Embedded Files
Topic outline
Topic outline
Peace and Conflict (D) topic outlineKey word glossary
Key word glossary
Glossary (D: religion, peace and conflict)Key teachings
Key teachings
Peace & ConflictIntroduction (pictures)
Introduction (pictures)
Peace & Conflict (pictures)Violence and violent protests
Violence and violent protests
Most religious believers are against violence/violent protests in everyday life because:
Christianity: Jesus was against violence (eg when he told Peter to put away his sword).
Christianity: violence goes against Jesus' command to love your neighbour.
Christianity: peaceful protests are more effective (eg Martin Luther King's peaceful protests for civil rights.
Buddhism: it causes negative kamma, and so prevents reaching enlightenment.
Buddhism: the Buddha taught violence is wrong (two-handed saw teaching).
Buddhism: first moral precept = do not harm other living things.
Buddhism: violence is the result of the three poisons, and causes us to be stuck in Samsara.
Some religious believers believe violence might be the last resort in some circumstances (e.g., if their faith is being attacked and it is the only way to protect it).
Roman Catholicism: violence might be required to prevent an innocent person being harmed.
Terrorism
Terrorism
War & Just War theory
War & Just War theory
Including the reasons for war: greed, self-defence, and retaliation & the criteria for a just war
Religious believers usually think that going to war out of greed (eg for land or resources) is wrong, whereas going to war in self defence can be morally right.
Christians need to think about the 'Turn the other cheek' teaching when it comes to retaliation.
If certain criteria are satisfied, then most Christians believe war can be justified. This is then a JUST WAR.
Holy War
Holy War
A Holy War is one that is fought to protect one's religion/faith.
Pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism = rejecting violence / war.
Some Christians - especially Quakers - are in favour of pacifism (see below for their reasons).
Other Christians (including Roman Catholicism and the Church of England) believe that if the war is a JUST WAR, then it can be morally acceptable - to bring about a peaceful outcome.
Buddhists tend to be pacifists (see teachings against violence above).
Quakers & pacifism
Quakers & pacifism
Key ideas from the video
Key ideas from the video
Quakers have always been involved in the STRUGGLE (for the truth) - even against other Christians.
Their struggle is PEACEFUL using "inner weapons" - such as love - rather than "outer weapons".
The model for this is Jesus understand as the innocent LAMB.
They understand the HOLY SPIRIT as communicating a peaceful message.
They believe that NON VIOLENT PROTESTS are more likely to be successful than violent ones.
STRETCH & CHALLENGE
STRETCH & CHALLENGE
Read the information on the Quaker website, and make some notes on what Quakers actually do to put their pacifism into practice.
Religion and belief as a cause of war and violence in the contemporary world
Religion and belief as a cause of war and violence in the contemporary world
The use of weapons of mass destruction
The use of weapons of mass destruction
A WMD is a weapon that kills indiscriminately - innocent civilians as well as soldiers.
For example, chemical or biological weapons. Nuclear bombs are also WMDs.
All religious believers think that WMDs should not be used. See previous arguments against violence and terrorism (WMDs cause terror).
Nuclear weapons, including nuclear deterrence
Nuclear weapons, including nuclear deterrence
All religious believers are against the use of nuclear weapons because they kill innocent civilians.
Some Christians believe that having nuclear weapons is good because they act as a deterrent (they will stop other countries attacking us) - but they think we should not actually use them.
Religion and peace-making in the contemporary world including the work of individuals influenced by religious teaching.
Religion and peace-making in the contemporary world including the work of individuals influenced by religious teaching.
The Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
The Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
Religious responses to the victims of war including the work of one present day religious organisation
Religious responses to the victims of war including the work of one present day religious organisation
Page updated
Report abuse