Peace and Conflict

1. Peace and Conflict • The United Nations • Religion and world peace • Just War • Religious attitude towards war. • Religious attitude towards bullying. • Conflict in the family. • Religious teachings on forgiveness and reconciliation.

2. Key Words • Weapons of Mass Destruction: Weapons that can destroy 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. • Forgiveness: Stopping blaming someone and/or pardoning a person for what they have done wrong. • Reconciliation: bringing together people who were opposed to each other

3. UN basic aims: 1: To maintain international peace and security 2: To develop friendly relations between countries. 3: To help countries develop economically and socially. UN Peace = RESPECT for life, human dignity, human rights and the rejection of violence along with a commitment to freedom, justice and friendship. RESOLVE CONFLICTS: Peace negotiations Providing a neutral force to support peace PREVENT CONFLICTS: Negotiators Tackle the causes of war. E.g. economic poverty. UNICEF: Children’s welfare UNESCO: Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organisation

4. World Peace THE QUAKERS PACIFISM AND NON-VIOLENCE • Work with the UN to reconcile warring states. • Campaign against nuclear weapons • Work to tackle the causes of conflict – poverty etc • Try to influence foreign policy

5. Just War “War may be necessary. Refusing to fight would allow evil to win!” A Just War is one which has to be fought but is conducted according to certain conditions. These were developed by Thomas Aquinas (c1225-74) and are still referred to by Christians today.

6. The theory is not intended to justify all wars but to prevent them by showing that going to war - except in certain limited circumstances - is wrong. The intention was to motivate states to find other ways of resolving conflicts, prevent war and to limit its effects. • Some conditions of a Just War are: • it must be fought by a legal recognised authority, eg, a government • the war must be fought with the intention to establish good or correct evil • the war must be the last resort (after all diplomatic negotiations have been tried and failed) • civilians must not be involved or targeted

7. Christianity and war Most Christians believe that war and fighting are wrong except in the most severe cases and they base their views on Jesus’ teaching about love: “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”. John 13:34 Jesus is often described as a pacifist. He taught: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God”. Matthew 5.9 Necessary Evil Most Christian believe we had a duty stop the atrocities being committed by Nazi Regime during WWII. Jesus taught about non-violence but never condemned Roman Soldiers. POPE BENEDICT XVI – Duty bound to defend Christian values – even if that means using proportional violence.

8. ISLAM AND WAR: Lesser Jihad struggle

9. ATTACK! JUST SOCIETY

10. Lesser Jihad (Holy War) • Muslims may fight in self-defence but are forbidden to begin a fight. The aim of fighting is to create a situation where Muslims are free to worship Allah and live in peace. One aim of Holy War may be to create a democracy where people are free to live their lives without beliefs and politics being imposed on them. There must be no hatred or vengeance in the fighting. As soon as peace is offered, fighting must stop. Once peace has been restored the differences between people must be resolved. • “Hate your enemy mildly; he may become your friend one day”. • Hadith

11. Christianity and Bullying “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.” If you love someone, you will never do them wrong: to love, the, is to obey the whole law. (Romans 13:9-10) Made in the image of God! WE ARE ALL EQUAL! Set up by Christians to help children who lived on the streets during Victorian times. Now it helps children facing discrimination or disadvantage in their daily lives. Aniti- bullying is one area they work on.

12. Islam and bullying UMMAH= The brotherhood of all Muslims, whether male of female. It would be wrong to bully a fellow Muslim. QUR’AN Allah created every human being and everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah. Show respect to ALL of Allah’s creation. SHOW COMPASSION TO THE WEAK AND FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE! THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT “Allah will not show mercy to the one who does not show mercy to others”. (Hadith) Beatbullying: CyberMentors who help people who are victims of cyber bullying.

13. Religious conflict and the family

14. PARABLES! The Lost Son The Sheep and Goats Christianity and forgiveness TRC Truth and ReconciliationCommission Desmond Tutu promoted forgiveness in South Africa – Good Example THE BIBLE “Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you...love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

15. Islam and forgiveness “Show forgiveness, speak of justice, and avoid the ignorant”. (Qur’an 7:199) Teachings of the Qur’an “Control your anger, then forgive your brother. Do you not wish to be forgiven?”. (Prophet Muhammad PBUH) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) • If a Muslim wrongs someone they are taught to: • Ask forgiveness from Allah • Ask forgiveness from the person themselves. DAY OF JUDGEMENT