Master Theme D revision: Just War theory, Jihad, pacifism, WMDs, terrorism, refugees. Evaluate whether religious frameworks remain relevant to modern conflict.
Recall: Theme D — Religion, Peace & Conflict
Time to recall what you learned last lesson
5:00
Test your knowledge of Just War theory, Holy War (Jihad), pacifism, WMDs, terrorism, refugees, and peace organizations.
What is Just War Theory and who developed it?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Aquinas developed Just War doctrine. Criteria: just cause, right intention, legitimate authority, last resort, reasonable chance of success, proportionality, discrimination (civilian protection).
What are the three Aquinas criteria for Just War?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Right authority (ruler, not individual), just cause (defense, recover stolen goods, punishment of wrongdoing), right intention (true cause, not greed). All three must be present.
What is Holy War (Jihad) in Islam and when is it justified?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Jihad = struggle against injustice. Greater jihad = inner spiritual struggle. Lesser jihad = armed defense. Justified to defend faith, protect Muslims, respond to aggression. Requires declaration and conditions.
What conditions must be met for Islamic Holy War (Jihad)?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Permission from legitimate imam/authority, just cause (defense of faith/people), last resort, discrimination (no killing non-combatants), proportionality, no treachery. Killing civilians forbidden.
What is pacifism and what do Christians believe?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Refusal to participate in violence/war. Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) oppose all wars. Jesus teaching: "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:39), "blessed are peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9).
What is the Islamic concept of Greater Jihad?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Inner spiritual struggle against ego, sin, and worldly temptation. More important than military jihad. Hadith: "the greater jihad is against your own soul." Personal moral development.
What do Quakers teach about war and pacifism?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Absolute opposition to war and violence. Inner Light (God presence in all people) makes killing wrong. Testimony of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity. Alternative service instead of military.
What are Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and why are they problematic?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Nuclear, chemical, biological weapons causing mass indiscriminate death. Violate just war principles (discrimination, proportionality). Both religions condemn WMDs as immoral and destabilizing.
What is terrorism and how do religions view it?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Deliberate violence against civilians to create fear and achieve political/religious aims. Both Christianity and Islam condemn terrorism. Violates just war theory and Islamic military ethics. Unjust means.
What do religions teach about refugees and displaced persons?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Christian: Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:25-37) - help those in need. Catholic teaching: hospitality as moral duty. Islamic: Surah 9:6 - grant refuge to polytheists who seek protection.
What peace organizations exist from Christian and Islamic perspectives?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Christian Aid (Christian relief and development), Islamic Relief (Muslim humanitarian aid). Pax Christi (Catholic peace movement). Muslim Aid. Focus on conflict prevention, peacebuilding, justice.
Perspectives on Conflict & Peace
Just War Theory (Christian Perspective)
Developed by: Augustine, Aquinas refined it. Attempts to balance pacifism and realism.
Three categories: (1) Jus ad bellum (right to go to war), (2) Jus in bello (right conduct in war), (3) Jus post bellum (right after war).
Jus ad bellum criteria: Right authority, just cause, right intention, last resort, reasonable chance success, proportionality.
Modern application: Used to evaluate Gulf War, Kosovo, Afghanistan by Christian ethicists. Often disputed whether criteria truly met.
Holy War & Jihad (Islamic Perspective)
Two forms of Jihad: Greater jihad (spiritual struggle within self), Lesser jihad (defensive military struggle).
Conditions for military jihad: Legitimate authority declares it, just cause (defense against aggression, protection of faith), last resort tried, combatants distinguished from civilians, no excessive force.
Protection of non-combatants: Quran 2:190 - "fight those who fight you but do not transgress." Killing civilians strictly forbidden (Haram).
Modern debates: Extremists misuse jihad concept. Mainstream Islamic scholars condemn terrorism and suicide attacks as violating Islamic military ethics.
Pacifism: Christian Approach
Quaker witness: All violence is wrong. Inner Light (God) in every person makes killing immoral.
Biblical foundation: Jesus teaching on non-resistance (Matthew 5:38-42), love of enemies (Matthew 5:43-47), "put away the sword" (Matthew 26:52).
Cost: Pacifists historically persecuted. Some killed rather than fight in wars (conscience objection).
Modern relevance: Peace movements, conflict resolution, restorative justice draw on pacifist principles.
WMDs & Terrorism: Religious Responses
WMD condemnation: Both religions prohibit weapons that cannot discriminate between combatants and civilians.
Terrorism definition: Deliberate targeting of civilians to create fear for political/religious aims.
Religious condemnation: Christianity and Islam reject terrorism as unjust means. Violates sanctity of life, proportionality, discrimination principles.
Extremism issue: Some religious extremists justify terrorism wrongly. Mainstream religious leaders consistently oppose it.
Apply: Conflict Analysis
Just causeRight authorityLast resortProportionalityDiscrimination (civilians safe)Reasonable chance of successRight intentionDouble effect acceptableSanctity of innocent lifeDefense of faith permitted
Just War Criteria
Islamic Jihad Conditions
Both Traditions
Words: 0/300
Guidance
For 4-mark questions: Identify the criteria, apply to case, explain significance, draw conclusion. Show thinking process, not just assertion.
Apply: Conflict Analysis
Just causeRight authorityLast resortProportionalityDiscrimination (civilians safe)Reasonable chance of successRight intentionDouble effect acceptableSanctity of innocent lifeDefense of faith permitted
Just War Criteria
Islamic Jihad Conditions
Both Traditions
Words: 0/300
Guidance
For 4-mark questions: Identify the criteria, apply to case, explain significance, draw conclusion. Show thinking process, not just assertion.
Evaluate: 12-Mark Question
Question: "Religious frameworks for evaluating war (Just War and Jihad) are no longer relevant to modern conflicts." Evaluate this statement. (12 marks)
Words: 0/400
Guidance
12-mark structure: Introduce perspectives, explain Christian just war framework (3-4 marks), explain Islamic jihad framework (3-4 marks), evaluate limitations and misuse (2-3 marks), conclusion (1-2 marks).
Key Terms & Concepts
Essential Vocabulary
Just War Theory: Framework for evaluating whether war is morally justified.
Jus ad bellum: Right to go to war (authority, cause, intention, last resort, proportionality).
Jus in bello: Right conduct during war (discrimination, proportionality, no prohibited weapons).
Jus post bellum: Right after war (just terms, restitution, discrimination in punishment).
Discrimination: Military principle: distinguish combatants from civilians; never target civilians deliberately.
Proportionality: Good achieved by war must outweigh harm caused. Excessive force forbidden.
Pacifism: Absolute opposition to violence and war. All disputes resolved non-violently.
WMD: Weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, biological); indiscriminate killing forbidden.
Terrorism: Deliberate violence against civilians to create fear for political/religious aims; condemned by both religions.
What is the difference between jus ad bellum, jus in bello, and jus post bellum?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Ad bellum = criteria for entering war justly. In bello = ethical conduct during combat. Post bellum = fair peace terms and treatment after war. Three stages of just war framework.
Why is discrimination a key principle in both Just War and Jihad?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Civilians are non-combatants; deliberately killing them is immoral. Just war and Islamic law both protect innocents. Weapons that cannot discriminate (WMDs) therefore forbidden.
How do peace organizations like Christian Aid and Islamic Relief practice peacebuilding?
🔒Reveal answer
Answer: Development projects addressing poverty and injustice; conflict prevention through dialogue; disaster relief; advocacy for justice. Prevent conflict by addressing root causes.