USA

Russia

UK

China

France

India

Pakistan

?
Israel

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies

Unit 8.3
Religion: Peace & Conflict

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.

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.

Examples of bullying
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

Why bullies bully

Problems 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 and UK law treats verbal bullying as
an assault and any bullying
Bullying
which results in physical harm
is classed as aggravated
Society tries to
protect people from assault which carries a prison
sentence.
bullying
Society is against bullying because it
All schools must
harms people mentally, socially,
have an antiacademically and physically.
bullying policy
It is against a persons human rights to
and students
be able to be free from fear.
should be
It harms society as it restricts the
encouraged to
victim and the bully from making a
report bullying.
positive contribution to society.
Civilised society is based on law and
Trade unions
mutual respect, bullying ignores both.
have procedures
to help protect

Religion and
Bullying

All modern religions see

bullying as wrong because:

In the Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matt 25),

Jesus said how we treat others should be the same
we would God.
as
The Golden Rule states we should treat others as
we ourselves would like to be treated.
Christians (and Jews) believe people are made in
the image of God, bullying is an assault against God.
Islam teaches every member of the ummah should
be treated equal and all Muslims should act like
brothers.
Muslims believe it is wrong because the Quran
teaches to protect the vulnerable of society (Surah
90:12-16).
Shariah law is based on mutual respect and
upholding what is just. Bully involves neither of

Conflicts Between Family

Conflicts can happen between families. They usually happen
because of differing ideas, jealousy or the need to feel respected
or feared.

Family

Religious Causes

Parents refusing to
accept
childs choice of partner.
Siblings disagreeing as
children or as adults.
Childs choice of career.
Disputes over money,
work,
relationships etc.
Conflict over the
contents of
wills.
A family members
choice of

Children no longer wanting

to follow their parents
religion. Parents 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

Christianity; Forgiveness & Reconciliati

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

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

Christianity sees forgiveness and reconciliation as the way to end

conflicts. They believe this because:
Jesus died on the
Jesus told Peter to forgive not 7
cross to bring forgiveness
times but 77 times. This means
of sins and reconciliation
forgive completely and continually.
with God.
Jesus told parables about
The Lords prayer states
the importance of forgiveness
Forgive me my sins, as I forgive
and reconciliation. E.g. The
the sins of others. How can
we expect Gods forgiveness if
Unmerciful Servant (Matt
we dont forgive others.
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
fellow Christians
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
However, a Christian
should
church.
always be willing to work
towards forgiveness and
reconciliation when possible.

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.

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

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
The Quran states If a
merciful and
person forgives and
compassionate
makes reconciliation,
towards others,
his reward
because Allah is
will be from
merciful
God.
and compassionate
Surah 42:40
However, a
towards them.
There are many
Muslim
sayings of the
should not
Prophet Muhammad
forgive
(Hadith) stating Muslims
those who are
should forgive others.
working against

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Weapons 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
Nuclear weapons work through a method of
either splitting an atom (fission) or joining
multiple atoms together (fusion) creating
massive amounts of energy.

USA

Nuclear Update
Since 1945 scientists have
greatly developed nuclear
weaponry. Today the hydrogen
bomb is 1,000 times more
powerful
than
the
one
dropped on Hiroshima. In the
UK the main nuclear capability
are housed in 200 Trident
missiles each containing 3
nuclear
warheads,
each
warhead is 1,000 times more
powerful than in 1945. That is
the equivalent to 600,000
Hiroshima bombs.
The
argument
for
having
such
weaponry was known as MAD
(Mutually Assured Destruction), if one
nuclear nation was to attack another,
both would be annihilated.

Russia

UK

China

France

India

Pakistan

Israel

Countries currently in
possession of nuclear
weapons are USA, Russia,
UK, China,
France, India and Pakistan.
Although they have
never officially admitted
or denied it, most people
believe Israel also has a
nuclear capability.
The UN now restrict
countries from gaining a
nuclear capability. Only
those countries who
already possess a nuclear
capability may have them.
However, this has not
stopped countries such as
North Korea and Iran, from
attempting to gain nuclear
weapons.

Religion

Economics

Different religions followed in one

place can cause conflict (Kashmir
is a mainly Muslim area in a mostly
Hindu country). Disputes within
religions (Sunni & Shia Muslims
fighting for control in Iraq).
When two religious groups
claim one area as their
Godgiven land (Israel and
CAUS
Palestine).
Ideology & Politics

World economy (financial security)

can cause conflicts if one country
has a resource another country
needs (oil, gas). If economic
problems hit hard it can lead to
civil unrest causing refugees to
flee and some citizens of nearby
countries not wanting refugees
(Zimbabwe and
S O F South
Africa)

WAR

If one group holds particular strong

viewpoints on certain issues
(ideologies) and then tries to
enforce those views on other
people or neighbouring countries,
this can case national or even
world wars (Nazi Germany,
Communist North Korea on the
Republic of South Korea).

Nationalism & Ethnicity

When an ethnic or cultural group

within a region or country is much
larger than other groups, they can
favour their own group over
another, this can lead to the
minority groups fighting civil wars
(Kosovo). Some minority groups
want to set up their
own breakaway
states (Tamils on

The United Nations & World Peace

World Peace: The removing of the
cause of war leading to freedom,
harmony and happiness in all
nations.
After
World War II,
The United Nations
50 nations joined
together to form an
organisation
committed to
supporting
international law and
security, economic
development, social
progress and human
rights.

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
The United Nations (UN)
bring a swift resolution
as it is called now has
to potential conflicts.
192 member states.
One of the key aims of the United Nations is; world peace.

Kosovo
Yugoslavia was a country made up of six
republics (Slovenia, Croatia, BosniaHerzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and
Serbia) and two autonomous (self
governing) regions, both based in Serbia
(Vojvodina and Kosovo). With the end of
direct communist rule, Yugoslavia
eventually collapsed
andand
broke
up into war broke out between
transition
inevitably
different
member
states. This was not an
some
of the
republics.
easy
In 1989, the President of Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, took control
of Kosovo. The people of Kosovo, who were mainly ethnic
Albanians, resisted Serbias rule but the Serbian army were too
strong. The Serbian army began the mass execution of the
Albanian Kosovos - this is known as ethnic cleansing. Hundreds
of thousands of people fled and thousands of men, women and
children were murdered. The United Nations tried to
negotiate a deal over Kosovo but when Milosevic rejected it,
NATO forces began a bombing campaign driving Serbian
troops out. In 1999 the UN took control of Kosovo giving the
people there its protection.

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.
Since
1999 the UN have helped Kosovar politicians set up political
parties, established democracy, law and order and an education
system. In 2008 Kosovar was able to establish an independent
democratic state recognised by most nations, although not
Serbia or Russia.
In 2008 the UN downgraded their
Mission in Kosovo to allow the
European Union to help Kosovo
become an independent state in
its own right.

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.
Jesus said Give to Caesar
Church leaders
what is Caesars this
from key Christian
St Paul
means we have an
denominations
Everyone
obligation to support
(including
must submit
the government.
to their
Anglican,
Remind the
governing
Catholic, Baptist,
people to
authorities
Jesus also saw
Methodist &
obey their
because it is
that faith and
URC) state
rulers and
God who
military service
Christians have
authorities,
has given
do not need to
to be
the right to fight
them that
obedient,
be separated
in just wars.
position, he
and to be
as he
who rebels,
ready to do
commended
rebels
what is
the faith of a
against
right. Titus
God.
Roman Centurion
3:1
Romans
(Luke 7).

Christian Pacifism
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
The 5th
to turn the other cheek and commandment bans
not retaliate. (Matthew 5:39) killing. (Exodus 20:13).
Wars affect civilian
Jesus stopped Peter from
lives not just the
using violence and said He
military.
who lives by the sword will
Jesus said Blessed
die by the sword.
are the peacemakers.
(Matt26:52)
(Matt 5:9)

Islamic Views on War

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.
The lesser jihad is about the physical
struggles against the enemies of
For Muslims the
Islam. Muslims will sometimes see
most important
their jihad as a Holy War, particularly
struggle they must
if they feel Islam itself is being
undertake is called
attacked.
the greater jihad or
The Quran teaches that Muslims
the internal jihad. A
must fight if they are attacked.
spiritual and
Muhammad himself fought in wars.
emotional fight to
become truly
The Hadith permits justifiable wars.
submitted to the
will of Allah (The
The Quran teaches that anyone who
word Islam means
dies in a just war will go directly to
submission, the
heaven.
However, some Muslims believe Islam to
word Muslim
be a religion of peace and modern
means one who
warfare means no war can be just, so
submits to God).

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

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.
(Surah 2:190)
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.

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
Task:
Create a short fact-file on one of the following
peace.
agencies:
Pax Christi - www.paxchristi.org.uk
(Xian)
Neve Shalom - www.nswas.com
(Jewish/Palestinian)
JPF - www.jewishpeacefellowship.org (Jewish)
Muslim Peace Fellowship www.mpf21.wordpress.com
(Islamic)
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).

Revision Checklist
Key Words.
Bullying, examples of and reasons for.
The effects on society and the laws surrounding
bullying.
Religious perspectives on bullying.
Conflicts within families.
Christianity, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Islam, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs).
Causes of war.
The United Nations and the desire for world peace.
The United Nations and the Serbian/Kosovo conflict.
The Just War Theory.
Christian attitudes to war (including Christian
pacifism).
Islamic views on war.
Islamic Just War Theory.

Notes