RE: religion, peace and justice

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  • RE: Peace and Justice
    • attitudes towards war
      • All wars are an attempt of one power to defend itself against another or to take something from another group which may be as fundamental as peoples freedom.
      • Although most people would probably say that war is wrong, nevertheless religion has developed two theories which could be seen as ways of justifying wars.
        • Holy War
          • Holy war is an argument that it can sometimes be necessary to use physical violence in order to defend a religion.
        • All wars are an attempt of one power to defend itself against another or to take something from another group which may be as fundamental as peoples freedom.
        • 'Just War'
          • The idea that a 'just war' which is fought according to particular conditions has developed from the ideas of Cicero, Thomas Aquinas and Hugo Grotius.
            • 'Just War' theory has the following criteria:
              • Jus ad bellum (whether it is right to go to war)
                • There must be a just cause for going to war
                • The injustices suffered by one group must clearly be greater than those of the other group
                • Only a legitimate authority can start the war
                • The war must be fought with the right intention - material gain is not a just purpose
                • There must be reasonable chance for success
                • Force must be a last resort after all peaceful means and negotiations have failed
              • Jus in bello (correct conduct during war)
                • War must only be fought against enemy soldiers, and civilians must be protected
                • The force used should be proportional to the wrong that has been done and the possible good that may come from the war
                • Minimum force should be used to limit unnecessary death and destruction
              • Jus post bellum (conduct after the war)
                • There should be a just cause to ending the war.
                • There must be no revenge taken
                • Peace terms must be made and accepted by legitimate authorities
                • The vicar must ensure that any punishment is limited to the people who were directly responsible for the conflict
                • Any terms of surrender must be proportional to the original reason for the war
      • Pacifism
        • Many people, whether they are religious or not, believe that all war and fighting is wrong regardless of the purpose or eventual outcome.
          • These people would be considered pacifists.
        • Usually pacifists will never approve of fighting although there are some who might say that this is justified in self defence
    • Pacifism
      • Many people, whether they are religious or not, believe that all war and fighting is wrong regardless of the purpose or eventual outcome.
        • These people would be considered pacifists.
      • Usually pacifists will never approve of fighting although there are some who might say that this is justified in self defence
    • Holy War
      • Holy war is an argument that it can sometimes be necessary to use physical violence in order to defend a religion.
    • Christian attitudes towards war
      • As with many religions, Christianity teaches that people should work towards a peaceful world and fighting is always essentially evil
      • While some may feel that there are occasions when a war is just, others such as Quakers become conscientious objectors
      • In general, pacifists would argue that all response to war or conflict must be non-violent and that negotiations and sanctions should be used instead
      • Christians might also use non violent protest such as boycotts and demos to try persuade other people not to go to war
      • Christian pacifists argue that the Christian principle of agape (selfless love) means that violence is never acceptable
      • Biblical quotes
        • Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends
        • let us love one another, for love comes from God: Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God

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