Transcript Slide 1

USA
Russia
UK
China
France
India
REVISION
Pakistan
?
Israel
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies
Unit 8.3
Religion: Peace & Conflict
Key Words
Weapons of Mass Destruction: Weapons that can devastate large areas
and kill huge numbers of people.
Pacifism: A belief that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means.
Just War: A war that is fought in a right way and for the right reasons.
Conflict Resolution: Bringing a fight or struggle to a peaceful conclusion.
United Nations: An international body set up to promote world peace
and cooperation.
Aggression: Attacking without being provoked.
Exploitation: Taking advantage of a weaker group.
Respect: Treating a person or their feelings with consideration.
World Peace: The ending of war throughout the whole world (basic aim of the
UN).
Bullying: Intimidating or frightening people who are weaker than yourself.
Forgiveness: Stopping blaming someone and/or pardoning a person for what
they have done wrong.
Reconciliation: Bringing people back together to a point of harmony after a
dispute.
Conflict also happens between individuals.
A common result of personal conflict is bullying.
Bullying: ‘Hurting, intimidating or frightening people who are
physically or powerfully weaker than you.’
 Causing deliberate physical harm
(e.g. hitting).
 Calling people names.
 Telling lies against a person.
 Causing them to have a low self
esteem by demeaning them.
 Damaging or taking personal
property.
 Purposefully attempting to ruin a
persons reputation.
Problems at home.
Having been a victim of bullying
in the themselves.
 Wanting to look tough.
Low self esteem.
An average of 10 children each year
commit suicide as a direct result of
bullying.
Fact: Bullying also happens to adults, in the workplace. People who have more power can
intimidate you causing mental stress to victims which
has been known to lead to suicide.
Society tries to protect
people from bullying
• All schools must have an
anti-bullying policy and
students should be
encouraged to report
bullying.
• Trade unions have
procedures to help protect
those who are bullied in
the workplace
UK law treats verbal bullying as an
assault and any bullying which results in
physical harm is classed as aggravated
assault which carries a prison sentence.
 Society is against bullying because it harms people
mentally, socially, academically and physically.
 It is against a person’s human rights to be able to be
free from fear.
 It harms society as it restricts the victim and the
bully from making a positive contribution to society.
 Civilised society is based on law and mutual respect,
bullying ignores both.
All modern religions see
bullying as wrong because:
 In the Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matt 25), Jesus said how we treat others
should be the same as we would God.
 The Golden Rule states we should treat others as we ourselves would like to be
treated.
 Christians (and Jews) believe people are made in the image of God, bullying is an
assault against God.
 Islam teaches every member of the ummah should be treated equal and all Muslims
should act like brothers.
 Muslims believe it is wrong because the Qur’an teaches to protect the vulnerable of
society (Surah 90:12-16).
 Shari’ah law is based on mutual respect and upholding what is ‘just’. Bullying involves
neither of these.
Conflicts can happen between families. They usually happen because of differing ideas,
jealousy or the need to feel respected or feared.
 Parents refusing to accept
child’s choice of partner.
 Siblings disagreeing as
children or as adults.
 Child’s choice of career.
 Disputes over money, work,
relationships etc.
 Conflict over the contents of
wills.
 A family member’s choice of
religion.
 Moral issues such as divorce,
cohabiting, abortion, etc.
 Children no longer wanting to follow
their parent’s religion. Parent’s see it as
a duty and may worry about future life
choice and the afterlife for their child.
 Mixed faith marriages raises the issue
of which faith will be followed in the
home and the faith of any children.
 Children being more religious than
their parents cause parents to worry
about fundamentalism.
 Living together, having a divorce or
abortion can cause issues.
Forgiveness: ‘The act of no
longer apportioning blame and
pardoning a person for what
they have done.’
Reconciliation: ‘Bringing people
back together and to a point
of harmony after a dispute.’
Christianity sees forgiveness and reconciliation as the way to end conflicts. They believe
this because:
 Jesus died on the cross to
bring forgiveness of sins and
reconciliation with God.
 Jesus told Peter to forgive not 7 times
but 77 times. This means forgive completely
and continually.
 The Lord’s prayer states ‘Forgive me
my sins, as I forgive the sins of others.’
How can we expect God’s forgiveness if
we don’t forgive others.
 Jesus’ told parables about the
importance of forgiveness and
reconciliation. E.g. The Unmerciful
Servant and the Prodigal Son.
Very occasionally Christianity states there are times when reconciliation may not
be possible.
 St Paul stated that if a fellow
Christian’s lifestyle is clearly going
against what God wants and they
repeatedly refuse to change their
ways, then they should not be allowed
membership of the church.
However, a Christian should always be
willing to work towards forgiveness
and reconciliation when possible.
 If a friend or family member refuses
to accept your faith in God and you are
forced to choose between them, you
should choose God and your faith.
Christians are warned about not forgiving
others. ‘For if you forgive men when they
sin against you, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you. But if you do not forgive
men their sins, your Father will not forgive
your sins.’
Islam teaches that Allah is forgiving and merciful to all who turn from their sins
and to him. Muslims believe:
Muslims should be merciful and
compassionate towards others, because
Allah is merciful
and compassionate
towards them.
There are many
sayings of the
Prophet Muhammad (Hadith) stating Muslims
should forgive others.
The Qur’an states ‘If a person
forgives and makes reconciliation, his
reward
will be from God.’
However, a Muslim
should not forgive
those who are working
against Islam seeking to destroy
it or a person’s faith in it.
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have been seen as the ultimate
deterrent since their first and only use in military conflict in August 1945.
Weapons of Mass Destruction: ‘Weapons that can devastate large areas
and kill huge numbers of people’.
WMD fall into three main
categories:
• Nuclear Weapons.
• Biological Weapons.
• Chemical Weapons.
Nuclear weapons work through a method of either
splitting an atom (fission) or joining multiple atoms
together (fusion) creating massive amounts of energy.
USA
Nuclear Update
Since 1945 scientists have greatly
developed nuclear weaponry. Today
the hydrogen bomb is 1,000 times
more powerful than the one dropped
on Hiroshima. In the UK the main
nuclear capability are housed in 200
Trident missiles each containing 3
nuclear warheads, each warhead is
1,000 times more powerful than in
1945. That is the equivalent to
600,000 Hiroshima bombs.
Russia
The argument for having such
weaponry was known as ‘MAD’
(Mutually Assured Destruction), if
one nuclear nation was to attack
another, both would be annihilated.
France
UK
China
India
Pakistan
Countries currently in possession of
nuclear weapons are USA, Russia,
UK, China,
France, India and Pakistan.
Although they have never
officially admitted or denied it,
most people believe Israel also
has a nuclear capability.
The UN now restrict countries from
gaining a nuclear capability. Only
those countries who already possess
a nuclear capability may have them.
However, this has not stopped
countries such as North Korea and
Iran, from attempting to gain
nuclear weapons.
Religion
Different religions followed in one place
can cause conflict (Kashmir is a mainly
Muslim area in a mostly Hindu country).
Disputes within religions (Sunni & Shia
Muslims fighting for control in Iraq).
When two religious groups
claim one area as their
God given land (Israel and
Palestine).
Ideology & Politics
If one group holds particular strong
viewpoints on certain issues (ideologies)
and then tries to enforce those views on
other people or neighbouring countries,
this can case national or even world wars
(Nazi Germany, Communist North Korea on
the Republic of South Korea).
Economics
World economy (financial security) can
cause conflicts if one country has a
resource another country needs (oil, gas).
If economic problems hit hard it can lead
to civil unrest causing refugees to flee and
some citizens of nearby countries not
wanting refugees
(Zimbabwe and
South
Africa)
Nationalism & Ethnicity
When an ethnic or cultural group within a
region or country is much larger than
other groups, they can favour their own
group over another, this can lead to the
minority groups fighting civil wars
(Kosovo). Some minority groups
want to set up their
own breakaway
states (Tamils on
Sri-Lanka)
The United Nations & World Peace
World Peace: ‘The removing of the cause of war
leading to freedom, harmony and happiness in all
nations.’
After World War II,
50 nations joined together to
form an organisation
committed to supporting
international law and
security, economic
development, social progress
and human rights.
The United Nations (UN) as
it is called now has 192
member states.
The United Nations
seek to bring peace to areas before conflicts start
often by introducing and enforcing economic and
political sanctions, restrictions on trade or freedom
of international travel.
As a last resort armed forces
made up of military personnel
from member nations can be
deployed
to enforce peace and
bring a swift resolution
to potential conflicts.
One of the key aims of the United Nations is; world peace.
IRAQ
• Rumours of having WMD capable of reaching
UK
• No UN Resolution
• UK and USA bombed capital Bagdad
• Saddam Hussein had killed thousands of
Kurdish Iraqis
• Rumours over access to oil reserves
• Peace is being restored
St Thomas Aquinas developed seven criteria by which a
Christian may feel a war to be justified (acceptable).
 A Just Cause: resisting aggression removing injustice.
 By Legitimate Authority: instigated by governments not organisations.
 By Just Intention: The reason and purpose must be for the greater good and not
material gain.
 A Probability of Success: There is a reasonable chance of success, lives will not be
unnecessarily put at risk.
 A Just Proportion: Excessive force should not be used.
 A Last Resort: Only when all diplomatic areas fail.
 Warfare is Discriminate: Civilians are not targeted.
Christianity and a ‘Just War’
All Christians believe they should work towards peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
However, whilst this may be the primary aim, many believe that on occasion war may be
an inevitable means of securing that peace.
St Paul
“Everyone
must submit to
their governing
authorities
because it is
God who has
given them
that position,
he who rebels,
rebels against
God.” Romans
13:1-2
Jesus said ‘Give to Caesar
what is Caesar’s…’ this means
we have an obligation to
support
the government.
“Remind the
people to obey
their rulers
and
authorities, to
be obedient,
and to be
ready to do
what is right.”
Titus 3:1
Jesus also saw that
faith and military
service do not need
to be separated as
he commended the
faith of a Roman
Centurion (Luke 7).
Church leaders from
key Christian
denominations
(including Anglican,
Catholic, Baptist,
Methodist & URC)
state Christians have
the right to fight in
just wars.
Pacifism: ‘Refusing to fight in a war due to a
belief that the use of force and violence has no
justification.’
Many Christians today are pacifists, claiming
there can be no justification for violence. They think
this because:
 Jesus taught his followers to ‘turn the
other cheek’ and not retaliate.
 Jesus stopped Peter from using violence
and said ‘He who lives by the sword will die
by the sword.’
 The 5th commandment bans killing.
 Wars affect civilian lives not just
the military.
 Jesus said ‘Blessed are the
peacemakers.’
The Arabic word ‘jihad’ means to struggle or strive’. Islam teaches that
Muslims should be prepared to struggle or strive in the way of Islam.
For Muslims the most
important struggle they
must undertake is
called the greater jihad
or the internal jihad. A
spiritual and emotional
fight to become truly
submitted to the will of
Allah (The word ‘Islam’
means submission, the
word ‘Muslim’ means one
who submits to God).
The lesser jihad is about the physical
struggles against the enemies of Islam.
Muslims will sometimes see their jihad as a
Holy War, particularly if they feel Islam
itself is being attacked.
 The Qur’an teaches that Muslims must fight
if they are attacked.
 Muhammad himself fought in wars.
 The Hadith permits justifiable wars.
 The Qur’an teaches that anyone who dies in a
just war will go directly to heaven.
However, some Muslims believe Islam to be a
religion of peace and modern warfare means no
war can be just, so oppose all wars.
Fight in the cause
of god those who
fight you, but do
not go beyond the
limits, god does
not love those who
transgress.
(Surah 2:190)
 It must be fought for a Just Cause: either
Islam is being attacked, people are suffering, or in
self defense.
 It must be a Last Resort: all possible non-violent
means of resolving the problem have been tried.
 It must be authorised by a Muslim Authority: By a religious leader or
council of leaders.
 It must cause Minimal Suffering: to all sides involved.
 It must not target Innocent Civilians: especially the elderly, the young and
women.
 It must end when the Enemies Surrender: Prisoners of war are to be
returned.
Religious Peace Organisations
All religions have groups which are working for world peace. These groups work by
lobbying politicians, raising public awareness and campaigning for human rights.
Their main motivations are forgiveness, reconciliation and peace.
Task: Create a short fact-file on one of the following agencies:
• Pax Christi - www.paxchristi.org.uk (Christian)
• Muslim Peace Fellowship - www.mpf21.wordpress.com
(Islamic)
N.B. Your fact file should include Who they are, examples of what they do and an
explanation of their motivation (why they do what they do).
Revision Checklist
 Key Words.
 Bullying, examples of and reasons for.
 The effects on society and the laws surrounding bullying.
 Religious perspectives on bullying.
 Conflicts within families.
 Christianity, forgiveness and reconciliation.
 Islam, forgiveness and reconciliation.
 Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s).
 Causes of war.
 The United Nations and the desire for world peace.
 The United Nations and the Serbian/Kosovo conflict.
 The ‘Just War Theory’.
 Christian attitudes to war (including Christian pacifism).
 Islamic views on war.
 Islamic ‘Just War Theory’.
 Religious organisations working for peace.
Notes