Attitudes to Conflict

Question 1

What are the problems caused by conflict?

Answer 1

1. Casualties
2. Displacement
3. Cost

Question 2

How can religion cause conflict?

Answer 2

1. 2 religious groups that want to be dominant and feel they have been mistreated in the past
2. Differences in beliefs, one group attacks the other for having different beliefs.

Question 3

How do politics cause wars?

Answer 3

1. Nationalism- each separate ethnicity has its own country.
2. Only one ethnic group, any minority ethnic groups are removed

Question 4

How can resources cause conflict?

Answer 4

If a country has resources that another country wants

Question 5

What wars would Jews be involved in?

Answer 5

1. If the war is just.
2. The Talmud says that wars must be fought if they have been commanded by God-milchemet mitzvah
3. For example, a pre-emptive strike to prevent Jews being attacked or aiding another country
4. Must be very clear about the causes

Question 6

What wars would Jews be not involved in?

Answer 6

1. Taking resources
2. Forcing a country or people to become Jewish
3. Changing the political ideology of the country
4. Changing the culture of the country.

Question 7

What are non-religious attitudes to the causes of war?

Answer 7

1. A good way to end wars is to get rid of religion, as it is not based on reason or science
2. Making the United Nations a stronger peace-making force
3. Many humanists are pacifists

Question 8

What would situation ethics say about war?

Answer 8

1. If a country’s people are being wiped out by a genocide, the most loving outcome is to declare war on the invaders.
2. Say that using nuclear weapons is not the most loving outcome, so they would disagree.

Question 9

SOWAAs:

Answer 9

1. “Nation will not take up sword.”
2. “nor will they train for war anymore.” - both from the Torah describing the ideal world.
3. “The Torah was given to establish peace.”- Midrash