Peace & Justice

• Wars

  • most people agree murder is always wrong
  • rule changes when fighting is called a war and many people are injured or killed
  • some argue war is always wrong and we should talk to solve disputes
  • others think fighting for your country is acceptable
• Justice

  • just treatment for all people and doing what is right
  • Christians believe God is just - he created everyone equally and treats everyone fairly
• A just society is more likely to be peaceful
• Injustice

  • unfair treatment or behaviour towards a person or a group of people
  • some argue it is important to be angry in the face of injustice - righteous anger - because a lack of response allows injustices to continue
• Peace

  • absence of conflict
  • Christianity - religion of peace - encourages believers to work to achieve peace around the world
• Forgiveness and Reconciliation

  • forgiveness - letting go of a grudge you hold against another person
  • As God is merciful, believers should be merciful
  • reconciliation - people who were previously in conflict are brought together to make peace
• Pacifism

  • belief that any form of war or physical violence is wrong
  • many pacifists think violence is wrong even in self-defence
  • others understand that there is not always a preferable option
• Non-religious perspectives

  • peace is important to religious people but also non-religious people
  • peace is a goal shared by many people in a contemporary society
  • social media has raised awareness of economical and political differences around the world and the need to promote a just society to bring about reconciliation and peace
  • Athiest Bertrand Russell campaigned for nuclear disarmament