Peace and Justice

• Peace


  The absence of conflict or war. Often an aim of war may be to establish peace. Peace can also mean an inner peace, feelings of happiness, harmony and tranquility.
• Justice


  Bringing about what is fair and right. Many wars are fought on the basis of seeking to achieve justice. Justice is often linked with equality. If you lack justice, you lack equality. When you lack this justice, feelings of resentment build up which can lead to conflict.
• Forgiveness


  Showing grace and mercy and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong. It is allowing someone to move forward after they have done something wrong. It doesn't mean punishment shouldn't happen. Forgiveness can be important after a conflict has happened.
• Reconciliation


  Restoring friendly relations after a conflict or disagreement. This will involve a conscious effort to restore relationships. The process can be helped by acknowledging wrongdoing and offering forgiveness.
• Justice and peace


  If society is just, things in society are right and fair. If all things in society are right and fair, it won't be necessary to use conflict to make things right and fair. Therefore, justice leads to peace.
• Forgiveness and reconciliation


  If you are able to pardon someone's wrongdoing, you are more likely to be able to reconcile with them. If you hold on to negative feelings, then true reconciliation is much harder to achieve. Therefore, forgiveness can help the process of reconciliation.
• In Christianity, peace, not war, should be the priority. Some Christians may think war is acceptable if it brings about peace. In the New Testament Christians are told to "Do everything possible to live at peace with everyone." [Romans 12:18] Many Christians will also emphasise that being in a loving relationship with God will result in Christians being motivated to share that love. This love would demand peaceful resolutions of disputes.
• Christians regard God as a perfect judge. Christians need to follow this example by acting justly in their everyday life. Peace can only be maintained where there is justice. Justice is a key Christian value as Christians believe that all people are of equal value to God. "God created human beings, making them to be like himself" (Gen 1:27). Jesus makes it clear people should work for justice, helping those who are less fortunate.
• In Islam, peace is not just about an absence of war, it's also about submission to Allah which brings a spiritual peace. The word 'Islam' has its origins in the world 'salam' which means 'peace' or 'safety'. The Qur'an stresses the importance of peace: "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it." [Qur'an 8:61.] Muhammad also stressed that peace was the ideal. When he was persecuted by the Meccans he refused to fight and fled. He only used force as a last resort, when it was needed, in the Battle of Badr.
• One of the 99 names of Allah is 'the just' - this reflects the belief that Allah is Himself just and that He has given laws to help people live justly. Muslims therefore focus on submitting to Allah. This involves following His laws, which in turn will bring about justice. For example, Allah instructs charity (Zakah). This helps ensure justice.
• Forgiveness is seen as a duty in Christianity. The ultimate example of forgiveness comes from God. God gave His only son, Jesus, to die so that human sins can be forgiven. Jesus also taught forgiveness, telling his followers that forgiveness should not be limited to 7 times, but 77. Christians would therefore look to offer forgiveness for wrong doing rather than escalate to war where that is possible. If a war has happened forgiveness should be pursued to secure peace afterwards.
• Reconciliation has a central place within Christianity. The purpose of Jesus' crucifixion is to reconcile human beings to God. Christians ought to follow this example by ensuring that, if they fall into broken relationships, they do all they can to repair them. Jesus' teachings stress reconciliation over revenge. He replaces the teaching of "eye for eye" (Ex 21:24] with "do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too." (Matt 5:39]
• Allah is the ultimate example of forgiveness. One of the 99 names for Allah is 'the most merciful'. Allah gives forgiveness to those that deserve it. All people will, at some stage of life, do wrong and therefore require forgiveness. The Qur'an encourages forgiveness, reminding Muslims, "But if you pardon and overlook and forgive then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful" [Qur'an 64:14].
• In Islam the example of Muhammad's conduct in the Battle of Badr is very important. Muhammad did not kills those soldiers which he caught. Muhammad also attempted to build good relations with the enemy soldiers by offering to release them if they were given the opportunity to get an education. These actions can be seen as being aimed at reconciliation as it makes restoring good relationships much easier.
• Christian view


  Peace should be the priority. But war can be acceptable if it aims to bring about peace.
• Christians


  • Should "Do everything possible to live at peace with everyone"
  • Show God's love to all people which should motivate Christians to resolve disputes peacefully
• God


  A perfect judge
• Justice


  • Christians need to follow God's example by living in a way that is just
  • All people deserve justice as all people are equal as "God created human beings"
  • Jesus instructed his followers to help those who are less fortunate
• Peace (Christian view)


  Should be the priority. But war can be acceptable if it aims to bring about peace. Christians should "Do everything possible to live at peace with everyone". This includes showing God's love to all people which should motivate Christians to resolve disputes peacefully.
• Justice (Christian view)


  God is a perfect judge. Christians need to follow this example by living in a way that is just. Christians believe all people deserve justice as all people are equal as "God created human beings". Jesus instructed his followers to help those who are less fortunate.
• Peace (Islamic view)


  Peace is not just absence of war but also the spiritual peace achieved by submission to Allah. The Qur'an stresses the importance of peace stating, "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it." [Qur'an 8:61.] Muhammad's example also promotes peace and only using conflict as a last resort.
• Justice (Islamic view)


  One of the 99 names is 'The just', reflecting Allah's justice and the fact that he has given just laws for people to follow. If people submit to Allah they will follow his laws, for example Zakah, and justice would be achieved.
• Forgiveness (Christian view)


  Christians have a duty to forgive. God sent Jesus to die for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus also taught forgiveness - he implied that forgiveness should be limitless. Reconciliation is very important. The purpose of the crucifixion was to reconcile humans to God. Christians need to follow this example and repair their own broken relationships. Jesus taught against revenge and in favour of reconciliation: "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too." [Matt 5:39]
• Forgiveness (Islamic view)


  One of the 99 names for Allah is 'the most merciful'. Allah gives forgiveness to those that deserve it. The Qur'an encourages forgiveness, reminding Muslims, "But if you pardon and overlook and forgive - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." [Qur'an 64:14.] Muhammad's actions in the battle of Badr made reconciliation much more achievable. He tried to build good relationships with the enemy.