Christianity & Conflict (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note

Christianity: The nature and causes of conflict

What is war and conflict?

War is an organised conflict, usually consisting of intense violence carried out by one state or states against another state or states

• Historically, there have been over 10,000 recorded wars or battles in the world

• There have been two world wars which involved several different countries

  • The First World War between 1914 and 1918 led to the deaths of between 15 and 22 million people

  • The Second World War between 1939 and 1945 led to the deaths of up to 75 million people

• There are various reasons why countries go to war, including greed, self-defence, religion, honour and retaliation 

• Sometimes the perpetrators of war can mislead people about the reasons for war to justify their actions. For example, they may claim it is for religious or political differences, when in fact it is related to greed or the need for power

Christian responses to the causes of conflict

• Some of the main causes of conflict are greed, self-defence and retaliation

• Greed is often a reason why countries go to war

  • Throughout history, war has been used as a way to gain more land or territory, or even to regain land lost in a previous war

  • Greed can also lead countries to invade others to control important resources, such as oil

    • For example, Saddam Hussain, the leader of Iraq, ordered his army to invade Kuwait in 1990

    • Many people believe this was because the country has large oil reserves

  • In this way, rich and powerful countries can get richer and more powerful, potentially causing poverty in the defeated country when their main source of income is taken away

  • Most religious teachings would not support this as a reason because greed comes from selfishness, these are both characteristics not approved of by religions

    • Considering the numbers of soldiers and casualties in war, greed could never be seen as a justifiable reason for it

    • Christianity warns against greed. The Bible says:

• Self-defence can also be a reason why countries go to war

  • Whenever one country attacks another, it expects to meet some resistance from the invaded country

  • Most people consider fighting in self-defence to be morally acceptable and believe they have a right to defend the values, beliefs and ways of life that their country lives by

  • During the Second World War, the UK fought to defend itself against Nazi invasion and also to help defeat what they saw as an evil threat to the whole of Europe

  • In addition to defending their own country, many people believe it is acceptable to fight to defend other nations under threat

  • Although there is nothing explicit in the New Testament relating to fighting in self-defence, many Christians believe that justification can be made for it provided all other ways of solving the problem have been attempted

• Sometimes, countries go to war to retaliate against another country

  • Retaliation happens when one country carries out what is seen as an act of aggression and the victims want revenge on the aggressors 

  • For example, in 2001 an international coalition led by the USA invaded Afghanistan to destroy the terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda following the multiple terrorist attacks carried out in America on September 11th of the same year

  • The First World War began as retaliation against a political assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand

  • Retaliation is often a spontaneous reaction which leads to the escalation of a situation, and often smaller incidents develop into war

  • Religions would all say that peaceful negotiation to resolve issues are better than simple retaliation because they diffuse rather than exacerbate issues

    • When Jesus was asked about retaliation he said,

• Meaning that people should not respond to violence with violence

• Other Christian teachings also seem to teach against retaliation

• However, the Old Testament states that, ‘an eye for an eye’ is the best outcome when someone does wrong to you and could be used as justification for retaliation

• Although many Christians are able to follow this advice in much of their daily interaction with other people, when it comes to situations of war, they find it much more difficult

Christian responses to the problems caused by conflict

Christian responses to the problems caused by conflict

• Christian responses to the problems caused by conflict are deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Bible, and Christian tradition

• Christians are called to respond to conflict with love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, as well as to promote peace and justice

• Jesus emphasised peacemaking, calling His followers to be ‘peacemakers’ (Matthew 5:9)

  • Christians are encouraged to pursue peace with others and to actively work for reconciliation, even with those who are adversaries

• The apostle Paul taught that through Christ, believers are reconciled to God and are called to help reconcile others (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

  • This implies that Christians should seek to repair broken relationships, both with God and with fellow human beings

• One of the most radical aspects of Jesus' message was His call to love not only neighbours but also enemies (Matthew 5:44)

  • In situations of conflict, Christians are encouraged to respond with love, even toward those who harm them

• Christians are urged to forgive others as God has forgiven them (Ephesians 4:32)

  • Forgiveness is seen as a key to breaking the cycle of violence and bitterness that conflict often produces

• Many Christians hold to the principle of non-violence, believing that Jesus' life and teachings point to a path of peace, rejecting violence as a means of resolving disputes

  • This is often seen in Christian pacifism, which advocates for resolving conflict through peaceful means and avoiding war and violence

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• In Matthew 5:39, Jesus teaches followers to ‘turn the other cheek,’ implying that Christians should not retaliate against violence with violence, but rather, seek a response of non-violence, even in the face of personal harm

• Jesus also said, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword’ (Matthew 26:52) meaning that those who choose violence will themselves encounter a violent ending

• The Christian community is often called to be an instrument of peace in a broken world

  • This can involve engaging in conflict resolution, providing aid to those suffering from the effects of war, and acting as a voice for peace and justice

  • In the face of conflict, the Church may also engage in efforts to mediate and facilitate dialogue between opposing sides, working to bridge divides and encourage understanding

• Christians are encouraged to pray for peace, both in their own lives and in the world

  • The ‘Lord's Prayer’ includes a petition for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, and for deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:10-13)

  • Christians believe that God is sovereign and that His peace, which surpasses understanding, can bring comfort and hope even in the midst of turmoil (Philippians 4:6-7)

  • Prayer and trust in God's provision are essential responses to the fear and uncertainty that often accompany conflict

Christianity and non-religious attitudes about the role of religion in conflict

Situation ethics and conflict

• Situation ethics is based on the Christian concept of agape love, which is selfless, unconditional love

• According to situation ethics, the most loving action is always the right one in any given circumstance

• The key idea is that agape love should be the guiding principle in all decisions, and the right action is the one that best promotes love, care, and compassion

• When applied to war and conflict, situation ethics does not have a rigid stance against war or violence in every instance

  • Instead, it evaluates war and conflict on an individual basis, with a focus on the principle of agape love for others

  • In this framework, the rightness or wrongness of war depends on the situation and the consequences it has for human welfare

• In the case of war, the question would be whether the war promotes the greater good of love for others or whether it leads to harm and destruction

  • If a war could be fought in a way that would minimise harm and promote peace, love, and justice, it might be considered acceptable

Atheist attitudes towards war and conflict

• Atheist attitudes toward war and conflict are diverse, reflecting the wide variety of worldviews among atheists

• Unlike religious groups, atheists are not bound by religious ideas or a religious moral framework, so their attitudes tend to be influenced by personal philosophies, cultural norms, and ethical reasoning

• Some atheists might evaluate war and conflict based on the certain circumstances:

  • They may support war in cases of self-defence or to prevent greater harm, such as stopping genocide or tyranny

  • Without religious motivations, they often question wars based on religious ideology, viewing them as avoidable or unnecessary

  • Atheists may oppose wars driven by political or economic interests disguised as moral crusades

  • They may reject the idea that any cause justifies extreme violence or loss of life

• Without relying on religious doctrines, atheists often approach war and conflict through ethical frameworks like utilitarianism or deontology

  • They may evaluate conflicts based on outcomes, supporting actions that maximise well-being and minimise suffering

  • Others may take a principled stance, opposing all forms of violence regardless of potential benefits

Humanist attitudes towards war and conflict

• Humanist attitudes toward war and conflict emphasise the value of human life, rational thinking, empathy, and the pursuit of peaceful solutions to disputes

• While individual humanists may hold diverse views, there are common themes in their attitudes toward war and conflict

  • Humanists often oppose war because it causes immense suffering, loss of life, and destruction

  • They advocate for addressing the underlying causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, and political oppression

  • Humanists place a strong emphasis on the dignity and worth of all individuals, shaping their views on war

    • Wars of conquest, exploitation, or suppression of others’ rights are widely condemned.

    • While generally anti-war, humanists may support conflicts that defend freedom, human rights, or self-determination when peaceful means have failed

• Humanists generally view war as a failure of human cooperation and rationality, advocating for peaceful, rational, and ethical solutions to conflict

• While they may accept war in rare cases to prevent greater harm, their overall approach emphasises minimising violence and prioritising the well-being of all people

Christian responses to non-religious attitudes about conflict

Christian responses to atheist and humanist attitudes about conflict

• Many Christians would agree with non-religious attitudes towards war and conflict

  • Most atheists and humanists would be against war because it destroys lives

• Christian responses to war and conflict would be based upon the Bible and the teachings of Jesus, whereas atheist and humanist responses may be based upon other factors including ethics, politics or economics

• Some Christians are pacifists who would believe that war and conflict are never acceptable

  • Some non-religious people may also share these views but are more likely to believe that war can be justified in certain circumstances like self-defence