War And Peace

Question 1

What is a ‘Just War’?

Answer 1

When it is deemed justified enter a war. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas developed a ‘Just War theory’ that took consideration of when a country should go to war and how it should be fought.
The Just War theory proposed that war is justified if the reasons for going to war are morally correct and if war is carried out in the correct manner

Question 2

Name the countries who possess nuclear weapons

Answer 2

The United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and allegedly North Korea

Question 3

Give reasons for and against the Just War theory (5)

Answer 3

• The ‘Just War’ theory was relevant historically when wars were fought more traditionally
• Nowadays it is harder to distinguish combatants and non-combatants and attacks can occur by extremist groups
• A ‘Just War’ only needs to meet one or two of the criteria of the theory in order for it to be just
• in WW2 because of the outlawing of chemical weapons after WW1 no chemical weapons were employed
• It is more relevant now than ever with development in weapons technology such as nuclear weapons

Question 5

What are weapons of mass destruction?

Answer 5

Nuclear weapons are bombs and missiles that uses nuclear energy to cause large-scale explosions.

Question 7

What is pacifism?

Answer 7

Pacifism is the belief that war can never be justified and that all conflicts should be resolved with peaceful means

Question 8

Name four ways that a ‘Just War’ must be fought

Answer 8

• Wounded soldiers and prisoners must be respected and treated humanely
• Weapons of mass destruction should not be used
• Torture is wrong
• Civilians should not be targeted

Question 10

Give an example of when weapons of mass destruction have been used

Answer 10

Nuclear weapons have been used twice by America against Japan at the end of WW2. The nuclear explosions on Nagasaki and Hiroshima continue to serve as a warning of the threat of such weapons in our modern world.

Question 11

What are the levels of pacifism?

Answer 11

1. Absolute pacifists believe that it is never right to go to war, even in self-defense and you can never justify killing another human.
2. Conditional pacifists are against war in general but accept that at times we need to defend ourselves.
3. Selective pacifists may be against types of war that would involve weapons of mass destruction like nuclear power.

Question 13

Describe one famous pacifist

Answer 13

One famous pacifist in Ghandi (1869-1948) who refused to resort to violence when he opposed British rule in India. He stated that “An eye for an eye and the world will all soon be blind”.

Question 14

Bible verses about pacifism

Answer 14

“All who take the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:51-55)
“Conquer evil with good” Romans 12:17-21).

Question 15

Describe the economic cost of war

Answer 15

It is thought that in the last 15 years America has spent $13 trillion on conflicts and in this time period it is thought 600,000 military and civilian lives have been lost. Britain has similarly spent a vast amount of money on wars and it is thought that the war in Afghanistan alone has cost Britain at least £37 billion.

Question 16

Describe an event in which civilian losses were great in numbers during war

Answer 16

When the US went to war with Vietnam their objective in fighting was to fight against the spread of communism. However they lost this war and it is estimated that between 200,000- 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the war with as many as two million civilians on both sides dying during the conflict.

Question 17

What is the cost of war upon children?

Answer 17

Children may be trained and used for combat, used as messengers or as human shields as a propaganda measure. Children are easy targets for military recruitment due to their greater susceptibility to influence compared to adults. The cost of this is high as child recruits who survive armed conflict frequently suffer psychiatric illnesses, difficulties in their education, behavioral problems and heightened aggression. There is also a much higher chance of them experiencing unemployment and poverty in adulthood.

Question 18

Give a bible quote that supports war

Answer 18

It can be argued that the Bible supports war if it is the right thing to do. Revelation 19:11, “it is with justice that he judges and fights his battles.”

Question 19

Give a bible quote which condemns war

Answer 19

Jesus also taught in the sermon on the mount, ‘If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:38-39)

Question 20

Describe the morality behind weapons of mass destruction

Answer 20

In Ethics, the morality of deterring their development concerns a countries’ right to defend itself by developing the same technology that other countries have, with the concern of what some regimes would do with such technology.

Question 21

Give some Church views surrounding pacifism

Answer 21

• All of the major Churches have issued statements declaring that they are not absolute pacifists.
• The Quakers are well known for their support of pacifism declaring, “We utterly deny all outward wars and strife.”
• The Catholic Church have stated that weapons
  of mass destruction should not be used
• Methodist Church have emphasised that force should not be used unnecessarily.

Question 23

Name 5 causes for a ‘Just War’

Answer 23

• War must be the last resort
• If there was a serious threat
• The weapons chosen must be appropriate to the level of conflict
• The Government and authorities should be the people who make the decision
• Peace must be restored as soon as possible.

Question 26

Name some causes of war (5)

Answer 26

• Corrupt leaders and governments cause war when the State believes that it is has the right to force individuals to act against their judgement for the sake of a “greater good.”
• Enslavement causes war whenever one group believes they can enslave another group because of a distinguishing feature such as race
• Altruism causes war when countries believe that they have a responsibility to intervene in other countries when principles of morality are questioned
• Religious extremism causes war when a state believes that their revelation from God entitles them to wage war with those who disagree with their viewpoints.
• Revenge causes war when a country wants to strike back at another for causing them or others harm

Question 27

Refugees from war in Europe

Answer 27

Countries around Europe have taken in relatively few refugees because of the financial cost of doing so, for example the increased pressure this would put on healthcare and housing etc. There is also a fear of the minority of extremists who would be amongst these groups leaving countries more open to attack

Question 28

Define conscientious objector

Answer 28

person who for reasons of conscience objects to serving in the armed forces.