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

Christian teachings about Holy War

What is a Holy War?

• A holy war is a war declared or waged in support of a religious cause

• For many people, the idea of a holy war seems to be a contradiction

  • They think that no activity that involves killing in large numbers can possibly have any religious inspiration or justification

• Christianity is a peaceful religion, therefore wars in the name of religion seem to go against religious teachings

• However, despite Christians believing that peace should always be a priority, there are some who believe that there are certain circumstances where their religion needs to be defended

• There are teachings in the Christian Old Testament which suggest that violence can be appropriate sometimes

Christian teachings about Holy War

• For most Christians, they follow the teachings of Jesus making it quite clear that the use of violence is not justified

  • In Matthew, it states: 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement' (Matthew 5: 21-22)

  • Jesus also stated 'For all who draw the sword, die by the sword' (Matthew 26:52), showing that violence is not recommended

  • Christians will stand up for their faith, but are much more likely to use the power of argument than military strength

• However, although the concept of holy war does not feature widely in current Christian belief, that does not mean that Christians are happy to see their faith attacked, and so for some holy war can be justified in certain circumstances

  • A holy war must be authorised by a religious leader with great authority

  • The purpose should be to defend the Christian faith from attack

  • Some Christians believe that those who take part will gain spiritual rewards, and if they die in battle they will go straight to heaven

  • The Old Testament teaching 'An eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth' (Exodus 21:24), is sometimes interpreted to mean that it is acceptable to return violence with violence

The nature and meaning of Christian teachings about war and peace

Christian teachings about war and peace

• Christian teachings about war and peace are grounded in the Bible and the principles of love, justice, and forgiveness

• While views on war have varied across denominations and history, Christian teachings tend to emphasise peace, reconciliation, and the moral responsibility of individuals and nations

• Christian views on war and peace can differ depending on the Biblical quote that is referenced

• Some Christian groups (e.g., Mennonites, Quakers) advocate for pacifism, the belief that all violence, including war, is morally wrong

  • These groups interpret Jesus' teachings on loving enemies and turning the other cheek as a call to reject all forms of violence

  • For them, Christians are called to actively promote peace and reconciliation, refusing to engage in warfare even when it may seem justifiable

• Christianity emphasises the need for reconciliation between individuals and groups

  • Jesus taught his followers to forgive those who wrong them (Matthew 18:21–22), which extends to conflicts

  • Forgiveness is seen as a powerful tool for overcoming violence and fostering peace

• Christians are called to be agents of peace

  • In his letter to the Romans, Paul advises, ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’ (Romans 12:18)

    • This reflects the Christian responsibility to seek peace in their relationships and in society

• Christians believe that true peace cannot exist without justice

  • The Bible frequently links peace with justice, as seen in Isaiah 32:17: ‘The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever’

  • Christians are called to work for justice, particularly for the oppressed and marginalised, as part of their commitment to peace

Divergent Christian teachings about war

Divergent Christian teachings about war 

• The views of Christians about war are generally based upon the life and teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament

  • One of the most central teachings of Jesus is the command to love one's enemies

    • In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:43-44), Jesus urges Christians to love not only their neighbours but also their enemies and to pray for those who persecute them

    • This teaching challenges Christians to resist violence and respond to aggression with love and forgiveness

  • In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’

    • This emphasises the Christian call to promote peace in the world

• The teachings of the Old Testament lead to some Christians forming different views about war

  • In the Old Testament, there are instances of war, such as the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan and the wars led by figures like David

  • While God is depicted as a warrior in some passages (e.g. Psalm 24:8), these texts also highlight the importance of justice and righteousness

    • Some Christians interpret this to mean that war is acceptable in some circumstances, including when Christianity is under attack 

  • However, many Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah, spoke of God's desire for peace

• This vision of universal peace is central to Christian hopes for a future without war

Christianity and non-religious attitudes to Holy War and Christian responses

Atheist attitudes towards holy war

• Atheists do not share a single, unified belief system, as atheism is simply the lack of belief in gods or deities

  • However, there are likely to be some common held beliefs about holy war

• Atheists typically do not accept religious justifications for war because they do not believe in the existence of gods who would issue such commands

  • As a result, they might view wars that claim to be ‘holy’ as man-made conflicts rather than divinely ordained events

• Atheists may also reject the religious authorities or figures who claim to be speaking on behalf of a deity in declaring or waging holy wars

  • They could see these leaders as either using religion for political gain or being influenced by human motivations rather than divine guidance

• Atheists may point to historical examples of ‘holy wars’ (such as the Crusades, the Thirty Years' War, or modern conflicts justified by religion) as evidence that religiously motivated wars have caused immense suffering, death, and division

  • They may view such wars as instances where religion has been misused for power, control, or land

• Atheists might push for conflict resolution that is grounded in reason, diplomacy, and human rights, rather than religious principles

  • They may believe that religion should not play a role in justifying violence, and that conflicts should be approached with practical, secular solutions

• Atheists often emphasise the importance of human rights and international law in preventing wars and resolving conflicts

  • They might view holy war as an outdated and dangerous concept, focusing instead on universal human values such as equality, freedom, and justice

Humanist attitudes towards holy war

• Humanist attitudes towards holy war are generally critical, as humanism emphasises rational thinking, compassion, and ethical decision-making based on human values rather than religious beliefs

• Humanists emphasise ethical behaviour, compassion, and respect for human rights, without reliance on religious teachings

  • From this perspective, any form of violence, especially in the name of religion, is seen as morally wrong or unnecessary

  • Humanists may argue that wars should be avoided and that conflicts should be resolved through peaceful means, regardless of religious motivations

• Humanism is a secular approach, meaning that humanists do not believe that moral decisions should be based on religious doctrines

  • Since holy wars are typically justified by religious ideologies (e.g. defending or expanding a faith), humanists would reject the idea that war can be morally justified solely because it is commanded by religious authorities

Christian responses to Humanist and atheist attitudes towards holy war

• Christian responses to war are likely to align with most atheist and humanist approaches as most would want to avoid war and work for peace

• Some Christians may be religiously motivated to go to war and this would not happen to atheists or humanists 

• Some atheists may want to go to war to gain power or resources and would not be concerned with the religious belief in the consequences of causing conflict