Theme D Flashcards
what is the overall view of a Buddhist in relation to this theme
speaking out about injustice sows compassion (karuna) and could be seen as Right Speech
Justice is to understand the issues, respond with compassion and avoid violence as it only breeds more violence.
what is the overall view of a Christian in relation to this theme
god requires humans to live in justice and freedom and wars should be fought justly
wars can lead to conditions no better than before the war but can be fought for the greater good
what is the overall view of a Hindu in relation to this theme
wars must be morally justifiable, for a just cause, Hindu’s will take up arms
self-defence is justifiable but all actions should be done with a moral approach
what is the overall view of a Muslim (Islam) in relation to this theme
Muslims strive for justice which can mean armed conflict to strive for the common good
Islam condemns violence so wars should be carried out in the right way to achieve freedom
condemn - express complete disapproval of
what is the overall view of a Jew in relation to this theme
justice is key for Jews
war is justifiable in self-defence but must be justly carried out
any weapon for self-protection is justifiable even nuclear weapons as it its not an aggressive act
what is the overall view of a Sikh in relation to this theme
Sikhs will fight for justice in a righteous war. Weapons which kill indiscriminately are wrong
only minimum force should be used to achieve a goal
define peace
an absence of conflict which leads to happiness and harmony
live in harmony and without fear with all people
define justice
bringing about what is right and fair according to the law or making up for what has been done wrong
in regards to war has two parts: to put right injustice and to carry this out in a just/right way
define pacifism
the belief of people who refuse to take part in war and any other form of violence and believe peace is the only way
define reconciliation
making things right between parties after conflict to resolve issues in order to live in peace
discuss justice in response to war
wars are fought to put right injustices and such as to help people who are oppressed by the regime that rules their country. Religious people cannot stand by whilst people suffer - they feel duty bound by the teachings of their holy book to act. But any such action must be carried out in a fair way so that this sets the example and sees people being able to live in peace.
discuss reconciliation in response to war
reconciliation is the act of bringing sides together to help put issues right so that there can be lasting peace. This can therefore in the first place prevent war or bring the victor and the defeated together. War on its own doesn’t bring peace as issues need resolving through discussion and diplomacy so that all sides can contribute to a peace that they are part of making.
what are some of the main reasons for war
- greed
- self-defence
- retaliation
- rescue people from oppression
- defend an ally
- gain land
- remove a leader or government
- prevent genocide
what is biological warfare
- uses bacteria, viruses or other infectious materials that can lead to people becoming ill or dying
- if it enters the food chain or water supply it is catastrophical
- they were banned by Geneva conventions but have being used since then and are still being developed by some countries
what is chemical warfare
- used since WW1 by Britain and Germany
- Banned in 1925 but used by USA and Vietnam war
- still being made and stockpiled
- Can cause choking, burning and paralysis
- damage the environment
- uses non-living toxins such as mustard gas and nerve agents to cause death, incapacity or illness
what is nuclear warfare
- work by nuclear reaction/huge devastation
- afterwards radioactive fallout kills more than the original explosion
- America dropped two such bombs on Japan which they claim ended WW2 quicker
- Todays nuclear weapons are even more powerful and if used would create a nuclear winter lasting months, a 50% increase in UV radiation
- contaminate land for long periods
- immediate destruction of all life and structures within their range
what is terrorism
- the IRA in Ireland for their actions against Protestant Christians
- targeting innocence
- motivated by religion/politics
define forgiveness
- taught by religious leaders past and present
- after wrongs have been committed there has to be a way forward for that relationship.
- Often we accept apology as forgiveness and that fact that the person has seen the error of his ways and put the wrong actions behind us
- after war-time atrocities some forgive unconditionally (without an apology) as it is the only way they can move forwards with their lives
- their example has led to enemies coming together like concentration camp guards meeting camp survivors
- forgiveness can lead to understanding both of what happened for both the perpetrators and the victims
- often people can never and shouldn’t forget but those of strong religious faith can forgive
- forgiving benefits the person doing the forgiving more
discuss a what a Christian would say about violent protests
- teaches against violence as Jesus said “blessed are the peacemakers” Christians are told to love their enemies
Humans have free will and where non-violent protests are ignored, violent protests are used for the common good
Often situations are so bad religious principles get overridden because of the needs of justice
Name some religious quotes about forgiveness
Buddha said “anger is like holding a hot coal intending to throw it at someone but you are the one who gets burnt”
Jesus said “love your enemies”
Gandhi said “forgiveness is the attribute of the strong” (the stronger person is the one who is able to forgive despite what may have happened to them)
What do religious people have a duty to do
Act by their holy books
Fight/protest against injustice to create freedoms and peace because wars can result from injustices
what do most religions teach about violence
most religious teachings focus on peace, yet sometimes peaceful means do not work. when violent protest and violence seem to be the only way to achieve a common good, they become a ‘necessary evil’
what do Buddhists say about violence
- generally not accepting of violence (not ahimsa, it causes dukkha, unskilful action)
- speaking out about injustice is compassionate as it is right action and right speech
- peace can happen only with mutual respect
- violence although against Buddhist teachings, has been used when peaceful protest has not worked. violence can gain attention though there is still no guarantee of a positive outcome
give statements to agree and disagree with the statement: ‘Religious people should never protest violently’
to support the statement:
- most religions believe in non-violence e.g Hindus and ahimsa
- Jesus was a man of peace - he stopped his disciples from fighting when he was arrested
- Violent protest makes you as bad as what you are protesting against - it is self-defeating
- religious people should respect life always so violence shows disrespect and is wrong
- Oscar Romero protested peacefully and was successful
against the statement:
- If all else fails and there is still injustice protest violently
- Non-violent protest doesn’t carry any weight with bad people e.g Hitler didn’t stop the Holocaust when faced with protests
- Dietrich Bonhoffer tried to protest peacefully against Hitler but he changed his beliefs because Hitler wasn’t listening to him. Sometimes you have to protest violently to prevent mass genocide
define terrorism and terrorist and terrorist act:
terrorism:
an act of violence intended to create fear
terrorist:
a person who plans or carries out acts of terror
terrorist act: acts intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organisation to do or abstain from doing any act. These acts are considered which separates them from war which if done properly isn’t considered criminal
discuss terrorism in the world today
- used widely
- attacks are not just carried out but threatened
- counter-terrorist measures affect people and money
- media coverage has brought it to more people’s attention
- suicide attacks have taken terrorist acts to a new more frightening level
- terrorism of today targets anyone and everywhere
what are some reasons for terrorist attacks
terrorists claim they are fighting for:
- god or to defend faith
- social justice and against political injustice
- against poverty
- assertion of their religious beliefs
- so their wishes are heard
why do people disagree with all acts of terror
- their nature is wrong
- those targeted are innocent with no direct link to the actual issue
- religion is wrongly associated with such acts - murder is wrong under all religious acts
- terrorists are power driven rather than religious activists
- their causes are illegitimate
- unjustified
- places that are terrorist strongholds are places of fear for ordinary people
what would Buddhist and Christians say about Terrorism
Buddhist:
‘no one should kill nor incite others to do so’
Christian;
‘those who live by the sword die by the sword’
why do wars start
land, self-defence, power, keep agreements, in support of other nations
these reasons can be interpreted as greed, self-defence and retaliation
discuss greed as a reason for war
- gain more land, power and resources
- most religious teachings would not support this as a reason for war
- greed comes from selfishness - both not approved of by religions
- the number of people that die in war I not a justifiable consequence for greed
- greed is one of the three poisons in Buddhism keeping us bound to the wheel of samsara
discuss self-defence for a reason for war
- religious holy books/texts describe wars (The Old Testament, the Qur’an, the Bhagavad Gita, the Guru Granth Sahib all suggest that war may be necessary in self-defence
- if a country or religion is under attack then conflicts can happen. It would be seen as entirely right and proper to defend your country against attack
- the problem comes when the response is disproportionately larger and self-defence turns into aggression for its own gain
discuss retaliation for a reason for war
- At times, a country will be attacked in a way that provokes retaliation.
- WW1 began as a retaliation against a political assassination
- the problem with retaliation is that it is often a knee-jerk reaction which leads to the escalation of a situation with war
- religions would all say that peaceful negotiation and discussion to resolve issues are better than simple retaliation - they defuse rather explode issues
discuss religion and belief as a cause of war
many teachings are ambiguous leaving them open to interpretations and some teachings are unclear leaving the door open to use violence/war in the name of religion
if religion is declared as a reason for war, it gains support from members of that religion but people need to be guarded about this as many people directing war misuse religion to increase their own power - which actually is the whole point of the war
what are four points to note when discussing religion and belief as a cause of war
- it is true that religion is involved in war if two different countries with different religions are in conflict. Religion is not the actual cause here, for example in the Israel/Palestine conflict
- it is true that religious beliefs divide people and when splits in religions have occurred, violence has
often erupted - religions often try to show the differences between themselves whereas actually there are more similarities than differences. Religious beliefs can bring people together, solve crisis and bring peace
- true religious beliefs do not cause war - they bring people together when viewed in the right way
what is the religious attitude to war of a Buddhist
- The first precept (ahimsa) is to refrain from harming others and is a core principal of Buddhism
- hatred doesn’t cease hatred, hatred ceases by love (Dhammapada)
- He should not kill a living being not cause it to be killed nor should incite another to kill (Dhammapada)
- Buddhism does not believe in war as it leads to greater problems than it solves as it is a result of the three poisons and encourages these inside us
what is the religious attitude to war of a Christian
jesus said:
- ‘those who live by the sword die by the sword’ (no war, put your sword away)
- ‘blessed are the peacemakers’
- ‘love your enemies and pray for them’
Christianity teaches peace and love, though many fight in wars to defend against invading forces. there has to be a just cause, a last resort and peace restored after
what is the religious attitude to war of a Hindu
- Kshatriyas are expected to be the first to battle and the bravest in battle
- even an enemy must be offered appropriate hospitality if he comes to your home (Mahabharata)
- War is not inkeeping with Hindu virtues of ahimsa, tolerance, peace, compassion and respect
- Hinduism sees that if war is a just one, it is a duty to fight and not doing so brings bad karma. In protecting others fighting may be the only way
define kshatriyas
a member of the second of the four great Hindu castes, the military caste. The traditional function of the Kshatriyas is to protect society by fighting in wartime and governing in peacetime
define Dhammapada
The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist scriptures. The original version of the Dhammapada is in the Khuddaka Nikaya, a division of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. The Buddhist scholar and commentator Buddhaghosa explains that each saying recorded in the collection was made on a different occasion in response to a unique situation that had arisen in the life of the Buddha and his monastic community.
define Mahabharata
one of the two great Sanskrit epics of the Hindus, existing in its present form since c.400 ad. It describes the civil war waged between the five Pandava brothers and their one hundred stepbrothers at Kuruksetra near modern Delhi.
define ahimsa
(in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist tradition) respect for all living things and avoidance of violence towards others.
define holy war
war fought in the name of God; believing God has sanctioned the war; in Islam there are criteria for this kind of war
Fighting for a religious cause or God
define just war
A war that the Christian church defines as acceptable, this must fit certain criteria
war fought under the auspices of the just war criteria, relates to Christianity and Sikhism; believing it is right to fight a legitimate war in the interests of justice and peace
*auspices - a divine or religious token
what is the religious attitude to war of a Muslim
- greater is every Muslims personal struggle to follow Allah, the lesser jihad is holy war in defence of Islam
- to those against whom war is made, permission is given to fight (Qur’an)
- those who die in the name of Allah will be rewarded with paradise (Qur’an)
- hate your enemy mildly; for he may become your friend one day (Hadith)
- Islam has a duty to fight in defence of Allah, the weak and oppressed as a last resort. Muhammad had to defend himself and holy war is a duty. It might be required to bring change
what is the religious attitude to war of a Jew
- get ready for war, call out your best warriors, let your fighting men advance for the attack (Ketuvim)
- the sword comes to the world because of the delay of justice and through injustice (Talmud)
- when siege is laid to a city, surround only three sides to give an opportunity to those who would flee to save their lives (Maimonides)
- Judaism previously had war as a religious duty. The Tenakh describes battles fought with G-d on the side of righteous. war today is still acceptable but only as a last resort in self-defence and against injustice
what is the religious attitude to war of a Sikh
- the Sikh khanda includes two swords and Sikhs wear the kirpan, showing a willingness to fight when necessary
- when all other methods have failed it is permissible to draw the sword (Guru Gobind Singh)
- a true warrior is one who fights for the downtrodden, the weak and the meek (Guru Granth Sahib)
- Sikhism allows war in self-defence and for justice. the Gurus suggested military training for all, went into battle against oppression and an army was set up after the Khalsa.
- Many Sikh men today join the army
what are the general guidelines on the rules for a legitimate war
within some religions there are guidelines on the rules for a legitimate war
they attempt to
- control the decision to go to war
- how It is fought
- making it just or fair
these sets of rules have allowed religious people to fight even when their religion purports to be one of peace
what does a Christian describe as a just war
Proposed by St Augustine and written in by St Thomas Aquinas in 13th century these rules are still referred to and used in modern warfare:
- controlled by just authority (elected government)
- just cause - not for revenge
- clear aim to promote good over evil
- last resort when all diplomatic methods have been exhausted
- must be winnable as it is wrong to risk life for something that cannot be won
- fair conduct - reasonable force must be used and civilians protected
- good outcome - the benefits outweigh the evil of war
the just war suggests that if you don not fight you allow a greater evil to happen than the war would have caused. War is the lesser of two evils or a necessary evil
what does a Sikh describe as a just war
outlines by guru Gobind Singh when he set up the Khalsa:
- ‘dharam yudh’ - in defence of justice
- last resort
- the cause must be just, a Sikh defends himself, his nation and the weak
- fought without hatred or the wish for revenge
- territory must not be taken
- all soldiers must behave justly and civilians must not be harmed
- minimum necessary force should be used
- when aims are met the war should end and peace be established
Describe a Christian holy war
- fought for god or faith
- last resort (the enemy must have the opportunity to make peace)
- believers are obligated to fight
- conducted fairly (just treatment of enemies)
- protection of civilians/landscape
- justice and peace restored
describe an Islam holy war
- a just war with rules laid down in the Qur’an
- Jihad can be fought only as a last resort/ not against another Muslim nation
- duty to fight and join the army if a just leader begins war
- Muhammad said one man from each two should fight so that there are still men to defend and look after the towns and villages
- sane Muslim men whose families will cope without them will fight
- soldiers can not run away from the battlefield during fighting because it makes it harder for other soldiers
- if the town is attacked everyone must fight including children
- begins when the enemy attacks and ends when the enemy shows they want peace
- civilians, crops and especially holy buildings must not be attacked, damaged or mistreated.
- prisoners of war should be treated well and money from zakat should be used to pay for food for them
- when people regain their rights, the war ends
what’s the golden rule in relation to victims of war
treat others as you would want to be treated
every religion subscribes to this rule
it is a part of all religions to help those in trouble and defend those who cannot defend themselves
discuss three religious organizations that help victims of war
Christian peacemaker teams:
- covers a wide range of Christian denominations
- sends small teams to work on peace making in conflict zones
- third-party no violent intervention
Buddhist peace fellowship:
- applying Buddhist principles to resolve issues in the world
- raises awareness of issues, tries to strengthen leadership in troubled areas, act with other groups to try and make change happen
- supports victims of war by helping bring peace to an area and doing relief work for victims of war
Khalsa aid:
- bases its work on the Skih principles of selfless service and universal love
- provides relief assistance to victims of war funded through donations from Sikh’ worldwide
- other disaster and relief work
how can individuals help victims of war
- join an organization to strengthen its work with victims through contributions
- take a job that directly works with victims of wars
- campaigning politically and encouraging others to do so
- praying for peace
(how is religion involved in wars today)
Is religion the defining factor in wars?
yes - as communities are divided by war, religion often comes to the fore
no - religion is often misused just to try to explain who is fighting who. Religion is drawn in but war is more about land and power
(how is religion involved in wars today)
Does religion play a part in ending war?
yes - many religious leaders call for peace including employing pace negotiators. the majority of believers want peace and should be able to bring into line those who don’t
no - religious people call for peace but they are ignored. Religious extremists will always find excuses for war
(how is religion involved in wars today)
Does religion keep the peace ?
yes - all religions have a central message of peace expressed through key principle sayings: ahimsa, do not kill, love enemies… all religions subscribe the golden rule
no - teachings talk about peace but religious believers may not want it, indeed some want war if they are oppressed or want to change the war they live their lives or want more freedom. Even with their best peace efforts there are greater overriding factors such as the craving for power
what are radiological weapons
- dirty bombs
- weapons using conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material.
- kill people
- contaminate the impact areas for long period, potentially years
why do most religious people disagree with WMD’s
- capable of killing/ maiming large numbers of people
- almost impossible to only target military operations
- controlled from far away so whoever releases the weapon does not experience or see the effect directly so they are indiscriminate in who they kill and the area they destroy
- the last point is the main reason people disagree with them and why most forms are forbidden under the international war
- explosion of the weapon causes widespread scattering of the contents/effect of the warhead
- other than nuclear ones they are all banned under the international law
what is the main religious attitude to the use of WDM’s
- wrong because of uncontrollable/extreme effects
- against just and holy war theories
- against the principles of peace, justice and sanctity of life
- used as means of oppression
-some believers accept that a nuclear deterrent needs to be maintained
reasons for proliferation of nuclear weapons (increase)
- they discourage attack (deterrent)
- they maintain peace
- use of other WMD’s are made less likely
reasons for the disarmament of nuclear weapons (removal)
- nuclear proliferation makes use more likely
- there is no moral justification for their use
- waste of valuable resources
- cost which could be used elsewhere more effectively
- encourages other countries to develop them
define pacifists
will never participate in war regardless of the reason for the war
what are conscientious objectors
refuse to fight directly but will assist in relief work, be medics or mediators - all seen as peace-making roles
who are the Quakers
a Christian group with a peace testimony never to use violence
they believe they follow the true teachings of Jesus opposing all wars and love should be the key between nations
who is Gandhi is regard to peace
the Hindu leader used non-violence for all his political actions - speeches, sit-ins, marches showing it could be used effectively and be just as powerful as any physical force
what is the religious attitude of a Buddhist in regard to peace and pacifism
- peace can exist if everyone respects all others (Dalai Lama)
- the Buddhist message is one of peace not war
- the first precept id it is wrong to harm others
- golden rule
what is the religious attitude of a Christianity in regard to peace and pacifism
- everyone must commit themselves to peace as said by Pope John Paul II
- the Christian message is one of peace.
- Jesus taught a message of love and Christians have a strong pacifist tradition
- golden rule
what is the religious attitude of a Hindu in regard to peace and pacifism
- key hindu virtues include ahimsa, tolerance, compassion and respect as well as protection of others
- the Hindu message stresses that justice can be achieved only through non-violence
- all life is sacred because Brahman is within all the atman, war destroys this ideal
- golden rule
what is ahisma
no violence
what is the religious attitude of a Muslim in regard to peace and pacifism
- Muslim greeting is salaam alaikum meaning peace be upon you
- one meaning of the word Islam is peace
- one of Allah’s names is As-salaam which means the source of peace
- it is said that is all people followed the Muslim way of life there should only be peace
- golden rule
what is the religious attitude of a Jew in regard to peace and pacifism
- it shall come to pass nation shall not lift up sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more (description of G-d’s kingdom)
- the Jewish message is tikkun olam - to heal the world but for this to happen peace must be at the centre of all that people do
- golden rule
what is the religious attitude of a Sikh in regard to peace and pacifism
- the lord is the haven of peace (Adi Granth)
- peace is believed to come from God
- The sikh message of peace obtained through justice is the ideal for all
- golden rule
why do people believe in the holy war theory
in ancient times people believed God was on their side and had called them to fight his enemies so people went on crusades with the belief they were under God’s protection
in the old testament there are many accounts of crusades
the holy war theory is authorised by God or a spiritual leader and people who take part will go to heaven because the war has a religious goal
what are some example of holy war crusades in the bible
the first crusade started by Pope Urban II in 1905
the first crusade captured Jerusalem after bitter fighting and the residents of the city were brutalised and slaughtered by Christian invaders
he said It would have the support of God
what are Francis Bacon’s five causes of a holy war
- spread faith
- to retrieve countries that were once Christian even though there are no Christians left there
- to rescue Christians in countries that were once Christian from the ‘servitude of the infidels’
- recover and purify consecrated places that are presently being polluted and profaned
- avenge blasphemous acts or cruelties and killings of Christians even if they took place long ago
what is righteous anger
justified anger
e.g when Jesus was angry about the presence of money lenders in the temple
“made a whip out of cards and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle, he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables”
righteous anger is about using one’s anger in a way that is thoughtful and controlled
what is social injustice
a situation where people in society are given fewer rights and privileges than other people in society based on the group they belong to
what is liberation theology
- the Christian idea that God has the power to change situations in the world that are unjust and some Christians believe that they should therefore stand up against governments that oppress people because they are following God’s example by fixing matters like he would and fighting back
who was Oscar Romero
A Christian who protested against social injustice in his catholic country of el Salvador
he said “each one of you must be a microphone of God. Each one of you must be a messenger, a prophet”
his country was in poverty except for a small group of people who held the wealth and political power
- used his sermons to condemn the government by naming everyone who had been kidnapped
- said God wanted equality
- broadcasted on the radio
- he gave his life to speak out on behalf of the poor
- peaceful protest
- HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN HIS NON-VIOLENT PROTEST
who was Dietrich Bonhoffer
pacifist Christian pastor
he took part in non-violent protests against Hitler but eventually changed his beliefs because Hitler wouldn’t listen. This shows NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS DONT WORK because sometimes the need for violence to stop things like mass genocide is so great that religious principles must be overridden - the lesser of two evils
what is a quote on forgiveness
Mathew 6:14-15
if you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you don not forgive others then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done
what is a quote on justice
Isaiah 2:4
he will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation nor will they train for war anymore
what is a quote on reconciliation
Laurent Fabius
we are in the process of winning the war. we also have to win the peace. And winning the peace involves a whole series of acts to help democracy and development
who is an example of reconciliation
archbishop desmond tutu
