Unit 8 x 3 Flashcards
Religious reasons for causing war?
Different groups fight each other to gain dominance.
Eg the Troubles in Northern Ireland where there was conflict between the Roman Catholics and Protestants, starting in the 1960s. It was partly for religious reasons as it was the result of discrimination against the Catholic minority by Protestant majority.
Economic reasons of causing war?
Economic reasons — a country seizes land or wealth from another by force.
Eg Iraq War in 2003 thought to have been started due to the USA and UK’s want for their oil. The USA and UK’s want for Iraq’s resources was so great that the American and British forces invaded land to gain access to the huge oil fields. This is an example of aggression.
Social reasons for causing war?
Eg ethnic differences…when one community wants to force another group to behave the save way that they do or attacks for their differences.
Eg the Rwandan Civil War when there was tension between the Tutsi and the Hutu that led to genocidal mass slaughter of an estimated 800,000.
Moral reasons for causing war?
Such that attacking happens when one community feels obliged to attack another to restore the inhabitants’ human rights.
Eg World War II when England and France went to war against Germany because they were invading other countries unjustly. They invaded to protect others and fight injustice.
War cannot be justified:
- impossible to avoid killing of innocent civilians and their homes during a war. Eg Gaza Strip is located near schools and hospitals and many innocents have been being injured/killed by bombs without being targeted.
- proportionality (use only equal amount of force against opposition). However not using as much force as necessary prolongs the length of the war. ➡️ in order to achieve an aim, one country would need to use larger forces against opposing one. End the period of suffering but is not proportional. Eg America dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima, cashing large amounts of destruction, however finalised to conflict.
- Leader authority biased?
War can be justified:
- Last resort
- Just cause (protect others) Eg WW2
- Right intention - Iraq…restore peace
Any principle…
Christian war accepted:
- Pope Benedict XVI: one cannot ignore evil aggression as it exists in the world and threatens to destroy people. must be responded to appropriately, defending can involve proportional violence. War is inevitable, manage it the right way!
- Jesus believed you should stand up for what you believe in. The cleansing of the temple. Jesus turned the tables when he saw people sinning in the temple.
- state authorities, St Paul - if the government has decided to.
- Jesus said: “give to Caesar what is Caesars” - obey state orders to overcome evil and reinstate good (fight a just war)
Pope Benedict XVI about war:
“Defend them in every way possible, even if that means using proportional violence. “
St Paul about state authorities:
“Everyone must obey the state authorities because…the existing authorities have been put there by God”
Christian war not accepted:
- sanctity of life
- 6th commandment ‘thou shall not commit murder’
- jesus was a pacifist. ‘Love thy enemy’ did not condemn soldiers, lived in a country under military occupation.
- Quakers only totally pacifist denomination: violence is always destructive and can never achieve lasting peace.
Just War theory:
Authority Just cause Last Resort Attack necessary people Reasonable chance of success Proportionality - necessary force Intention
Why is just war theory important?
Reduces mass destruction
Minimal amounts of death
Brings about good
Declared by elected government
Religious organisations should not get involved with politics:
- represent a set of beliefs that are not shared by everyone - different views
- not compatible with modern day views Eg RCC - homosexuality is wrong, but it is accepted in modern day society
- separation of religion and politics is fundamental part of democracy - politics considers what is good for everyone, not just one religious organisations
Religious organisations should get involved in politics:
- have as many rights as others in the world so deserve to let their beliefs affect the outcome of politics
- religious and political views will always overlap so impossible to completely separate them from each other. They work with moral values and act with agape.
- religion large part of promoting world peace. Religious organisations work towards world peace - no matter what their views are, they provide protection. Eg the EAPPI supplies accompaniers to live on both sides of disputed territories, having international trust.
Surah 5:32
“Whoever saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind”