Religion, Peace and Justice

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Religion, Peace and Justice
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War and Peace

• Peace is at the very heart of the teachings of
  Jesus.
• However, Christians have long been divided about
  whether it is ever right to go to war, or use
  violence.
• Some believe that there are times when a
  Christian has no choice but to go to war.
• Some believe that to go to war is better than
  what would result if they did not go to war.

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• Old Testament Teaching

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I pursue and overtake my enemies until I have
made an end of them I do not turn back. I strike
them down and they can rise no more I wipe out
those that hate me, Psalms 1837-39
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Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live
in Pekod. Pursue, kill and completely destroy
them, declares the LORD. Do everything I have
commanded you. (Jeremiah 5021)
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Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you.
If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him
slap your left cheek also. (Matthew 539)
Censored
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Blessed are the peacemakers for they are Gods
children (Matthew 59)
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put down your sword, for those who live by the
sword die by the sword. (Matthew 2652)
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Just War

• Write down at least three conditions of a just
  war, as proposed by St Thomas Aquinas

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• The Just War
• For a war to be just, St Thomas Aquinas laid down
  three conditions
• The war must only be started and controlled by
  the authority of the state or the ruler.
• There must be a just cause. Those attacked are
  attacked because they deserve it.
• The war must be fought to promote good or avoid
  evil. Peace and justice must be restored
  afterwards.
• Two more were added later
• The war must be the last resort.
• There must be proportionality in the way the
  war is fought, e.g. innocent civilians should not
  be killed. Only enough force must be used to
  achieve your goals.

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• Holy Wars are fought by people who believe either
  that God is on their side or that they have
  righteousness on their side.
• The Crusades were Holy Wars.
• What other examples can you think of?
• Holy Wars have been fought through the centuries
  but they morally pose many questions
• 1.     Who really knows what is right?
• 2.     Is it right to kill for religion or a set
  of beliefs?
• 3.     How can anyone know that God is on his or
  her side?

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Case Study

• The War in Iraq

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• Christian opposition to the Iraq War
• The Vatican (Roman Catholic) came out against war
  in Iraq. Archbishop Renato Martino, a former UN
  envoy and current prefect of the Council for
  Justice and Peace, told reporters that war
  against Iraq was a "preventative" war and
  constituted a "war of aggression", and thus did
  not constitute a just war. On February 8, 2003,
  Pope John Paul II said "we should never resign
  ourselves, almost as if war is inevitable."
• Both the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury
  (Church Of England), George Carey, and his
  successor, Rowan Williams, spoke out against war
  with Iraq.
• The executive committee of World Council of
  Churches, (ecumenical) issued a statement in
  opposition to war with Iraq, stating that "War
  against Iraq would be immoral, unwise, and in
  breach of the principles of the United Nations
  Charter."

http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/272401
9.stm this link is brill!!! Compares the Iraq
war directly with the Thomist principles
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Pacifism

• Some Christians throughout history have been
  conscientious objectors, who, because of their
  Christian conscience refuse to bear arms in
  military service.
• Many of these people are pacifists people who
  are totally opposed to war.
• Pacifism has been particularly strong amongst the
  Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), who have
  been inspired by the Peace Testimony, which they
  presented to Charles II in 1960.
• We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and
  fighting with outward weapons, for any end, or
  pretence whatever this is our testimony to the
  whole world.

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Reasons why Christians might be pacifists

• An evil action should not be returned and
  perpetuate evil.
• Example of JC - Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5.
• War doesnt solve the problems
• The Commandments

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The Aims of Punishment
What is the point of Punishment?
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Deterrence
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Protection
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Retribution
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Reformation
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Vindication
Punishments vindicate (Uphold) the law and let
society know what is acceptable and unacceptable
behaviour.
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• BUT SURELY JESUS WOULD NOT AGREE WITH MY
  PUNISHMENT?
• John 87
• Matthew 73
• Matthew 539
• What do you think these quotes are actually
  saying about Jesus view of punishment?
• Why do Christians believe it is important to have
  a system of punishment?

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Does Capital Punishment work?
List three reasons in favour of Capital
Punishment. List three reasons against Capital
Punishment.
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Aims of punishment

• Deterrence put people off
• Protection keeping the world safe
• Retribution to pay for the crime
• Reformation to become a better person
• 5) Vindication???

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Question

• State 4 facts about Elizabeth Fry

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Elizabeth Fry

• Worked to help make prisons better places
• Was a Christian (Quaker)
• Lived 1780 to 1845
• She visited Newgate prison in London, and she was
  so appalled by the conditions there, that she
  started to campaign for Prison reform.
• Also worked to make things better on prison ships
  (eg to Australia), which were often overcrowded
  and many people died.

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It can never be right to fight in a war. Do
you agree? Give reasons for your answer, and show
that you have thought about different points of
view. You must refer to Christianity in your
answer. (5 marks)
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It can never be right to fight in a war. Do you
agree? Give reasons for your answer, and show
that you have thought about different points of
view. You must refer to Christianity in your
answer. (5 marks)
I disagree with this statement, because I believe
that there are certain conditions when a war has
to be fought. It might be to fight a terrible
evil dictator (like Saddam Hussain)or to protect
your land from being invaded (like Hitler). Some
people may disagree with me and say that war is
always wrong because it causes suffering and
misery, particularly of innocent people. Some
Christians say that war is o.k under certain
conditions, this is called the just war theory.
Other Christians (such as Quakers) say that Jesus
said turn the other cheek and love your
neighbour, so they are pacifists.
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It can never be right to fight in a war. Do you
agree? Give reasons for your answer, and show
that you have thought about different points of
view. You must refer to Christianity in your
answer. (5 marks)
I disagree with this statement, because I believe
that there are certain conditions when a war has
to be fought. It might be to fight a terrible
evil dictator (like Saddam Hussain)or to protect
your land from being invaded (like Hitler). Some
people may disagree with me and say that war is
always wrong because it causes suffering and
misery, particularly of innocent people. Some
Christians say that war is o.k under certain
conditions, this is called the just war theory.
Other Christians (such as Quakers) say that Jesus
said turn the other cheek and love your
neighbour, so they are pacifists.
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It can never be right to fight in a war. Do you
agree? Give reasons for your answer, and show
that you have thought about different points of
view. You must refer to Christianity in your
answer. (5 marks)
I disagree with this statement, because I believe
that there are certain conditions when a war has
to be fought. It might be to fight a terrible
evil dictator (like Saddam Hussain)or to protect
your land from being invaded (like Hitler). Some
people may disagree with me and say that war is
always wrong because it causes suffering and
misery, particularly of innocent people. Some
Christians say that war is o.k under certain
conditions, this is called the just war theory.
Other Christians (such as Quakers) say that Jesus
said turn the other cheek and love your
neighbour, so they are pacifists.
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It can never be right to fight in a war. Do you
agree? Give reasons for your answer, and show
that you have thought about different points of
view. You must refer to Christianity in your
answer. (5 marks)
I disagree with this statement, because I believe
that there are certain conditions when a war has
to be fought. It might be to fight a terrible
evil dictator (like Saddam Hussain)or to protect
your land from being invaded (like Hitler). Some
people may disagree with me and say that war is
always wrong because it causes suffering and
misery, particularly of innocent people. Some
Christians say that war is o.k under certain
conditions, this is called the just war theory.
Other Christians (such as Quakers) say that Jesus
said turn the other cheek and love your
neighbour, so they are pacifists.
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It can never be right to fight in a war. Do you
agree? Give reasons for your answer, and show
that you have thought about different points of
view. You must refer to Christianity in your
answer. (5 marks)
I disagree with this statement, because I believe
that there are certain conditions when a war has
to be fought. It might be to fight a terrible
evil dictator (like Saddam Hussain)or to protect
your land from being invaded (like Hitler). Some
people may disagree with me and say that war is
always wrong because it causes suffering and
misery, particularly of innocent people. Some
Christians say that war is o.k under certain
conditions, this is called the just war theory.
Other Christians (such as Quakers) say that Jesus
said turn the other cheek and love your
neighbour, so they are pacifists.
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