Religion, War and Peace Revision

Why do people go to war?

‘HOLY WAR’• Christian attitudes to war and to the use of

violence have changed during the course of history.

• From the earliest days of Christianity, it was believed that it was right to go to war in order to defend the innocent, or if the war was a ‘holy war’, fought in order to defend a religion.

• St Augustine, one of the leading figures of early Christianity, agreed that it could often be right for a Christian to go to war.

• In the Middle Ages, Christians led campaigns known as the Crusades.

• Jerusalem was under Muslim rule, and had been for 400 years.

• The Church, with the support of the Popes, went out to fight against the Muslims and try to recapture Jerusalem.

• They also wanted to prevent the spread of the Muslim empire

• These Crusades were believed, at the time, to be good and right.

• Many of the Crusaders believed that God was on their side.

• The battles were often brutal, and the treatment of prisoners was cruel, but the Christians took part enthusiastically, believing they were fighting a ‘holy war’.

• Christians today look back on the cruelty of the Crusades as one of the most shameful times in Christian history.

JihadJihad is the belief that Muslims should fight against evil.

This could be a moral fight or it could be a war. Muslims believe that war is only justified if it is to

defend Islam. This is then described as Harb al-Muqadis, or a ‘holy war’. Any war started for reasons of greed would not be Harb al-Muqadis.

6. What is jihad?7. What makes a war Harb al-Muqadis?

1. The war must be started & controlled by authority of state.2. There must be a good reason to go to war, e.g. to protect people.

3. It must be fought to promote good and avoid evil – just intention.

4. The war must be the last resort, other ways of solving the conflict have been tried.

5. Innocent civilians should not be killed, proportionality – only necessary force used.

6. There must be a reasonable chance of success and hope that peace will be restored.

In the thirteenth century the Christian philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas drew up some conditions for a just or fair war. Further conditions were later added

by other Christians. These conditions are:

What is Terrorism?• Terrorism means acts of violence

that are intended to create fear.

• A Terrorist is anyone who plans or carries out such an act.

Some of the worst terror attacks:

• Tokyo 1995 – Supreme Truth Cult, released surin gas in train stations killing 12, injuring 5,000

• Nairobi & Tanzania 1998 - truck bombings of U.S. embassies, 303 died, 4,954 injured

•World Trade centre 9/11 2001 – Al Qaeda, flew 2 planes into Twin Towers, 3,497 died, 8,900 injured

• Madrid bombings 2004 – ETA, 10 bombs set off on 4 trains, killing 191, injuring 1876

• London Underground 7/7 2005 – Al Qaeda, bombed 3 trains & 1 bus, 57 died, 700 injured

You can watch ‘Targeting Terror’ Teachers TV clip also

Nuclear Weapons – Atomic Bomb

> destroy all life in surrounding area

Biological Warfare – bacteria/virus e.g. anthrax

> death or serious illnessChemical Warfare – toxins e.g. nerve/mustard gas

> death, incapacity, illness

Radiological Weapons – ‘dirty

bombs’

> Death and contamination

Is having a Nuclear Deterrent a good idea?

FOR• To discourage other

countries from attacking• Less likely for others

using WMD on you• Jobs• It must be a good

deterrent because nuclear weapons have not been used since 1943

AGAINST• More likely to be used

because they have them• It can never be morally

justified because of the impact

• Cost – money could go to e.g. NHS

• It encourages others to build WMD

Nuclear disarmament – one country agrees to give up their WMD first

Multilateral disarmament – all countries agree to give up WMD at same time

Who are the victims of war?

Civilians injured or killed

Refugees – those

made homeles

s

Captured

soldiers

Soldiers injured or killed

Child soldiers

Orphans

Make notes of the different rights people have.

Ill be quizzing you on your observations

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security No one shall be held in slavery or servitude No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Some of the Universal Human Rights

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family Everyone has the right to education

Human Rights…

If you thought all of the treatments were wrong, you already agree with the Geneva Conventions.

The Geneva Conventions is made up of treaties and protocols that set the standards in international law for humanitarian treatment of the victims of war. These rules apply in times of armed conflict and seek to protect people who are not or are no longer taking part in hostilities, for example:

* wounded or sick fighters * prisoners of war * civilians * medical and religious personnelIt was created in 1949 in the aftermath of World War II to

say that there should be NO discrimination, physical or mental abuse, or execution.

Do you think it is a good idea to have rules about how prisoners of war are treated? Why?

• How the UN helps• Where it helps

• Who they work with• Their aims

As you watch, BRAINSTORM:

The Red Cross and Red Crescent

• In 1859, Henry Dunant was so horrified by the slaughter he witnessed at the Battle of Solferino (Between the French and Sardinians against the Austrians) that he went to care for the wounded on both sides. His actions led to the establishment of the Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations.

• They provide humanitarian aid throughout the world such as…– Short term aid - food, water, shelter, medicine– Long term aid – rebuild communities e.g. schools

and houses, build wells, rebuild relationships

Peace & Pacifism

Pacifists believe that all violence is wrong. They wont take part in war, regardless of the reasons it was started.

In WWI 16,000 people were objected to take part in war, which increased to 59,000 in WWII.

They were often branded as traitors and cowards and locked up in prison or killed.

They are known as Conscientious Objectors, because they use their conscience to say war is wrong and so object to take part in it.

However, they will help with relief work, as medics etc.

Religious PacifistsQuakers • This is a pacifist Christian group who follow Jesus’ teachings

of non-violence. Quakers follow Jesus’ example of “love your enemies” and pray for those who persecute them. They have a Peace Testimony which declares that they will not use violence in any circumstances. For them, violence against another person, for whatever reason, is wrong because they also believe in the Christian love for all creation of Agape. This is an unconditional Christian love that shows respect for all life. They believe all relationships should be loving ones, including those between countries. During times of war, the Quakers will try to mediate to try and bring peace between the nations.– Their major objectives are:– To bring reconciliation– To promote a culture of peace & non-violence– To provide the means to bring about peace

• During WWI and WWII as conscientious objectors, the Quakers were persecuted for refusing to take part in the war.

Christian Teachings

• “Blessed are the Peacemakers”• “Put away your sword. Those who live

by the sword die by the sword”• “Love your enemies”• “Love thy Neighbour”

Christian Teachings SUPPORTING War

“The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you … until they

are destroyed” (Deuteronomy 7:22-24) “Prepare for war! Rouse

the warriors! Let all the fighting men drawn near

and attack.” (Joel 3:9)

“The Lord is a warrior.” (Exodus

15:3)

Christian Teachings AGAINST war

“Blessed are the

peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9)

“Love your enemies” (Matthew

5:44)

“Do not murder” (Exodus 20:13)

“They will beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.” (Isaiah

2:3-4)

“Turn the other cheek” (Matthew

5:39)

Buddhist teachings:

• First Precept: Avoid killing or harming others.

• Buddhist must practice ‘ahimsa’ Non Violence

• “Peace can exist if everyone respects others” (Dalai Lama)

• “He should not kill a living being”

Example Exam Qns1. Describe two different types of war. (2)2. Give two fair and two unfair ways wars begin. (4)3. Explain briefly religious teachings on ‘Holy War’. (5)4. Explain briefly religious teachings on ‘Just War’.(5)5. Describe the work of one organisation that helps victims of war.

(4)6. “Treat others as you wish to be treated” (Jesus)

Explain how a Christian could use this teaching in an argument on war. (4)

7. “I will act towards others exactly as I would act towards myself” (Udana-varqa)

8. Explain how a Buddhist could use this teaching in an argument on war. (4)

9. Describe the work of one individual who has worked towards peace. (3)

10. ‘Terrorism is never right.’ (6)Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view, including the two religious views you have studied.

11. ‘Peace is an impossible dream.’ (6)Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view, including the two religious views you have studied.