Unit 28 Assessment: Themes D & E

1. War is justified if it increases national wealth
2. War must be a last resort after all peaceful options are exhausted
3. War must target civilians to spread fear
4. War requires no approval from any authority

1. Peace is weakness and Muslims should always fight
2. Muslims must accept and pursue peace whenever possible
3. Peace is only for non-Muslims
4. Peace requires abandoning Islamic faith

1. Samaritans were superior to other groups
2. He helped despite ethnic/religious difference, showing love transcends boundaries
3. He was rich enough to afford helping
4. Only Samaritans understand Christian ethics

1. Retribution
2. Deterrence
3. Reform
4. Protection

1. The death penalty
2. Compensation paid to victim's family
3. A type of prayer
4. A form of government

Model answer: The Lord's Prayer teaches "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." This prioritizes mercy and transformation over punishment equal to the crime. Retributive justice focuses on ensuring the offender suffers as much as their victim; Christian theology believes offenders can be redeemed through forgiveness and should be given opportunity for reform rather than permanent punishment.

Model answer: Surah 42:40 explicitly teaches that forgiveness is superior to retaliation. Victims' families can choose diyah (compensation) instead of qisas (execution). Taubah (sincere repentance) is central to Islamic theology—an offender who repents deserves mercy. Many scholars argue that modern prisons can achieve protection and justice without executions, making capital punishment unnecessary and incompatible with Islamic values of mercy.

Guidance:

• Discuss Christian teaching: Jesus taught forgiveness and non-violence (Matthew 5:9, Luke 10:27); Quakers practice absolute pacifism
• BUT: Just War Theory developed by Thomas Aquinas permits some wars under strict conditions
• Discuss Islamic teaching: Surah 8:61 teaches peace should be pursued; Greater Jihad is primary
• BUT: Lesser Jihad permits defensive military struggle under conditions
• Conclusion: Both traditions value peace but allow defensive warfare; neither mandates absolute pacifism (though some groups within each do)

Name and briefly explain THREE key differences between Christian and Islamic approaches to peace and conflict.

A nation uses weapons of mass destruction as a deterrent against invasion. Using Just War Theory and Islamic teachings on Lesser Jihad, explain why this would be ethically problematic.

Assess the view that religious teachings on crime and punishment are incompatible with modern justice systems.

Consider: Christian redemption theology vs. retribution; Islamic forgiveness vs. qisas; four purposes of punishment; examples like TRC (South Africa) that blend religious and secular approaches.

Both Christianity and Islam contain resources for both supporting and opposing military force, reflecting complexity within each tradition.

Supporting military force: Christian Just War Theory (Aquinas) permits war if it meets seven criteria: just cause, legitimate authority, right intention, last resort, proportionality, discrimination, probability of success. This framework allows self-defence and protection of innocent people. Similarly, Islamic law permits Lesser Jihad (military struggle) in defensive circumstances, when authorised by legitimate leadership, and subject to strict rules protecting non-combatants and requiring mercy.

Opposing military force: Christian tradition includes absolute pacifism (Quakers, Mennonites). Jesus taught forgiveness ("forgive seventy times seven") and non-violence ("put your sword back"). Modern Christianity increasingly opposes military force, especially WMDs, which violate Just War criteria on discrimination and proportionality. Islamic tradition emphasises Greater Jihad (spiritual struggle) as primary and requires all peaceful alternatives be exhausted before Lesser Jihad. Surah 8:61 mandates accepting peace offers.

Conclusion: Both traditions permit defensive military force under strict conditions, but prioritise peace and forgiveness. Modern contexts make it harder to meet these criteria; consequently, many religious leaders (Pope Francis, Muslim scholars) increasingly advocate pacifism or extreme caution in deploying force.

Theme D: Religion, Peace and Conflict

• Peace, justice, reconciliation: Can you explain Christian peacemaking (Quakers, Just War) and Muslim views (Surah 8:61, greater jihad)? Can you discuss forgiveness (Lord's Prayer, Surah 42:40)?
• War and WMDs: Can you apply Just War criteria to modern conflicts? Can you explain why WMDs violate Just War principles? Can you distinguish Lesser Jihad from "holy war"?
• Victims and peace orgs: Can you discuss religious duty to refugees (Good Samaritan, Surah 9:6)? Can you name and explain peace organisations (UN, Red Cross/Crescent, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief)?

Theme E: Religion, Crime and Punishment

• Crime and punishment: Can you explain Christian views on sin and crime? Shari'ah law and its components? Four purposes of punishment and examples?
• Death penalty: Can you compare Christian abolition (Vatican II) with Islamic qisas/diyah? Can you discuss forgiveness cases (Tutu, Wilson)?