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

Divergent Christian teachings on pacifism

What is Pacifism?

• A Pacifist is a person who believes that war and violence can never be justified and that conflicts should be settled peacefully

• Pacifists strongly believe that it is best to work to prevent war from happening

• Promoting justice and human rights is an important part of this

• They will not participate in any war, regardless of the reasons for that war

• All religions teach the importance of peace on earth and encourage their followers to live peacefully

• Throughout history, there have always been people prepared to refuse to use violence or fight in wars, even if it meant they faced imprisonment for their beliefs

• Conscientious objectors are people who refuse to participate directly in fighting wars on the grounds of conscience

• They will assist in non-military ways such as medics, relief work and mediators

Divergent Christian views on Pacifism

• Christian pacifists believe that peace can come through religious faith, supported by prayer and meditation

  • Being at peace with oneself helps people to avoid conflict with others

  • The early Christians practised non-violence and would not take revenge even on their persecutors

  • Many Christian pacifists today take their inspiration from the life and teaching of Jesus, who did not resist arrest and allowed himself to be crucified for the love of the human race

• Jesus taught his followers to live and work for peace:

• Many Christian pacifists are willing to die, but not kill for their beliefs

  • During the First and Second World Wars, many Christian pacifists refused to fight and faced punishment as a result

  • Many who refused to fight joined the war effort in other non-combat roles, such as doctors, nurses, cooks and mechanics

  • They were often dangerous jobs and some lost their lives, but they died knowing that their war effort did not involve killing other people

• However, not all Christians are pacifists because some believe that war and conflict can be justified on occasions under certain criteria

  • For example, some Christians believe in a just war 

  • Some Christians would use the example of Jesus, who protested violently against people in the temple who were exploiting others

Responses to the nature and history of pacifism

Responses to the nature and history of pacifism

• Some (but not all) Christians are pacifists, believing that the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament call for non-violence and the rejection of war

  • Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount are often cited by pacifists

• Passages like ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ (Matthew 5:9) and ‘turn the other cheek’ (Matthew 5:39) are interpreted as supporting non-violence 

• Pacifists argue that Jesus’ own life demonstrated a commitment to peace and non-violence

• He did not resort to violent means even in the face of injustice, most notably during his arrest and crucifixion, when he rebuked Peter for using a sword (Matthew 26:52-54) and chose not to resist his accusers

• Many early Christians were pacifists, particularly during the first few centuries after Christ, as seen in the writings of Church Fathers like Tertullian and Origen

  • They emphasised the love of enemies and the teachings of peace

• Some believe that pacifism aligns with the Christian vision of the Kingdom of God, where peace and reconciliation are central, and violence has no place in God's plan

• On the other hand, many Christians reject pacifism, arguing that there are situations in which violence may be justified

  • Rooted in the writings of St. Augustine and further developed by St. Thomas Aquinas, Just War Theory argues that war can be morally acceptable if it meets certain conditions, and as a last resort 

    • Many Christians support this theory, believing that violence in defence of justice can be morally justified

  • Critics of pacifism point to instances in the Old Testament where God commands the Israelites to go to war (for example, the conquest of Canaan or the wars of King David)

    • They argue that God’s involvement in war shows that military action can be part of God's will under certain circumstances

  • Some Christians believe that government authority and military power are ordained by God to maintain order and protect society from evil (Romans 13:1-7)

    • In this view, the state has a responsibility to use force when necessary to defend its citizens and maintain justice

  • Many Christians argue that pacifism can be impractical in defending the innocent from violence or oppression

Examples of pacifist groups and individuals

• In 1976, Mairead Corrigan, a Catholic from Northern Ireland, together with Betty Williams and Ciaran McKeown, became peacemakers when they formed the ‘Peace People’ organisation

  • They organised peace marches throughout the UK that gave people the opportunity to show they wanted peace, rather than the violence and killings that were a tragic feature of Northern Ireland at that time

  • Mairead and Betty were awarded the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize for their peace-making activities

  • After the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the Northern Ireland troubles were largely resolved, and peace returned to the country

• Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Christian living in Germany during the rise of the Nazi party

  • He believed in pacifism and helped to found the Confessing Church which spoke out against the human rights abuses of the ruling Nazis

  • As the war continued, he believed even more strongly that helping the oppressed was a test of faith

  • He defied Nazi rule by helping Jews escape the death camps and also worked to overthrow the Nazi party

  • Eventually, even though he opposed all killing, he felt that he had to be prepared to sacrifice his principles and even his life, and joined a group that planned to assassinate Hitler because he believed it was necessary for the greater good

  • He was eventually arrested and executed for treason by the Nazis

• The Mennonites and Quakers are two Christian denominations that have long been associated with pacifism

  • They interpret Jesus' teachings as an absolute call to non-violence, and both traditions have a strong emphasis on peace, social justice, and opposition to war

What do The Quakers believe?

• Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends, hold strong views on war and conflict, deeply rooted in their religious beliefs and practices

• Quakers consider themselves Christians because they believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and they emphasise his teachings about love, peace, forgiveness, and justice

  • They hold that Christ's teachings should guide their lives and that through the Holy Spirit, they can experience a personal relationship with God

• Central to Quaker thought is the belief in peace, non-violence, and the idea that all people should be treated well because they are created in the image of God

• The ‘Testimony of Peace’ is one of the core principles of Quakerism

  • This testimony is based on the belief that true peace is a reflection of God's will and that violence, war, and conflict contradict God's teachings

  • Quakers believe that peace is not merely the absence of war, but also involves living in harmony with others, promoting social justice, and actively working for reconciliation in the face of conflict

• Quakers are historically and consistently opposed to war and view war as a violation of the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ They believe that violence, including war, is incompatible with the teachings of Jesus Christ

• Quakers believe that all people, regardless of nationality, race, or religion, are created equal and in the image of God

  • This leads them to reject the idea that one group of people can justify harming another group in war

• Quakers hold a strong commitment to non-violence, believing that violence only leads to more violence and does not bring about lasting peace

  • For Quakers, the path to peace is through love, understanding, and active reconciliation, not through force

• Instead of war, Quakers focus on peaceful means of resolving conflicts

  • This includes dialogue, negotiation, and diplomacy, often through methods like non-violent resistance, civil disobedience, and humanitarian aid

  • Quakers have been involved in various peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts throughout history, especially in times of war

Christian teachings about passive resistance

Christianity and passive resistance

• Passive resistance is the act of showing in a peaceful way that you oppose something

• Some Christians will use passive resistance to protest rather than violence to bring about changes when there is injustice

  • Dr Martin Luther King was a Baptist Minister who dedicated his life to transforming the way black people were treated in the USA

  • He organised peaceful rallies, protests and boycotts to persuade the government to change laws which treated black people as second-class citizens

  • In 1965, black people were given equal voting rights to white people

  • King’s actions were driven by his Christian beliefs and the teachings of Jesus in the Bible

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