Name: ……………………….
OCR GCSE Religious Studies B
Philosophy and Applied Ethics Revision Book
J121 (Short Course)
J621 (Full Course)
Ethics 2 Module B604
Religion, Peace and Justice
In this topic you studied:





Christian attitudes to war
The Just War
Christian attitudes towards the use of violence and towards pacifism
Christian beliefs about the treatment of criminals
Christian responses to social injustice
DICTIONARY
CRIMINALS
CONSCIENTIOUS
OBJECTOR
HOLY WAR
JUSTICE
JUST WAR
PACIFISM
SOCIAL INJUSTICE
These are people who have committed a crime and
can be put in prison for it
This is when someone follows their conscience (the
inner voice of God) and does not go to a specific war.
He/she may use violence on another occasion if they
felt it was necessary.
This is a war fought in to protect a religion; for example
when Christians fought against the Muslims in the
Crusades. The Christians were trying to free
Jerusalem.
This means that people are treated fairly in all ways.
This refers to the terms/rules under which a war is
allowed. There are six rules which say going to war
can happen.
This term refers to no violence at all. Someone who
was a pacifist would not fight back under any
circumstances.
This refers to unfair treatment of a person or groups of
people; such as: sexism; racism; poverty and ageism.
What is this Christian Teaching
and what does it mean?
2
Religion, Peace and Justice
WAR
War is Wrong because:
War is Correct because:
 The Old Testament teaches
 The Old Testament teaches “the Lord is
that the prophet Micah said one
a warrior”
day all the world would be at
 God told Sault to go and kill all of the
peace and all weapons would
Amalekites
be made into farming tools “nor  God helped Joshua win the battle of
will they train for war any more”
Jericho
(Micah 4:3).
 “Prepare for war” (Joel 3:9) and “Beat
th
 The 6 commandment says “do
your ploughshares into swords” (Note
not murder”
this is in contrast to Micah 4:3)
 Proverbs teach that God hates
“hands that shed innocent
Christians believe that sometimes you can
blood”
have a Holy War to defend the religion
 Jesus was a pacifist – he
would not follow Satan & he
rode into Jerusalem on a
donkey.
 The message of Christmas is
“peace and goodwill to all men”
 When he was about to be
arrested in the Garden of
Gethsemane and violence was
being used, Jesus taught “those
who live by the sword die by the
sword” (meaning that if you live
by violence you will probably
die in a violent way)
 Jesus taught “turn the other
cheek”
 Jesus taught “love your
enemies and pray for those
who persecute you” (Matthew
5:44)
 St. Paul taught “overcome evil
with good”
The Just War theory (St Thomas Aquinas
and modern philosophers) says it is all
right to fight if:
 The government says to go to war – so
started by a proper authority
 The reasons for starting the war are
just (in other words very good reasons)
 If the aim or the end result of the war
means that good will correct evil
 If all peaceful ways have been tried first
– the war must be the last resort
 Only the right amount of force can be
used
 There must be a reasonable chance of
success
3
Religion, Peace and Justice
Christians who used nonviolence:
 Martin Luther King (against
racism) used methods such as
‘sit-ins; boycotts, freedom
marches, speeches
 Archbishop Oscar Romero
(against poverty in South
America) who spent the three
years of his time as Archbishop
protesting publicly (but nonviolently) against the corrupt
rulers of El Salvador. He was
murdered whilst celebrating
Holy Mass (Communion)
service.
Christians who used violence
 Father Camillo Torres (against poverty
in South America) who left the
priesthood to join guerrillas to fight the
government in an attempt to get better
conditions for the poor
 Dietrich Bonhoeffer – although he was
a pacifist he felt that it was better to use
violence in order to defeat the evils of
Hitler and so became involved in a plot
to kill him (although he was not himself
going to do the killing).
 Conscientious objector – some who won’t find in a particular war because
their conscience says it is wrong
 Pacifist someone who will never fight whatever the circumstances (e.g.
Quakers because they see something of God within everyone and therefore
it would be wrong to harm that person)
Peace organisations
The United Nations (not a Christian
organisation)
 Tries to stop countries fighting
 Clears up land mines
 UN soldiers are not allowed to fight
except in self defence
Pax Christi (Christian Organisation)
 Work for disarmament – tries to
stop the Arms Trade
 Education – tells people/schools
about uncleared landmines and
other issues
4
Religion, Peace and Justice continued
JUSTICE (fair treatment)
Criminals
 Christians believe in forgiveness &
are taught to love their enemies.
 Jesus taught that God will judge
people for their sins and that people
should forgive 70 x 7 times (this
means you go on forgiving people)
 Jesus said when the woman was
about to be stoned for adultery “those
without sin cast the first stone first”
(John 8:7)
 Jesus taught look to your own faults
first before criticising others (don’t look
for sawdust in someone’s eye when
you have a plank in your own)
Yet Christians believe in Punishment:
1. Deterrence (stop crime happening)
2. Protection of the innocent
3. Retribution (for the criminal to pay for
the crime committed)
4. To reform criminals
5. Vindication – to show that justice is
being done
Social Injustice (when some
people treated unfairly e.g. Third
World poverty, or inequality such as
racism, ageism, and sexism)
 Christians believe everyone
equally valuable to God (he
created everyone) and so even
refugees should be treated in the
same way “When an alien lives
with you in your land, do not illtreat him” (Leviticus 19:33).
 God has no favourites so
everyone should be treated the
same
 Bible teaches it is wrong to
mistreat the poor because
everyone is made in the ‘image’
of God
 “When you give to the poor, it is
like lending to the Lord and the
Lord will pay you back"
(Proverbs 19:17).
 “If you oppress poor people, you
insult the God who made them;
Elizabeth Fry (Quaker) worked in the
but kindness shown to the poor
19th Century to reform prisons/make them
is an act of worship” (Proverbs
useful and better conditions
14:31).
Some Christians become prison visitors
 Christians will support such
to try to help the prisoners (Sheep &
organisations such as MENCAP
Goats)
and Christian charities such as
Christian Aid/CAFOD.
Amnesty International (not a Christian organisation) works against social
injustice. They are against torture and wrongful imprisonment. They get
people to write letters to people who are wrongfully imprisoned. They send
petitions to unjust Governments. They organise demonstrations to get people
aware of what is going on.
5
Liberation Theology
Some Christians believe that because Jesus came to earth to help the poor that
they should follow his example. Jesus said: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me …
he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for
the blind, to release the oppressed…” (Luke 4: 18).
They believe Jesus came to set the poor “free” – to
liberate them. In the Third World a movement called
Liberation Theology began in the middle of the last
century.
This movement involved people such as
Oscar Romero, who practised non-violence, following
the example of Jesus, and Camillo Torres who used
violence and who also believed he was following the
example of Jesus.
Oscar Romero was a supporter of Liberation Theology. He was the
Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital of El
Salvador but was murdered on 24th March 1980
by people working for the government. He had
spent his three years as Archbishop criticising
those who made El Salvador a dangerous, violent
and unfair place to live.
He called for land reform and a fairer distribution of
wealth. He used the Church’s radio station to
speak out about all the torture and murder which
was going on. He set up a place where people
could go for advice. He mentioned the names of
those who had suffered or died in his sermons and
also named those who had been responsible for
their suffering. He allowed people fleeing from the
brutal treatment to shelter in his churches. He
dared to write an open letter to the US President to
plead with him to stop sending arms and supplies to the military regime of his
country.
He lived his life according to the parable of the Sheep
and the Goats. In 1980 he was shot dead whilst he
was celebrating mass at the altar of a hospital
chapel.
6
ACTIVITY: Christian attitudes to war
Explain Christian attitudes to war and peace. If this was the question you would
need to give Christian teachings on why War is good or bad. Use the Chart
below and give at least TWO teachings to show war is good (use the Old
Testament) and TWO teachings to show that war is bad (use the teachings of
Jesus).
War is Good because …..
War is wrong because …..
7
ACTIVITY: Pacifism
What is Pacifism? ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………….
What did Jesus teach to show he was a Pacifist? (Give TWO teachings)
………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………
When did Jesus use violence? ……………..
………………………………………………
……………………………………………….
…………………………………………………
What happened in the Garden of Gethsemane?
……………………………………………….
……………………………………………….
………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………...
Who are the Quakers? What do they believe about Pacifism?
………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………
8
ACTIVITY: Just War Theory
Christians believe you can go to war if you follow the rules of the Just War
theory. Join up the sentences to the correct halves:
If The government says to go to war
then you can do so because this
means
- In other words this means there
are good reasons for going to war.
It is okay to go to war if it is the
Reasonable chance of success
War is allowed if it is a Just Cause
it has been started by a proper
authority
Only the right amount of force can be
used
- if it means that evil will be
overcome then you can go to war
You can only go to war if there is a
When you go to war (no excessive
bombing or targeting of civilians)
If good will be the end result of the
war
Last resort – this means that all
other methods have been tried
Choose THREE of the rules of a Just War – write them down and try to learn
them so you can use them as reasons for Christians believing that it is okay to
go to war:
……………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
9
ACTIVITY: Christian attitudes towards violence
Below are Four Christians: TWO who believed violence does not work and
TWO who believed violence should be used. In the boxes beside them write
down the reasons for their actions:
Martin Luther King
Oscar Romero
Camillo Torres
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
10
ACTIVITY: Working for Peace
How does Pax Christi work for Peace?
……………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
What work does Amnesty International do?
…………………………………………………………
......................................................................................
………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………….
WHY would a Christian work for peace? (Use specific teachings)
……………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
How would an ordinary Christian work for peace?
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
11
ACTIVITY: Aims of Punishment
What are the aims of Punishment?
There is also Vindication which means there has to be punishment so that
people can see that justice has been done. Why do you think this is important?
…………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
How would a Christian treat criminals? ……………….…………………….
………………………………………………………………………………..
12
ACTIVITY: Forgiveness
What do these pictures say about forgiveness?
What is repentance? …………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………….
Why is it important to Christians that forgiveness happens? Give TWO
reasons.
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
Who was Elizabeth Fry and why was she important to prison reform?
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
13
Social Injustice
There are many types of social injustice: prejudice (leading to racism, ageism
and sexism) and discrimination because of how people look or act. People with
learning difficulties often face injustice (unfair treatment). The charity MENCAP
tries to help such people.
MENAP is the UK's leading
learning
disability
charity
working with people with a
learning disability and their
families and carers. They try to get equal rights and greater
opportunities.
They challenge people’s attitudes and
prejudice towards people with learning difficulties. They
provide advice and support. Within the organisation there
are lots of different groups with different needs.
They support their members by:

Housing – they help people with learning disabilities live their lives in
ways that they choose and in a home that they choose.

Education and employment – they provided education services which
help people get a job

Advice - They help by advising people of support groups within their
area

They promote opportunities in sport at all levels for people who have a
learning disability
Christians will support MENCAP because of the belief that God has no
favourites, everyone is made in the “image of God” and because the prophet
Amos teaches in the Old Testament that God will be angry if people “deny
justice to the oppressed” (unfairly treated) [Amos 1: 2:7).
Other charities they would support are:

Show Racism the Red Card

CRISIS at Christmas

Shaw Trust
What local charities do you know about which are against social injustice?
14
ACTIVITY: Social Injustice
Circle the pictures below which show examples of social injustice (unfair
treatment of people)
Can you name any?
Why would Christians be against
Social Injustice?
How would Christians deal with
Social Injustice?
15
Full mark answer
(a) Describe Christian attitudes towards the punishment [or treatment] of
criminals.
[6 marks]
Christians believe that people committing crimes should be punished but it
should be done in a fair way. The criminal should not be tortured or be put to
death because this is against the sixth commandment. However it is important
to punish the criminal because this will allow them to repent
(turn away from their crime and make sure it is not done
The candidate
again). So a Christian would follow the aims of punishment
has answered
which are: reform, (to make sure the criminal changes his/her the question
ways), protection (to make sure people are safe from the
well and has
criminal especially if he is a murderer), deterrence (to make
not just listed
sure others do not do the same thing) and retribution (making the different
sure that the victims of the crime get justice – “an eye for an
Christian
eye”). However, some Christians believe in forgiveness
views but has
because this is what Jesus taught (70 times 7), which means
written about
that whatever the person has done you should keep on
them in detail.
forgiving them because this is what Jesus died for on the
He/she has
cross – he died to take all our sins. Jesus also forgave them seen the key
woman who committed adultery and told her not to commit
word
that sin again. Other Christians will follow the teachings in
“attitudes”
the parable of the sheep and the goats and will visit the
which means
criminal in prison in order to tell them about Jesus and how
that different
their sins can be forgiven if they turn to Jesus.
Christians have
different ideas
on what to do
with criminals.
The candidate
has also
supported
his/her
statement with
Christian
teachings.
16
(b) Explain how Christians might respond if they see people being treated
badly by a government.
[6 marks]
Christians would not like to see people being treated badly by a government
because they feel that everyone has been created “in the image” of God and
therefore everyone should be treated nicely. Some Christians would pray for
the people being treated badly to ask God to help those people because they
believe that prayer is important because this is what Jesus
The
taught. Some Christians might support the charity Amnesty
candidate
International because this organisation sends petitions to
governments who they feel are doing wrong. The organisation
has given
also encourages people to write letters to people who have
several
been wrongly imprisoned because this alerts the government to
ideas on
the fact that other countries are aware of what is going on.
what a
Some Christians might write a letter to their own government
Christian
and ask them to intervene or they might boycott a product from
would do
the country where the government is treating the people badly
and why.
because this is what many people did when South Africa
encouraged apartheid. They would do this because it is a nonHe/she has
violent way of protesting and they would be following in the
supported
footsteps of Martin Luther King and also the teaching of Jesus
them with
‘turn the other cheek’. Although some Christians may feel that it
reference
would be their duty to fight that unfair government and so follow
to
in the footsteps of Camillo Torres. Some Christians felt it was
Christian
their duty to go to war in Iraq because of what Saddam was
teachings
doing to his people.
or
Christian
examples.
17
Exam Practice
(a) Describe what Christians believe about Pacifism?
[6 marks]
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
....................................................................................................................
…………………………………………………………………………….
18
(b)
Explain Christian attitudes to violence.
[6 marks]
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
....................................................................................................................
…………………………………………………………………………….
19
(c)
“Killing is always wrong.”Discuss this statement . You should include
different supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must
refer to Christianity in your answer. [12 marks]
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
20