8. 3 Peace & Conflict

USA

Russia

UK

China

France

India

Pakistan

Israel

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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.

The United Nations & World PeaceWorld 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.

One of the key aims of the United Nations is; world peace.

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.

https://www.un.org/en/about-un/index.html

Kosovo

UN peacekeeping forces were sent to the region with several aims.

• They were to bring an end to Serbian aggression against the people of Kosovo.

• To offer protection for the people of Kosovo allowing for refugees to feel they were able to return home.

• To stop Kosovar militia from entering traditionally Serbian communities in Kosovo and offer protection against revenge attacks.

Weapons of Mass DestructionWeapons 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.

Nuclear Weapons

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.

• Pax Christi - www.paxchristi.org.uk (Xian)

Pax Christi • Pax Christi is an international

Christian peacemaking movement, based on the gospel and inspired by faith.

• Our vision is of a world where people can live in peace and without fear of violence, in all its forms. We believe in the power of prayer, reconciliation, forgiveness, justice and nonviolence and of the right to live in a culture which promotes these values and treats the whole of God’s creation in a respectful and just manner.

Information on Pax Christi

To achieve this Pax Christi works within the Church and wider community to bring about a culture of peace by:

• being a witness to peace and standing against violence• promoting the option of nonviolence as means of resolving conflict in our homes,

communities, nations and between nations• providing peace education materials and programmes• ensuring the message of peace is heard by the Church, by decision makers and those

working in our communities• providing networks, practical skills, resources and support, and working with other

individuals and organisations to bring the Peace of Christ to all who long for a better world.

Wars happening today

Religious Reasons - religious differences have been the cause of many wars in history. From the medieval Crusades, when Christians tried to force people to convert to Christianity, through tto Roman Catholics and Protestants fighting each other in Northern Ireland in the 20th century

Economic Reasons - when one country grabs land or wealth from another by force. In the past, the wealth may have been gold and silver; today, it is likely to be oil or mineral resources. This can lead to the exploitation of a small country by a more powerful one

C A U S E S O F W A RSocial Reasons - this may happen when one community wants to force another group to behave in the same way as they do, or attacks them because of their ethnic differences

Moral Reasons - this might be because one community feels obliged to attack another to restore the inhabitants' human rights

Christianity and the ‘Just War Theory’

• S t T h o m a s A q u i n a s 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.

“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

“Remind the people to obey their rulers and authorities, to be obedient,

and to be ready to do

what is right.” Titus 3:1

Church leaders from key Christian denominations (including Anglican, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist & URC) state Christians have the right to fight in just wars.

Jesus said ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s…’ this

means we have an obligation to support

the government.

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).

St Paul

Christian PacifismPacifism: ‘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. (Matthew 5:39)

The 5th commandment bans killing. (Exodus 20:13).

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.

Jesus said ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ (Matt 5:9)

I s l a m i c V i e w s o n W a r 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.

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.

Fight in the cause of god those who fight you, but do not go beyond the limits, god does not love those who transgress.

An Islamic ‘Just War’

Bullying 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.

Examples of bullying Why bullies bullyProblems 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.

Society and Bullying

All Christians seebullying as wrong because:

Christians believe people are made in the image of God, bullying is an assault against God.

Religion and Bullying

The Golden Rule states we should treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated.

In the Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matt 25), Jesus said how we treat others should be the same as we would God.

Christianity on Bullying

What is the Muslim attitude towards bullying?• Bullying is evil and Islam totally condemns all forms of it. Islam is a religion of

peace and bullying goes against it:

• The Qur’an teaches Muslims that Allah created every human being and everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah. This means that everybody should be shown respect as part of Allah’s creation. Therefore, it would be completely wrong to intimidate another person in anyway.

• Bullying is a form of injustice and Islam teaches that all forms of injustice are wrong. Muslims are taught that it is their duty to fight injustice in the world, not cause it.

• Muslims are taught to show compassion to the weak, which might lead a Muslim to help someone who is the victim of bullying.

• Islam teaches Muslims that they are all brothers in the ummah, so it would be wrong to bully a fellow Muslim.

• There are specific religious teachings telling a Muslim how they should treat different relatives like husbands and wives, children and the elderly. All direct Muslims to show respect and compassion towards them, not aggression.

Conflicts Between FamilyConflicts 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.

Family Religious Causes 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.

Christianity; Forgiveness & Reconciliation

Christianity sees forgiveness and reconciliation as the way to end conflicts. They believe this because:

Forgiveness: ‘The act of no longer apportioning blame and pardoning a person for what they have done.’

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.

Reconciliation: ‘Bringing people back together and to a point of harmony after a dispute.’

Jesus’ told parables about the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation. E.g. The Unmerciful Servant (Matt 18:21-35) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

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.

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 possible.

Christianity; Forgiveness & Reconciliation

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.’ (Matt 6:14-16)

Islam; Forgiveness & Reconciliation 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.

The Qur’an states ‘If a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward

will be from God.’ Surah 42:40

However, a Muslim should not forgive those who are working against Islam seeking to destroy it or a person’s faith in it.

There are many sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Hadith) stating Muslims should forgive others.