Religion, Peace and Conflict

Key terms
 Forgiveness = Showing grace and mercy to someone who has done wrong
 Hiroshima and Nagasaki = The cities in Japan affected by nuclear bombs in WW2
 Holy war = usually has three elements: the achievement of a religious goal, authorised by a
religious leader and a spiritual reward for those who take part
 Justice = Bringing about what is morally fair and right
 NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Its purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security
of its members through political and military means.
 Nuclear weapons = Weapons that work by a nuclear reaction. They devastate huge areas and kill large
numbers of people.
 Pacifism = The belief that all war and violence is wrong
 Pax Christi = Roman Catholic organisation which works to bring about peace and reconciliation
 Protest = An expression of disapproval, often in a public group
 Reconciliation = the restoring of friendly relationships
 Terrorism - Targeting civilians with violence in order to make a cause known. Not a government.
 UN = United Nations. It aims to maintain international peace and security

Christian attitudes to War

War may be acceptable
 Just War Theory = A set of conditions that if all met, may mean that war could be the right and best
option. These were created by S Thomas Aquinas (13th century) and later added to by Grotius (17th century).
 “ …. eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” (Exodus 21v23-24) This is written in the Old Testament. Jesus said that it
no longer counts.
 Exodus 15v3 –”The Lord is a warrior; … Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea.” This was
a war against injustice. The Egyptians had made the Israelites into their slaves.
 2 Samuel 22v40 – “You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.”
 Bonhoeffer started WW2 as a pacifist, but changed his mind as he experienced more of life in Nazi
Germany. He said that if a huge vehicle was crushing people under its wheels, there came a time “not just to
bandage the victims under the wheel, but to jam a spoke in the wheel itself.”
 Martin Luther King - "If your opponent has a conscience, then follow Gandhi. But if you enemy has no
conscience, like Hitler, then follow Bonhoeffer."

War is NEVER acceptable

 “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matthew 5v9)
 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5 v7)
 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5v43)
 “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing.” (1 Peter 3v9)
 “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5v39)
 Early Christians opposed all fighting. One leader, Origen, said “For we no longer take sword against a
nation, having become sons of peace for the sake of Jesus who is our leader.”
 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, … peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, … gentleness and self-control.”
(Galatians 5v22-3)
  Quakers believe that all violence is wrong. William Penn said “Let us then try what love can do: for if
men did once see we love them, we should soon find they would not harm us.”
 Martin Luther King - “Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a
night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. “
 Martin Luther King - "If your opponent has a conscience, then follow Gandhi. But if you enemy has no
conscience, like Hitler, then follow Bonhoeffer."

Hindu attitudes to War

War may be acceptable
 Krishna (god Vishnu appearing as an avatar) and Arjuna have a discussion. Arjuna is faced with
fighting his cousins. Krishna teaches him that it is his dharma (duty) as a member of the warrior
(Kshatriya) caste to fight if it is for truth and justice (including self-defence). This overrides the taking of
life because the soul cannot be destroyed and will be reincarnated.
 “May your weapons be strong to drive away the attackers, may your arms be powerful enough to check the
foes, let your army be glorious, not the evil-doer.“ Rig Veda 1-39:2
 The Rig Veda sets down the rules of war at 6-75:15, and says that a warrior will go to hell if he breaks any
of them. Do not poison the tip of your arrow, do not attack the sick or old, do not attack a child or a woman
and do not attack from behind.

War is NEVER acceptable

 Ahimsa - “God is truth. The way to truth lies through ahimsa (nonviolence).” “Ahimsa is an
attribute of the brave. Cowardice and ahimsa don't go together any more that water and fire.”
(Mahatma Gandhi)
 "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind" (Mahatma Gandhi)
 Brahman in all - “All this is Brahman.” This means that all life is valuable and deserves respect.

Helping victims of war

Christians

 The Good Samaritan. Jesus tells this story to teach that Christians should love their neighbour. The
Samaritan was the enemy of the injured man, but stops and helps anyway.
 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” (Exodus 22:21)
 ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
(Matthew 25:40)
 E.g. Christian Aid - Helps refugees and works to establish basic human rights
Hindus

• Tradition says that a place at the table should always be left for atithi (the unexpected guest).