Transcript Long 3- Peace_and_Conflictx

Religion: Peace and Conflict
World Peace
World Peace - ‘the ending of war
throughout the
whole world (the
basic aim of the
United Nations).’
World Peace
After World War II, 50 nations joined
together to form an international
organisation committed to supporting
international law and security, economic
development, social progress and
human rights issues.
The United Nations (UN) now has 192
member states. Its’ principle aim is world
peace.
The United Nations
• All countries can apply to be members and
have a vote in the General Assembly. It is
headed by a Secretary General who brings
issues threatening world peace to the Security
Council.
• Security Council has 5
permanent members;
USA, Russia, China,
France and the UK) and
10 non permanent
members elected on a 2
year term.
Why the UN is important to World Peace
• The UN tries to stop wars before they start by
using economic and political sanctions e.g.
trade restrictions or freedom of international
travel.
• Armed forces from member nations sent to
enforce peace and end conflicts quickly, if
needed.
• Use of force is always
a last resort and seen
as a deterrent to get
nations to comply.
Why the UN is important to World Peace
Send a UN peace keeping force to:
• prevent outbreak of a conflict or stop it
spreading to other countries.
• stabilise areas after a ceasefire.
• help put peace agreements into practice.
Why the UN is important to World Peace
UN tries to keep peace by running the
International Criminal Court (ICC). Upholds
international laws and prosecutes those who
commit war crimes.
War crimes = ‘violations of the laws or customs
of war’. E.g. murder of POWs, use of slave
labour, devastation not militarily necessary.
An Example of the UN’s work - Kosovo
International forces share the cost. All wear a
blue helmet. Kosovo became part of
Yugoslavia after WW1. 80% of its people are
Albanians and 20% Sebians.
An Example of the UN’s work - Kosovo
Why the UN became involved
• When Yugoslavia collapsed in the 1980s
Kosovo became part of Serbia. The Serbian
leader (Slobodan Milosevic) took away
Kosovo’s autonomy in 1989.
• Kosovans tried to peacefully gain
independence. When this failed the Kosovo
Liberation Army (KLA) attacked Serb targets.
An Example of the UN’s work - Kosovo
Why the UN became involved
• The Serb army began ethnically cleansing
Kosovo Albanians. Thousands died and more
fled to other countries.
• Milosevic rejected an international peace
deal to end the fighting. NATO bombed Serbia
and the UN then took over running the area.
An Example of the UN’s work - Kosovo
How the UN dealt with the Situation
• UN peacekeepers kept he Serb army out of
Kosovo and KLA out of Serb parts of Kosovo.
• UN protects Kosovan independence and
Serb communities who remained.
• Helped establish Kosovan political parties
and institutions which allowed it to become
fully independent in 2008.
Key Words
Conflict Resolution – bringing a fight or
struggle to a peaceful
conclusion
The United Nations – an international body
set up to promote world
peace and co-operation
Religious Peace Organisations
All religions have groups which are working
for world peace.
These groups work by:
•lobbying politicians,
•raising public awareness
•campaigning for human rights.
Their main motivations are forgiveness,
reconciliation and peace.
Religious Peace Organisations
Task: Create a short fact-file on one of the following
agencies:
• Pax Christi - www.paxchristi.org.uk
(Xian)
• World Council of Churches - www.wcc-coe.org
(Xian)
• Muslim Peace Fellowship
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).
How Religious Organisations work for Peace
• Organise public debates on the horror of war.
Encourage followers to vote for parties opposed to war.
• Organise anti-war protests. Try to change public
opinion.
• Attend inter faith conferences to help all religions work
together to promote world peace. Lots of conflixt
happen between religions.
• Work for economic justice and global recognition of
human rights to remove the causes of war. Improving
people’s standard of living removes lots of causes of war.
Why Wars Occur
1. Religion
One country might think another country is treating
followers of their religion badly and invade e.g. Serbs
invade Kosovo because they believe Muslims are
treating Christians badly.
Why Wars Occur
2. Nationalism and Ethnicity
Some believe each ethnic group should have its own
country because it has a different culture. Ethnic
minority groups fight civil wars to get their own
independent state e.g. the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.
Why Wars Occur
3. Economics
Wars can occur if one country has resources that
another country wants. Some people believe that Iraq
was invaded because the West wanted to make sure it
would have access to its enormous oil reserves.
Why Wars Occur
4. Ideological and Political differences
The Korean War of 1949 saw North Korea invade South
Korea as it wanted to unite the country under
communism. A truce was called in 1953 after the UN
fought a war against North Korea and China. There is no
official peace.
Nature and Importance of the theory of
Just War
Just War – a war that is fought for the right
reasons and in a right way.
Christians have long associated this argument
with St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) but
other religions developed these ideas long
before.
A war is ‘just’ if…
• the cause of the war is just e.g. fought in self
defence, or removing injustice.
• has the intention of restoring peace.
• began as a last resort (tried to talk first).
• a reasonable chance of success (wont waste
lives)
• avoid killing civilians.
Different Christian Attitudes to War
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’. Matthew 5:39
 The 5th commandment bans killing.
(Thou shall not kill)
 Jesus stopped Peter from using violence
and said ‘He who lives by the sword will die
by the sword.’ (Matt26:52)
 Wars affect civilian lives not just the
military.
Why Christians believe in ‘just wars’
‘Everyone must submit himself to the
governing authorities, for there is no
authority except that which God has
established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God.’
(Romans.13:1)
St Paul says Christians have to obey the
orders of their government. As God has put
them in power.
• Jesus never condemned the Roman
soldiers that he met.
• Police are needed to protect innocent
people from criminals, so an army ready to
fight in ‘just wars’ is needed to protect
weak countries from attack.
When asked if people should pay the
Romans their taxes Jesus replied,
‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.’
This means that fighting in a ‘just war’
ordered by governments is the right thing
to do.
Useful Quotation
‘…governments can not be denied the right
to self-defence, once all peace efforts have
failed.’
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Islamic Views on War
Islam teaches that Muslims should be
prepared to struggle or strive in the way of
Islam. Have no idea of pacifism. The Arabic
word used to describe this struggle is
‘jihad’.
For Muslims the most important struggle
they must undertake is called the greater
jihad or the internal jihad. A spiritual and
emotional fight to submit fully to the will of
Allah.
War is OK as long as
it is for a good cause
Talking has failed and
they are being violent
‘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
Fight fair/once
you have won
stop fighting
Break the
rules/do wrong
Verse in the
Qur’an
Islamic Views on War
Muslims feel that if a war fits these conditions
then they must fight in it. Muslims sometimes
see their jihad as a Holy War, particularly if
they feel Islam is being attacked. They feel
this because:
 The Qur’an teaches that Muslims must fight
if they are attacked.
 Muhammad himself fought in wars.
 The statements of Muhammad (Hadith)
permit just wars.
 The Qur’an teaches that anyone who dies
in a just war will go directly to heaven.
Some Muslims believe Islam to be a
religion of peace and modern warfare
means no war can be just, so oppose all
wars.
Bullying – Key Terms
Bullying - ‘intimidating/frightening
people weaker than
yourself.’
Respect – treating a person or their
feelings with consideration.
Bullying
As well as conflict between different nations, there
is conflict between individual people and one of the
most common forms is bullying. Examples include:
 Causing deliberate physical harm (e.g. hitting).
 Calling people names.
 Telling lies against a person.
 Damaging or taking personal property.
Bullying
An average of 10 children a year commit
suicide as a direct result of bullying. 1 in
12 are bullied to the extent that it seriously
damages their education.
Bullying also happens to adults, in the
workplace people who have more power
can intimidate you causing mental stress to
victims which sometimes leads to suicide.
Why Christians are Against Bullying
 Attacking others without just cause is sinful.
 Humans are the creation of God, bullying is
mistreating God’s creation.
 It is the duty of religious people to protect the
weak and innocent.
Bullying goes against peoples human rights and
Christians are taught to protect human rights. As
such they are against bullying.
Why Muslims are Against Bullying
 Islamic society based on law and respect.
Bullying has no respect.
 Using violence without a just cause is sinful.
Bullying is therefore sinful.
 It is the duty of Muslims to protect the weak and
innocent. Bullying does not fit with this.
 Muhammed said ‘Every Muslim is a brother to
every Muslim.’ Brothers do not bully each other so
Muslims should not bully anybody.
Religious Conflicts Within Families
1.
Children not wanting to take part in their parent’s
religion
Religious parents may expect their children to be so.
Religions tell parents it is their duty to bring their
children up in the faith. Parents may feel like failures if
children turn from their religion.
Parents may worry their children will not be with
them in the after life because they have left their
faith.
Religious Conflicts Within Families
2.
Children want to marry a partner from a different
faith.
Can’t be a religious ceremony because the couple
must be members of the same religion for a religious
wedding to take place.
What religion shall any children be brought up as?
This can cause real problems within families.
Religious Conflicts Within Families
3.
Children become more religious than their parents
Children may start to criticise their parents which can
lead to arguments. Parents may be upset if child
wants to be a priest as they will be denied the chance
to be grand parents (priests are celibate).
May criticise Muslim parents who sell alcohol (not
allowed) or a Catholic parent who uses contraception
(not allowed).
Religious Conflicts Within Families
4.
Disagreements over moral issues
Arguments can be caused if someone makes a
decision that goes against the beliefs of the family e.g.
if a Catholic decides to get divorced or if they decide
to have an abortion (Catholics and Muslims do not
allow them).
Christianity; Forgiveness & Reconciliation
Forgiveness - stopping blaming someone and/or
pardoning them for what they have
done wrong.
Reconciliation – bringing together people who
were opposed to each other.
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.
 The Lord’s prayer states ‘Forgive me my
sins, as I forgive the sins of others.’
 Jesus’ parables of the Unmerciful Servant
(Matt 18:21-35) and the Prodigal Son (Luke
15:11-32).
Christianity; Forgiveness & Reconciliation
Very occasionally Christianity states
there are times when reconciliation may
not be possible.
 St Paul stated that if a Christian’s
lifestyle goes against what God wants and
they refuse to change their ways, then they
should not be allowed membership of the
church.
 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.
However, a Christian should always be
willing to work towards forgiveness and
reconciliation when the opportunity
arises.
Islam; Forgiveness & Reconciliation
Islam teaches that Allah is forgiving and
merciful to all who stop sinning and turn
to him. Muslims believe:
 Muslims should be merciful and
compassionate towards others, because
Allah is merciful and compassionate
towards them.
 The Qur’an states ‘If a person forgives
and makes reconciliation, his reward will be
from God.’ Surah 42:40
 There are many sayings of the Prophet
Muhammad (Hadith) stating Muslims
should forgive others.
 Quran states that Muslims should
forgive people who sin against them.
Muslims should obey the Quran.
However, a Muslim should not forgive
those who are working against Islam.