Peace & Conflict-Ethic B (New 9-1 GCSE)

In general, Christians would say violence is not acceptable because

• Jesus said not to retaliate, "Turn the other cheek"
• Your failing to show your love towards your neighbour

However, the people who do say it's allowed,say...

• It has to be controlled 
• Used to positively change a situation
• If it's against an injustice,that God would also be against
• An example is when Jesus turned over the stalls in the temple

In the UK...

• It's illegal to have a violent protest
• You're allowed to have peaceful protests to show your point of view
• People think it's acceptable to protest,especially when the government are abusing their authority

Yes because...

• There will be no wars,making it safer for everyone to live in
• We can let go from all the bitterness in our hearts & feel happier
• If everyone forgives their neighbours, you're showing that you love them, so if you forgive everyone then you love everyone...this means society will be a loving place

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven but dwelling on it, separates close friends-                                                                                                                         Proverbs 17:9

No because...

• If you forgive big offenders,like, murderers, they're not going to prison and are free to stroll around,which is a potential threat to residents,there
• People don't have a punishment, so might reoffend since nothing much is going to happen to them

Causes:

• Religious-Crusades
• Corrupt Governments- ending Dictatorship
• Wealth- land,money,etc.
• Alliance- Britian helped Poland during WW2

Effects:

• Civilian Casualities-killed/injured depsite no involvement in the conflict
• Refugees-flee homes,dangerous journey(risk of drowning),poor living conditions
• Environmental Damage-crops contaminated by chemicals,land destroyed
• Mental damage-soldiers have been mentally scarred

7 categories, devised by 2 saints, supported by CCC* - St.Aquinas & St.Augustine

Acronym     Criteria                                          What it means?

Peter &        Proper Authority                              War should be declared by PA

Jordan         Just                                                  Started for a good cause

Easily          Establish Good                                To be fought to establish good/fight against evil

Reheated    Reasonable Chance of Success      Possible to win the war

Last             Last Resort                                      The last option,when all other options have failed

Saturday's   Succficent Force                              Force used must be just enough to win  

Chips           Civilians                                           No civilans harmed

*Catechism of Catholic Church

Yes...

1) We're prepared if there is a risk of war

2) Other countries might be put off fighting us,since we have nuclear weapons

3) Provides upto 15,000 jobs, which is graet for the economy, if we don't have nuclear weapons, all those jobs could be lost

No...

1) Other countries might retaliate with WMD(Weapons of mass destruction)

2) We're destroying the Earth for future generations

3) The cost of researching,building & maintaining WMD-expensive;coming from people's money, you're not spending on helping them, but using it to make things that kill people

Examples:

• The Crusades
• Current unrest in the Middle East
• Troubles in N.Ireland

Fighting for a religious cause/God, probably controlled by religious leader

For:

For Christians, a holy war must be approved by religious leader with great authority,e.g,the Pope and fought in the name of God.Also, it has to fit in all the 7 categories in the just war theory by Aquinas & Augustine.

Against:

However, some Christians,like Quakers, are pacifts who say that war can't be justified because it is written in the Quaker Peace Testimony.

Conscientious objector-people who refuse to fight in a war

No because...

• It could be due to religious barriers,for example if you're a Quaker, then fighting in a war is forbidden
• They might not want to kill people
• It is not a just war
• They disagree with use of violence as a solution - Pacifism

Yes because...

• Other people are selflessly giving up their life to defend their country and you get leeway

Catholic Church believes it's important to help victims of war...

Pope

- Organised an international football match,Olympic Stadium,Rome;to raise money for children in need,especially those affected by war

Catholic Agencies

- Cafod made orphanges for kids who suffered during civil war,Sierra Leone

Individual Contributors

- Donating money,providing aid,praying,volunteering

Peace Organisations

- Peace Builders Initiative,help promote peace in local neighbourhoods

For:

• Establishes more rights & better ways of living,e.g, the civil war in America, that freed the slaves
• You learn important lessons,so that the same aren't repeated
• More medical discoveries and development

Against:

• Destroys lives
• Soldiers that come back have post-traumatic stress or lost limbs
• Many children without parent(s)
• Land ruined
• Poverty-food rationing,less crops because land is ruined

"Terrorism threatens,wounds & kills indiscriminately;it is gravely against justice & charity"-CCC

Christianity is a religion of love and terror is opposite to love, so all christians oppose Terrorism because you're failing to, "love your neighbour,as yourself." As well as this, the Pope said that Terrorism goes against God,too-which is aginst one of the greatest commandments-

"Love your God with all your heart,all your soul and with all your might."

Torture

No

• CCC says,"Torture...is contrary to respect for the person & for human dignity"
• You're not treating that person as an individual but as an object

Yes

• if it's the last resort
• If you're sacrificing one life but saving a multitude if other's lives