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

Christian attitudes towards peace

What is peace?

• Peace is a state of happiness and harmony, an absence of war, violence or conflict

• There are many organisations, such as the United Nations, who work to try and achieve peaceful solutions to conflict in the world

• There are many reasons why there is a lack of peace within the world, including:

  • acts of crime which can lead to violence, for example, murder or assault

  • when countries go to war with each other 

  • terrorist activities when groups deliberately cause fear and inflict suffering on people, for religious or political reasons

• Pacifists are people who are against war, violence and conflict no matter what the reason

  • Some pacifists have refused to go to war in the past. They are known as conscientious objectors 

  • Most pacifists would refuse to go to war under any circumstances

  • Some would only choose violence if there was absolutely no choice

  • Some religious people are pacifists. For example, Gandhi believed in ahimsa (non-violence) in his approach to protest

  • Many pacifists and peacemakers believe it’s important to resist oppression & injustice in nonviolent ways, to help create a just and equal world where conflict is not necessary

• Christianity encourages believers to seek to find peaceful solutions to problems

Religious teachings on Peace

• Religion is meant to bring justice to the world and to fight injustice where it is seen

• Many wars are about, or include the abuse of justice, so many religious people feel duty-bound to fight against them

• Many religions aim for peace and to remove injustice in the world

• Justice is very important because all people are equal in the eyes of God

• Many religious people believe they must act to create peace in the world and that this can be done directly or indirectly

Christianity and Peace

• Christianity teaches that peace is a gift from God, and it is through Christ that true peace is found

  • Jesus is often referred to as the ‘Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9:6), and Christians believe that His life, death, and resurrection make peace between humanity and God possible

  • Jesus says, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27)

    • This suggests that the peace Jesus offers is different from the peace the world seeks, being deeper and more enduring

• Peace in Christianity is also about reconciliation with others

  • Christians are called to promote peace in their relationships with other people and to actively work toward harmony and forgiveness in society

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

    • This highlights the importance of actively working for peace, not just passively seeking it

  • The Bible also says, ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’ (Romans 12:18) 

    • This suggests that Christians have a responsibility to seek peace in their relationships

  • The Bible also emphasises how Jesus, through his death has broken down the ‘dividing wall’ of hostility between different groups bringing peace and reconciliation between different groups

• Christians believe that peace comes from God, and is a result of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ, and is something that must be actively pursued in relationships with others

• Peace is also associated with justice, non-violence, and the ultimate hope for a future where God's Kingdom will bring perfect peace

• The call to be peacemakers and to live out the principles of peace in everyday life is a central part of the Christian faith

Divergent Christian attitudes towards the importance of peace

Divergent Christian attitudes towards peace

• Christianity teaches that it is important to fight against injustice and restore peace where possible

• Christians hold this view because of the example of Jesus and guidance from the bible

  • In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah looked forward to a time of peace

  • The Bible says ‘Nation will not take sword upon nation’ (Isaiah 2:4) which means that countries should avoid conflict with each other

  • Jesus said, 'Blessed are the peacemakers’ (Matthew 5: 9) meaning that those who work to achieve peace are revered by God

  • Jesus said to 'Love your enemies' (Matthew 5: 44) meaning that Christians should avoid hatred even to those who are their enemies

  • Jesus told his followers to 'turn the other cheek' (Matthew 5: 38-39) when faced with aggression, meaning that Christians should try to avoid conflict

  • Christians look forward to a time when God, the ultimate judge, will establish justice between nations and settle disputes

  • Christians believe that God will ultimately judge over his creation, and that His judgement is a process that ends in a decision about whether a person is worthy of his reward in heaven or punished in hell

• Sometimes Christians believe that violence is needed to stand up for injustices

  • In these situations, they believe certain rules should be followed when violence occurs

  • For example, most Christians believe that war is permitted under certain circumstances, meaning the war is justified

  • The justification for this is that God would want Christians to actively fight against injustice and protect the weak

  • The Bible says that violence is permitted, particularly in defence of aggression from others

Church teachings about peace

What does the Church teach about peace?

• The Christian Church is seen as an instrument of peace in the world

  • Christians are called to be agents of reconciliation and peace, working to spread the message of the Gospel, which brings peace with God and peace with one another

  • The Bible suggests that the Church has a responsibility to be ambassadors of peace and reconciliation

• The Church teaches that Christians are called to actively work for peace in the world, especially through prayer and service to those in need

  • This involves working for peaceful solutions to conflicts, promoting disarmament, supporting human rights, and fighting poverty

• The Church has historically been involved in peace-building efforts, from trying to achieve peace between warring groups, to protesting for nuclear disarmament and promoting humanitarian relief efforts

  • For example, Pope Francis has been a vocal advocate for peace in Syria, Ukraine, and in the Middle East, calling for dialogue and diplomatic solutions over the use of force

• The Church also teaches the importance of individual peace, the inner peace of the heart and mind which is essential for living a Christ-like life and working for peace in the world

  • Christians are encouraged to live out the peace of Christ in their relationships and communities