WAR AND PEACE

Question 1

God’s teachings about violence and war

Answer 1

• God allows the use of violence In war, these wars are either to protect or claim land God has promised them
• God states “Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all fighting men draw near and attack”
• Many Christians interpret these events as giving justification for wars intended to defend peoples and nations

Question 2

Jesus’s teachings about violence and war

Answer 2

• Sermon on the mount “love your enemies, pray for those who persecute them and to turn the other cheek”
• Pacifism= against violence. Jesus teaches to search for the peace
• Jesus showed violence when he came across the traders and money changers in the temple at Jerusalem= there are times when violent reactions may be acceptable

Question 3

The role of Christians in violent conflicts

Answer 3

• some choose to serve in the armed forces
• they believe their service brings peace and challenges evil
• Bible says “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed”

Question 4

What is terrorism?

Answer 4

-the illegal use of violence to cause fear and intimidation for political aims.

Question 5

Why do terrorists feel there is a need for terrorism?

Answer 5

• they believe that their actions have the potential to force change
• believe their use of terror is an appropriate response to the situation e.g in the 1930s, the Zionist groups thought that British targets in Palestine would force them to create an independent Jewish state
• religious reasons
• fight for independence or international recognition
• terrorists are misguided Martyrs

Question 6

Islamic extremism- Who are ISIS?

Answer 6

• ISIS, an Islamic terrorist group

- Muslims say that they have distorted the Islamic teaching on Jihad (fight against enemies of Islam)

Question 7

Different Christian attitudes towards terrorism.

Catholic church + church of England

Answer 7

• the catholic church-“it is gravely against justice and charity”
• the catholic church accepts that responding to terrorism may require just war
• church of England accept the use of lethal force as a last resort, church teaches that creating stronger communities will help some of the causes

Question 8

Jus ad bellum

Answer 8

-consideration of whether it is right to go to war
-Thomas Aquinas said there had to be 3 conditions
1. war must be started by a proper authority
2. the reason to go to war must be just
3. must make sure good overcomes the evil
Catholic church added 2 more
4. war must be the last resort
5. force must be no more than necessary to win

Question 9

Jus in bello

Answer 9

-concerns the actions taken within a war
1 civilians must not be harmed
2 appropriate force should only be used
3 internationally agreed rules must be used

Question 10

Jus post bellum

Answer 10

-actions taken after the war
1 punishing war criminals
2 helping retrain police and military in a defeated country where the government is bad

Question 11

Holy war

Answer 11

• states physical violence is necessary to defend religion
• it is believed that God is in favour of holy war
  e. g the crusades- attempt to reclaim the holy lands of Jerusalem from the Muslims

Question 12

Nuclear war- catholic church’s views

Answer 12

• catholic church does not want to get rid of them because you cannot ‘uninvent’ them
• by having nuclear weapons you keep the peace
• no Christian feels as though you should use them

Question 13

The Catholic church quote on terrorism

Answer 13

“it is gravely against justice and charity”

Question 14

God’s quote on the use of violence

Answer 14

“Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all fighting men draw near and attack”

Question 15

Jesus’s quote on violence

Answer 15

“love your enemies” and “pray for those who persecute them”

Question 16

Bible’s quote on defence

Answer 16

“defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the causes of the poor and the oppressed”