How did the UN bring peace to Cyprus?

Answer 2

1. Fighting started between Turkish people in Northern Cyprus and Greek people in the south of the island. The war was over who rightfully owned the island.
2. The United Nations kept the peace by creating a buffer zone.
3. This buffer zone meant that there was a safe area between the two halves of the island.
4. No more conflict or war meant that the people of Cyprus:

• Felt safe in their homes.
• Did not lose any more family members or friends to fighting e.g. soldiers.
• Could spend money on getting better education and health care instead of buying guns or other weapons for war.

Question 3

3.2 How do religious organisations work for peace?

Answer 3

• Working to stop the causes of war
• Make public statements
• Public debates
• Inter-faith conferences

Question 4

3.2 How would working to stop the causes of war bring about peace?

Answer 4

If the poor have a decent standard of living and governments respect human rights, they will not have to fight for them.

Question 5

3.2 How would making public statements help to stop the causes of war?

Answer 5

Public opinion could be changed and governments take notice of public opinion.

Question 6

3.2 How would public debates help stop war?

Answer 6

The more people learn about the horrors of war, the more likely they are to vote for peace.

Question 7

3.2 How would Inter-faith conferences help stop war?

Answer 7

Many conflicts are caused by religious differences so if the religions are working together for world peace, it is more likely to happen.

Question 8

3.3 Why do wars occur?

Answer 8

Religion

Economics

Nationalism

Politics

Question 9

3.3 Why does religion cause war?

Answer 9

1. One country might feel that another country is treating the followers of their religion badly.
2. A large part of a country might be one religion, but the country as a whole is another religion.
3. There are differences inside a religion and one religious group attacks the other for having a different belief e.g. in Afghanistan

Question 10

3.3 Why does economics start war?

Answer 10

• Wars can occur if a country has resources another country wants
• Some people think that the two Gulf Wars occurred because the West wanted to make sure it had access to the oil reserves of the Middle East

Question 11

3.3 Why does nationalism start war?

Answer 11

• They believe that every ethnic group should have its own country as they all have different cultures.
• Another way wars can happen is if people insist that any small ethnic/religious group leave a country. Such as the genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.

Question 12

3.3 Why does politics cause war?

Answer 12

• Two different groups are fighting for power because they have different ideas about how the country should be run.
• The Korean War began in 1949 when communist North Korea invaded South Korea with the aim of uniting the country under communism.

Question 13

3.4 What is the just war theory?

Answer 13

1. The war must be for a just cause.
2. The point of going to war is to make peace.
3. All other non-violent ways of solving the problem should have been tried first and failed; war is the last resort.
4. There must be a reasonable chance of success.
5. It is being fought by the authority of the United Nations.
6. The methods used should avoid killing civilians or innocent people.
7. The methods used are in proportion to the cause.

Question 14

3.5 Why are some Christians pacifists and think we should avoid war?

Answer 14

1. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that if Christians are hit on the right cheek they should turn and offer the left. (New Testament)
2. Jesus stopped Peter from using violence when the soldiers came to arrest him.
3. The 5th commandment says that you should not kill.
4. For the first 300 years of Christianity, Christians refused to fight in wars.

Question 15

3.5 Why do some Christians believe you can fight in war if it is just?

Answer 15

1. It is the teaching of all the main churches that Christians have the right to fight in wars that fulfil the criteria of a just war.
2. Jesus never condemned the soldiers he met and actually commended the faith of the roman centurion in Luke 7.
3. St Paul in romans 13 said that Christians have to obey the orders of the government because governments are authorised by God.
4. Everyone agrees that a police force is needed to protect innocent people from criminals in the same way an army ready to fight just wars is needed to protect innocent countries from criminal ones.

Question 16

3.6 What are the two types of Jihad?

Answer 16

Jihad = ‘struggle’ or Holy War.

The greater jihad is the struggle to make yourself and your society perfectly Muslim. This involves struggling with yourself and your desire, and not fighting.

Lesser jihad is the struggle with forces outside of yourself by means of war.

Question 17

3.6 Why do Muslims believe they must fight in a just war?

Answer 17

1. The Qur’an says that Muslims must fight if they are attacked.
2. Muhammad (peace be upon him) fought in just wars therefore so must Muslims.
3. Muhammad made many statements about war which say that Muslims must fight in just wars.
4. The Qur’an says that anyone who dies fighting in a just war will go straight to heaven.

Question 18

3.7 Why are Christians against bullying?

Answer 18

1. Christianity regards using violence without a just cause as sinful.
2. Christianity teaches that human beings are a creation of God made in Gods image.
3. Jesus taught in the sheep and goats we should treat people as if they were Jesus.
4. Love your neighbour
5. Golden Rule

Question 19

3.8 Why are Muslims against bullying?

Answer 19

1. Islamic society is based on the rule of law and mutual respect between members of that society.
2. Islam regards using violence without a just cause as sinful.
3. Islam teaches that all Muslims are members of the ummah and should have equal treatment and respect.
4. Islam teaches that it is the duty of Muslims to protect the weak and innocent.

Question 20

3.9 What are the four main reasons for religion causing conflict in families?

Answer 20

1. Children no longer wanting to be religious
2. Children wanting to marry someone from a different faith
3. Children being more religious than their parents
4. Disagreements over decisions

Question 21

3.9 How does children no longer wanting to be religious cause conflict in families?

Answer 21

1. Religions tell parents to bring their children up in the faith and make sure that they become full members of it as adults.
2. Parents worry that without religion their children will become immoral and might make bad decisions.
3. Parents worry that they will not see children when they die as they might not go to heaven.

Question 22

3.9 How does children wanting to marry someone from a different faith cause conflict within families?

Answer 22

1. Often there can be no religious wedding if they are not the same religion.
2. There is a question of which religion the children of the marriage will be bought up in.
3. Parents feel their children have betrayed them by falling in love with someone from a different religion.

Question 23

3.9 How does Children being more religious than their parents cause religious conflict within families?

Answer 23

1. If the child wants to have a low-paid job as a priest and is not allowed to marry.
2. If the child criticises the parents e.g. Muslim parents who sell alcohol in an off-licence.
3. If the child tries to force the parents to be more religious

Question 24

3.9 How do disagreements over decisions cause conflict within families?

Answer 24

1. If a Catholic Christian decides to divorce and marry someone else.
2. If a couple decide to live together rather than marrying.
3. If a family member decides to have an abortion.

Question 25

3.10 Why do Christians think you should always forgive people?

Answer 25

1. Jesus died on the cross to bring forgiveness.
2. Jesus said that if Christians do not forgive others, they will be forgiven by God.
3. St Paul said that Christians should try to live in peace with everyone.
4. All the Churches teach that Christians should use forgiveness and reconciliation to end conflicts.

Question 26

3.11 Why do Muslims believe you should forgive people?

Answer 26

1. God is compassionate and merciful to sinners, so Muslims should also be forgiving.
2. How can Muslims ask for God’s forgiveness on the Last Day, if they are not prepared for forgive people?
3. The Qur’an says that Muslims should forgive those who offend them.
4. Muhammad said in many hadith that Muslims should be forgiving.

Question 27

3.11 Why might a Muslim not forgive someone?

Answer 27

Muslims should not forgive those who work against Islam.