Religious Studies | Peace and conflict

Welcome to Peace and Conflict! Your Guide to Religious Perspectives

Hello future Religious Studies experts! This chapter is all about one of the most important topics in human history: how beliefs and values shape our views on war, conflict, and the search for lasting peace.

Don't worry if these issues seem huge—we will break down complex ideas like Just War and Pacifism into clear, understandable steps. By the end, you’ll know exactly how different religious traditions approach the question: "When, if ever, is violence acceptable?"

Ready to explore how beliefs guide actions? Let's dive in!

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1. Defining Peace and Understanding Conflict

1.1 What is Peace?

In Religious Studies, peace isn't just the absence of war. It has deeper layers.

• Inner Peace: This is the spiritual or mental calmness experienced by an individual. It often comes from following one’s faith, meditating, or achieving harmony with God/the self.
• Outer Peace (Social Peace): This is harmony between people and nations. It means living without conflict, fear, or injustice.

Did you know? Many religious texts use the same word for greeting and peace (e.g., Shalom in Hebrew, Salaam in Arabic). This shows that welcoming someone is directly connected to wishing them peace.

1.2 Causes of Conflict

Conflict happens when people or groups clash over incompatible goals or values. While causes are often political or economic, religious beliefs often play a role—sometimes as a source of conflict, and often as the reason for opposing it.

Common Causes of Conflict (Non-Religious)

• Injustice: When people are treated unfairly, lack basic rights, or are oppressed.
• Greed: Desire for resources, land, or power (often linked to economic inequality).
• Self-Defense: A reaction to an attack or threat from another group.

Religion and Conflict

While all major religions teach peace, conflict can sometimes arise when:

• People interpret sacred texts literally to justify violence.
• Different religious groups compete for territory or political control.
• Religious identity is intertwined with national identity, leading to 'us vs. them' thinking.

Quick Takeaway: Conflict is complex, but the religious response focuses on overcoming injustice and promoting unity.

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2. Religious Responses to Conflict: Pacifism

2.1 Understanding Pacifism

Pacifism is the belief that war and violence are morally unacceptable and that disputes should be settled by peaceful means.

Pacifists believe that no matter how bad a situation is, violence only leads to more violence and suffering.

Key Term: Absolute Pacifism

This is the belief that violence is always wrong, under any circumstances, including self-defence. They refuse to fight or participate in the military, even if their country is invaded.

Analogy: An Absolute Pacifist is like a strict vegan—they will not engage in violence, just as the vegan will not consume any animal product.

2.2 Conditional (Pragmatic) Pacifism

Conditional Pacifists (sometimes called Relative Pacifists) believe that violence is generally wrong, but they acknowledge that, in extreme cases (like avoiding genocide or mass suffering), fighting might be necessary as a last resort. However, they are still committed to peaceful methods wherever possible.

Religious Basis for Pacifism:

• The Golden Rule: "Treat others as you would like to be treated." (This makes hurting others unacceptable).
• The emphasis on love, forgiveness, and compassion found in most scriptures.
• The belief that human life is sacred and belongs to God (Sanctity of Life).

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3. Religious Responses to Conflict: Just War Theory

Don't worry if this section looks tricky! Just War Theory (JWT) is simply a checklist designed to ensure that if a war *must* happen, it is fought for the right reasons and in the right way.

Just War Theory (JWT) is the teaching that war must meet certain criteria (rules) before it can be considered morally right or acceptable.

The belief here is that sometimes the lesser of two evils is necessary, but only under strict divine and human rules.

JWT is divided into two parts, which often use Latin names. Try to remember what the Latin parts mean, not just the names!

3.1 Part 1: Jus ad bellum (The Right to Go to War)

These rules determine if it is right to start a war. Think of this as the "before the fighting starts" checklist.

Memory Trick: Think of the acronym R - L - D - P - C - S

1. Right Authority: War must be declared by a lawful leader (e.g., the government, not just a random group).
2. Just Cause: There must be a morally acceptable reason for fighting (e.g., self-defence, stopping great injustice, or reclaiming something wrongly taken).
3. Right Intention: The goal must be to restore peace and justice, not simply to gain power or take revenge.
4. Probability of Success: There must be a good chance the war will succeed; fighting a war you are guaranteed to lose is often seen as immoral.
5. Proportionality: The good achieved by the war must outweigh the destruction caused.
6. Last Resort: Every other peaceful option (diplomacy, negotiation, sanctions) must have been tried first and failed.

3.2 Part 2: Jus in bello (Right Conduct in War)

These rules determine how the war must be fought once it has begun. Think of this as the "while fighting" checklist.

1. Proportionality (in action): The force used must be appropriate to the situation. You should not use nuclear weapons to stop a small riot.
2. Non-Combatant Immunity: Civilians, wounded soldiers, prisoners, and religious sites must never be targeted. This is a crucial rule.

Key Takeaway: JWT provides a moral framework. If a war fails to meet even one of the Jus ad bellum criteria (like Last Resort), it should not be fought.

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4. Holy War and Modern Conflict

4.1 Defining Holy War

A Holy War is a war fought specifically to defend or spread a religion or to reclaim religiously significant territory.

In the past, some faiths have justified warfare based on direct divine command or to protect the faith from annihilation.

Important Modern Context:

• Today, most mainstream religious leaders and scholars strongly reject the concept of offensive Holy War (war started simply to convert others).
• Any fighting must usually be interpreted as a defensive measure, adhering strictly to the Just War principles (Last Resort, Non-Combatant Immunity).
• Many faiths emphasise that the true "Holy War" is the internal struggle (e.g., the greater Jihad in Islam) to overcome personal sin, temptation, and injustice.

4.2 Religious Views on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)

Weapons of Mass Destruction (nuclear, chemical, biological) are weapons that cause enormous destruction and can kill countless civilians instantly.

Religious Consensus: Nearly all mainstream religious traditions condemn the use of WMDs because they inherently violate the rules of war.

• WMDs cannot satisfy the Proportionality criterion (the destruction outweighs any good).
• WMDs make Non-Combatant Immunity impossible, as they cannot distinguish between soldiers and civilians.
• Therefore, possessing or using WMDs is seen as deeply immoral by pacifists and Just War proponents alike.

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5. The Role of Religion in Peacemaking and Reconciliation

If religion can sometimes be linked to conflict, it is far more often linked to resolving it! Religious values are the foundation for efforts to create lasting peace.

5.1 What is Reconciliation?

Reconciliation is the process of restoring friendly relations after a conflict. It goes beyond a simple ceasefire; it involves healing relationships, addressing past hurts, and forgiving.

The Importance of Forgiveness: Religious beliefs stress forgiveness as essential for reconciliation. Holding onto resentment prevents peace from taking root.

5.2 Practical Actions of Religious Groups

Religious organisations and individuals actively work for peace in several ways:

1. Mediation and Dialogue: Religious leaders often act as neutral parties, bringing opposing sides together to talk and find common ground.
2. Charity and Aid: Providing humanitarian aid (food, shelter, medical care) during and after conflicts. This demonstrates unconditional love and helps rebuild infrastructure and trust.
3. Education: Teaching younger generations the values of respect, tolerance, and non-violence to prevent future conflicts.
4. Challenging Injustice: Speaking out against governments or systems that promote inequality, as injustice is a key root cause of violence.

Analogy: If conflict is a fire, religious peacemakers act as the firefighters (stopping the violence) and the builders (rebuilding the trust and connections afterwards).