Religion, Peace and Conflict

• Peace:

  • Aim of war may be peace but can be difficult due to instability and resentment at fault of war
  • C: "Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore" - God shall bring peace
  • B: Violence comes from the mind so people must develop peace within them

  Justice:

  • Conflict may result from inequality and injustice
  • C: God is ultimate judge "He will judge between nations"
  • B: Non-violent methods should be used for justice
• Forgiveness:

  • C: Lord's prayer. God is example by forgiving those who ask for it in faith
  • B: expresses metta. Let go of anger and hatred

  Reconciliation:

  • Conscious effort to restore friendly relations after conflict
  • B: letting go of blame and resentment is important for reconciliation
• Violent protests and terrorism

  • Belief that conflict should be avoided
  • Belief that protests are okay as long as they stay non-violent
  • Some terrorists link their cause to religion but no religion promotes terrorism
  • C: need to be peaceful
  • B: should condemn terrorists. Express love not hatred
• Reasons for war

  Greed:

  • C: Wrong "for the love of money is a root to all kinds of evil"
  • B: One of 3 poisons, a main cause of suffering. Always unhealthy consequences

  Retaliation:

  • C: "turn the other cheek"
  • B: Form of hatred, 3 poisons

  Self-defence:

  • C: morally acceptable if all peaceful methods have been expended
  • B: life should not be taken, even in self-defence. Not all Buddhists agree
• Nuclear war and weapons of mass destruction

  • WWII: some believe Hiroshima and Nagasaki were justified as they ended the war and therefore much more suffering
  • Now more of a deterrent
  • Biological and chemical weapons are banned

  C:

  • Killing large numbers of innocent civilians can never be justified
  • However, stockpiling is useful as a deterrent

  B:

  • Believe all nuclear weapons should be abolished
  • The problem is not the weapons themselves, but the hateful attitude of humans
• Just War

  Many Christians follow the just war theory

  Buddhists would not agree

  6 conditions:

  • just cause
  • correct authority
  • just intention
  • last resort
  • chance of success
  • proportional

  3 rules for fighting:

  • just means
  • appropriate force
  • Internationally agreed conventions must be obeyed
• Holy war and religion as a cause of violence

  Holy war:

  • believed those taking part earn spiritual reward
  • eg. crusades in 11th to 14th century
  • C: defend the faith with words
  • B: no war can be justified

  Cause of violence:

  • C: violence and the anger leading to violence is wrong . "All who draw the sword die by the sword"
  • B: No violence
  • However: eg. Troubles, Buddhists attacking Muslims in Myanmar
• Pacifism and Peacemaking

  C:

  • Religious society of Friends (Quakers) are pacifist
  • "Blessed are the peacemakers"
  • However, many believe war can be justified

  B:

  • pacifist
• Religious response to victims of war

  C:

  • good Samaritan
  • "love your neighbour"

  B:

  • Support organisations
  • Victims should be encouraged to show karuna towards aggressors