REVISION GUIDE: PEACE AND JUSTICE

Focus: The unit explores Christian attitudes towards war (Just War), Peace, Violence and Pacifism. Christian responses to crime and punishment and social justice are also considered

Key Points:

Just War

  • Christians are generally opposed to war and violence
  • Christians may view some wars as Just Wars (based on the ideas of Thomas Aquinas), but only if:
  • It is fought by a legal authority (government)
  • The reasons for fighting must be just/fair //The aim must be to establish good or overcome evil//the benefits should outweigh the cost
  • There must be a chance of success/It must be a last resort
  • Excessive force should not be used/civilians should not be targeted
  • WW11 is thought to have been a Just War as defeating Hitler, a vicious dictator and war-monger was viewed as just and necessary by most people (Christians included)
  • Many Old Testament passages appear to support war when it is in defence of God’s chosen people – Israel. Some passages even support offensive war.
  • The New Testament is generally opposed to all violence, but does not directly mention war

Violence and Pacifism

  • Some Christians, E.g. Quakers are against all war and violence. They are Pacifists. They may work as medics or cooks during war, but will refuse to fight.
  • Some Christians, who oppose war, or a particular war, may become conscientious objectors, and refuse to fight.
  • Rustin Bayard and Martin Luther King were two black American Christians who fought for civil rights, but were committed to non-violent protest.
  • MLK was influenced by the great Indian leader - Mahatma Gandhi. He developed the idea of “Satyagraha” (Soul-force). This was MLK’s model for non-violent and peaceful protest.
  • Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German minister who originally opposed violence, but faced with Hitler’s murderous attitude towards the Jews, tried to assassinate him.
  • In South and Central America, some Catholic Priests were prepared to support violence to remove vicious and inhumane dictatorships. Camillo Torres and Oscar Romero developed this idea, which became known as Liberation Theology.

Crime, Punishment and Justice

  • Social Justice – Christians would argue, like most people, that society should be fair, free of discrimination and extreme inequalities. A fairer society is less prone to crime
  • Punishment of criminals has a number of aims: 1.Deterrence, 2.Protection of society and innocent people, 3.Retribution, 4.Reforming/changing the criminal. Christians would emphasise 1,2 & 4. They would generally argue that RETRIBUTION was God’s responsibility.
  • Jesus taught forgiveness and love. This does not mean that criminals should not be punished, but, rather, that the punishment should not be excessive, or merely based on revenge.
  • Criminals should be forgiven once they have shown regret and repentance for their wrongdoing. (Woman caught in adultery – John Ch. 8)
  • Many Christians oppose capital punishment.
  • Christians believe that convicts should be treated humanely and given a chance to make up for their crimes. Elizabeth Fry (a Quaker) and John Howard both campaigned widely for prison reform in the c18th and c19th.
  • Some Christians work with convicted people on Community Service schemes and Rehabilitation of Offenders schemes.

Key Teachings

Just War, Violence and Pacifism

  • “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15.13
  • “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.”1 John 4.7
  • “The Lord your God will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you…the Lord will deliver them to you, and you must [destroy them].” Deuteronomy 31
  • “You shall not commit murder.” Exodus 20.13
  • “They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Micah 4.2
  • Blessed are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5.9
  • “You have heard it said, ‘love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…’” Matthew 5
  • “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there.” Matthew 21
  • “’Put your sword back into its place’, Jesus said… ‘for all that draw the sword will die by the sword.’” Matthew 26

Crime Punishment and Social Justice

  • “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone.” John 8
  • “This is what the Lord says: ‘For three sins of Israel I will not turn back my wrath (anger)….They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor… and they deny justice to the oppressed.” Amos 1
  • “When an alien lives in your land, do not mistreat him.” Leviticus 19.33
  • “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom..? But you have insulted the poor… Is it not the rich who are dragging you [the poor] into court..[and] …slandering you.” James 2

How to

  • Read the questions carefully, and answer them
  • Use as many key points and teachings as possible for (a) questions. Explain the meanings of terms used
  • For (b) questions, ensure that you explain, use evidence and explore different Christian ideas/perspectives
  • For (c) questions, ensure that you have explained TWO points of view, each one backed by examples and evidence.