Peace and Conflict Flashcards
How the UN tries to achieve World Peace
- Impose sanctions on those threatening world peace
- Authorise use of force against those threatening world peace
- Send in peace keeping force to keep opposing sides apart and enforce peace agreements
- Set up peace talks and put trade restrictions e.g. stop weapons moving into a country
UN’s work for peace - Rwanda
- Sent in peace keeping forces to try and prevent genocide in 1995
- Set up refugee camps in neighbouring countries to help victims
- Managed to help Europeans leave Rwanda safely
- Call upon international community to do more to help
Was the UN successful?
- It did not prevent the genocide - 1 million killed in 100 days
- Could not use for force - only there as peace keepers
- Many Africans feel discriminated as help was for Europeans
- Did save many lives in refugee camps
How Christian groups promote world peace
- Organising public debates about the horrors of war
- Organising anti-war protests
- Attending inter-faith conferences
- Working for economic fairness
Why wars occur
1) Religion - one country sees another country treating its’ christians unfairly and want to protect them
2) Nationalism - thinking that all minorities should be removed from your country e.g. Hitler and his treatment of the Jews
3) Economics - invade a country to take its’ resources
4) Ideological/political differences - in 1949 communist North Korea invaded South Korea in order to unite the whole country under communism
Just war theory - A war is just if….
- The cause of the war is just
- if fought in an attempt to restore peace
- begun as a last resort
- must avoid killing civilians
- it has the authority of the UN
- the weapons/force used is proportional
- must be a chance of success
Why some christians refuse to fight in war
- Pacifism - refusing to fight in a war
- Jesus said turn the other cheek
- Jesus said love your enemies
- Jesus said those who live by the sword die by the sword
- 5th Commandment states ‘do not kill’
Why some christians will fight in a just war
- Can fight in just wars - realise it is not always possible to avoid war
- All churches say they can fight in a just war
- St paul said you should follow orders of your government
- Jesus never condemned the soldiers that he met
- Jesus said Give to Caesar what is Caesars’s
Why muslims believe they should fight in a just war
- Quran says Muslims must fight if attacked
- Muhammad fought in war
- Muhammad said that Muslims must fight in just wars
- If Muslims die in a just war then they go straight to heaven
Why all christians are against bullying
- Violence with cause is sinful
- It is mistreating God’s creation
- The Golden Rule
- Parable of the Good samaritan
- Jesus taught a message on non-violence
Why all muslims are against bullying
- Islamic society is based on the idea of mutual respect
- Violence without cause is sinful
- Muslims should protect the weak and the innocent (Quran)
- Mistreating God’s creation
- Muslims are past of the Ummah - community
- Muhammad said all Muslims were brothers - you wouldn’t harm your brother
How religion causes conflict between families
1) Children no longer want to be part of their parent’s religion
2) Children want to marry outside of the faith
3) Children become more religious than the parents
4) Disagreements over moral issues
Why christians believe in forgiveness and reconciliation
- Jesus dies to bring about forgiveness of man’s sins and to reconcile humans with God
- God forgives those who ask, so should we
- St Paul said Christians should try to live in peace with one another, these concepts will help that to happen
- All Churches teach Christians that they should follow these ideas
- Jesus forgave the robber on the cross next to him
- The ‘Our Father’ says that we should forgive others
Why muslims should follow teachings forgiveness and reconciliation
- God is compassionate to sinners, so they should be
- Quran tells Muslims to forgive. They should obey the Quran because it is the word of God
- Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) shw him forgiving people and reconciling after battles. Muslims should follow his example.
- Can only ask God for forgiveness if you have forgiven
