Section 3: Peace and Conflict Revision Guide
These notes have been written in bullet points to help you revise. However, you must answer in full sentences and paragraphs in you examination.
Always develop each example, feature or opinion you describe or explain to maximise points to achieve an A*!
The main factors which cause nations to go to war with each other are:
- Self defence
- Natural resources
- Long standing racial or ethnic hatred
- Protecting people from persecution
Success / Failure
- UN peacekeeping forces have been successful in two out of three peacekeeping efforts
- The number of wars has reduced
- Human rights abuses have been reduced
- Not all wars have stopped
- The UN was unable to stop the Rwandan genocide in 1994
- The UN was too slow to prevent the mass killings in Darfur in 2003
Religious organizations campaign non-violently for world peace by:
- Encouraging reconciliation
- Teaching forgiveness
- Encouraging opposing sides to talk to each other
- Encouraging non-violent protests
- Speaking out against human rights abuses
The World Council of Churches / Islamic Relief
- Founded after world war 2 and encourages all Christians to work together
- It teaches about God and attempts to heal divisions between people of different nations
- It encourages those involved in disputes to talk to one another and achieve reconciliations
- Central to its ideas is the belief that Jesus taught the need for forgiveness, peace and unity among all people
- Founded in 1984 it works to help victims of war
- It helps those suffering as a victim of war across the world
- It has worked in Bosnia, Somalia and Iraq
- Muhammad helped the weak and vulnerable – Muslims believe they should follow his Sunnah
St Augustine (a Christian) suggested certain conditions which would allow a religious believer to fight in a conflict – known as the Just War Theory.
For a war to be just there must be:
1)Reasonable chance of success
2)A just cause (i.e. resisting aggression and injustice)
3)The methods must be fair and reasonable (i.e. no WMDs)
4)It’s main aim must be peace
5)Innocent civilians must not be targeted
6)It must be a last resort (i.e. tried other non-violent methods first)
Problems with the just war
- Both sides in the war may claim their cause is ‘just’ (e.g. Hitler claiming what he did was right, just as the allied forces would have claimed their reasons were just)
- Recently it has been manipulated by skilful leaders to justify their actions and suggest that what they have done is God’s will (e.g. President Bush declared the USA was a force of good when invading Iraq)
(If it is just) / Disagree with war
Pacifists refuse to fight in wars – e.g. Quakers
- Many Christian Churches accept the JUST WAR THEORY and would argue God would also support such wars (e.g. World Wars, Gulf War and Falklands War)
- Jesus taught to obey the lawful government
- St Paul said people must obey those in authority – as God establishes all authority
- Jesus told his disciples to: “sell your cloak and buy a new sword” if you did not have one!
- Some Christians would argue sometimes war is the lesser of two evils (i.e. the result of not going to war would be much worse)
- Decalogue forbids killing: “You shall not commit murder”
- Jesus was called the Prince of Peace – he taught to turn the other cheek and to love your enemies
- Nuclear weapons can cause unimaginable suffering on innocent people
- The belief in sanctity of life
- The belief that pacifism is a positive commitment to peacemaking and peace building
Muslims believe that there are certain circumstances where the use of violence is
permitted (see Lesser Jihad) and they should fight because:
* The Quran teaches to fight if they are attacked
* Muhammad fought in wars himself – Muslims follow Muhammad’s Sunnah
* Many Hadiths (Muhammad’s teachings) permit Muslims to fight in just wars
* The Quran teaches that anyone who dies in a just and will go straight to heaven
A growing number of Muslims believe that war is never the right response because:
* Peace, reconciliation and forgiveness is at the heart of Islam
* Modern weapons (especially WMDs) will almost always result in innocent civilians being killed – going against Muslim rules about fighting in war
* Violence leads to more violence – war only increases hatred between both sides
* Non-violent methods are the only way to achieve peace in the end
- Bullying is without just cause so against all Christian teachings
- Every individual has been created by God and in his own image – bullying would be mistreating God’s creation
- Jesus taught the Golden Rule
- Jesus taught to protect the weak and vulnerable – this links with Parable of the Sheep and Goats
- God will judge everyone on the Day of Judgement – this includes how Christians have treated one another (i.e. not been bullies)
- Bullying is without just cause so against all Islamic teachings
- Every individual has been created by Allah and in his own image – bullying would be mistreating God’s creation
- Muhammad taught to protect the weak and vulnerable – Muslims follow his Sunnah
- God will judge everyone on the Day of Judgement – this includes how Muslims have lived their lives and treated one another (i.e. not been bullies)
Religion and religious issues can cause conflict within a family, whether that family is religious or not.
- Religious Beliefs - The child could become more religious than its parents, could convert to a different religion or could become atheist.
- Social Behaviour – Such as drinking or taking drugs and socialising with members of the other sex may cause conflict within families
- Moral Issues – Such as sex before marriage, contraception, homosexuality, abortion can all cause conflict within families
- Jobs and careers – For example, choosing to become a soldier could cause conflict if your parents are pacifist or choosing to become a vicar could cause conflict with some parents (low paid, against beliefs etc)
Can religion help solve conflicts?
-Families could pray to God for help, support and guidance. Praying together as a family could bring people closer together.
-Teachings of forgiveness and reconciliation are at the heart of most religions (e.g. Jesus taught to turn the other cheek and love your enemies)
-Religion teaches relationships between family members should be based on mutual love respect and responsibility. For example, Christianity teaches that children should honour their parents.
1)The Bible teaches that people should forgive those they have had an argument or fight with.
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you”
Jesus taught people to forgive “seven times seventy seven times”
The Lord’s Prayer says: “Forgive everyone who sins against us”
2)Jesus died on the cross to bring forgiveness between God and humanity.
Therefore, Christians should forgive others.
3) Treat people how you would like to be treated – the Golden Rule.
Nobody is perfect and if you would like to be forgiven, you must also be willing to forgive others.
4) God is benevolent and forgives people for their sins.
Therefore, Christians should also forgive others – they also believe God will help them to forgive others when it is difficult.
- One of Allah’s name is “Allah the merciful”
- On the Day of Judgement Allah will forgive those who have shown forgiveness to fellow Muslims
- Muslims follow Muhammad’s Sunnah and Hadiths – he taught you should forgive people and be reconciled with those who have offended you
- There are many teachings in the Quran about the importance of forgiveness: “If a person forgives … his reward is due from God”, “Give justice to the person who was unfair to you”and“Don’t feel envy against the other”.
7. (a) What isa just war?(2)
(b) Do you think it is always possible to forgive?
Give two reasons for your point of view.(4)
* (c) Explain, with examples, some of the ways in which the UN
works for peace.(8)
(d) "All disputes should be settled by peaceful means."
In your answer you should refer to at least one religion.
(i)Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion.(3)
(ii)Give reasons why some people may disagree with you.(3)
(Total for Question 7= 20 marks)
8. (a) What is forgiveness?(2)
(b) Do you think wars are always bad?
Give two reasons for your point of view(4)
* (c) Choose onereligion other than Christianity and explain why followers
of that religion believe in the importance of forgiveness.(8)
(d) "Bullies should be excluded from school."
In your answer you should refer to at least one religion.
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion. (3)
(ii)Give reasons why some people may disagree with you.(3)
(Total for Question 8 = 20 marks)
9. (a) What is respect?(2)
(b) Do you think more needs to be done to prevent bullying?
Give two reasons for your point of view(4)
* (c) Explain the different Christian attitudes to war.(8)
(d) "If people were more religious, there would be less bullying."
In your answer you should refer to at least one religion.
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion. (3)
(ii)Give reasons why some people may disagree with you.(3)
(Total for Question 9 = 20 marks)