Peace and Conflict

• Peace is the absence of war and conflict, and the establishment of a just and lasting peace.
• Justice is bringing about what is right and fair, according to the law, or making up for a wrong that has been committed
• forgiveness is showing compassion and mercy and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong
• Reconciliation is the restoring of friendly relations after conflict
• Most Christians and Buddhists believe protesting to achieve what is right is acceptable so long as violence isn't used.
• MLK (a pastor) organised many peaceful protests against the racist laws in America. Ghosananda ( a Cambodian Buddhist) lead peaceful marches to protest the repressive Vietnamese government.
• Terrorists aim to make society aware of their cause ,frighten people and push authorities to accept their demands.
• Most Christians are against terrorism and prefer peaceful ways to resolve issues
• Most Buddhists are opposed to terrorism because it expresses hatred (one of the three poisons). Their response to terrorism should express love as revenge and retaliation are not the answers.
• There as three key reason for war: Greed, Retaliation or self defense (and ideology).
• C & greed: It teaches that greed is wrong. "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" ~ Timothy
• B & Greed: It is one of the three poisons. This means it is a cause of suffering. It teaches there are always unhealthy consequences to greed-based actions.
• C& Retaliation: Jesus taught that this was wrong. "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also" ~Matthew.
• B& Retaliation: It expresses hatred therefore should be avoided. "For not by hatred are hatreds ever quenched here, but they are quenched by nonhatred. " ~The Dhammapada
• C& Self-defence: This is morally acceptable, providing all other peaceful forms of avoiding conflict have been exhausted.
• B & Self-defence: The main principle is to never take life. However, some Buddhists disagree and are willing to fight in self-defence, especially considering what happened to Tibet.
• biological weapons


  using living organisms to cause disease and death
• chemical weapons

  using chemicals to harm humans and destroy the environment
• no religion supports the use of nuclear weapons and WOMD
• it is illegal to stockpile chemical and biological weapons worldwide
• (C) nuclear weapons act as a good deterrence of nuclear war
• (C) only God has the right to end life

  WOMD kill so many so they become unjustifiable
• (B) WOMD cause large scale suffering

  the attitudes of humans are more threating than the weapons
• who believes in the just war theory?


  Christians
• do Buddhists believe in just war?

  No, no war is justifiable
• what are the 6 conditions for a just war

  1-just cause

  2-just authority

  3-just intention

  4-last resort

  5-chance of success

  6- proportional
• what are the 3 rules when fighting a just war?

  1. just means
  2. appropriate force
  3. Internationally agreed conventions must be obeyed
• holy war

  fought for a religious cause

  must be authorised by a religious leader

  those who take part will get spiritually rewarded
• Generally agreed that violence should not be used to defend a faith
• what is pacifism?

  the belief war should not be taken part in and neither should any form of violence
• (C) are not pacifists as war is sometimes necessary
• (B) are pacifists as war is never justified and we should develop compassion to prevent violence
• Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams

  A catholic and a protestant in NI who formed the Peace People in 1976

  organised peace marches across the UK to bring together catholics and protestants

  Awarded the Noble Peace Prize, 1976
• Thick Nhat Hanh 


  Vietnamese monk who combined meditative practice with non-violent protests

  Pioneer of engaged Buddhism - using Buddhas teachings to bring social justice
• All support charities that help victims of war
• Caritas

  Catholic organisation

  aim to provide practical help to victims of war eg provided food, shelter, translators and legal services to Syrian refugees in 2015

  helps the poor and promotes justice
• Tzu Chi foundation

  Founded in Taiwan

  runs education, health, welfare and cultural projects

  Opened a clinic in Istanbul to provide free medical aid to Syrians

  Inspired by the Bodhisattva goal