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Religion, Peace and Conflict Revision (Terrorism and violence (Terrorism…
Religion, Peace and Conflict Revision
The Causes Of War
There are different causes to a war, the main three being self defence, greed and retaliation.
An example of a war started by self defence includes WW2. This is because Britain started a war against Germany to protect Poland and themselves from Nazi invasion.
An example of a war started by greed is the Iraq War. This is because America initially invaded Iraq for many reasons, including the theory that Iraq wanted 17% of the world's oil supply.
An example of a war started by retaliation is the Afghanistan war. This is because terrorist group Al Qaeda, hailing from that country, led a terrorist attack in America that killed over 2000. America then sent troops into the country as they believed that the leader of Afghanistan was hiding the terrorist group.
Terrorism and violence
Terrorism is a violent act against innocent civilians, often for political requests.
Terrorists use the tactics of murder, suicide bombing etc so they can scare the government into their demands.
An example of terrorism is the IRA, who murdered relentlessly in Ireland as they wanted Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland to reunite. There was also the issue of religions, as the IRA wanted Ireland to be fully Catholic and free of Britain.
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Some people believe violence is okay under circumstances. This includes Boenhoffer, who put aside his morals to plot to assassinate Hitler.
Some people believe violence is never okay. This includes the Dalai Llama, who fled from Tibet when the Chinese were threatening them. He instead teaches their culture in India.
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Religion and War
Most religious people are completely against war, as their religion teaches against it. However, there are some religious people who are in favour of war.
Religious people who are against war believe that it is immoral and is murder. This is because they believe in the Sanctity of Life, which teaches that life is precious and God-given, meaning war would be a waste of life. For Christians, there is also evidence in the Bible (New Testament) that shows war is wrong. This includes "Blessed are the Peacemakers" and "Those who live by the sword, die by the sword".
Religious people who are for war believe that war is okay if it is justifiable. Religious people who are okay with going to war believe that war is okay if it is in the name of God or sacred holy land, which is known as a Holy War. An example is the Crusades, a christian war against Muslims. The soldiers were told that, if they die, they would be accepted into heaven immediately.
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Non religious people who believe in war, similar to religious people, believe that it is acceptable if it is in order to restore peace. They also believe it is okay if it is in self defence, a last resort, is proportional, follows rules such as the Geneva Convention etc. This is seen in the Just War Theory. These arguments are known as religious pacifism.
Non religious people who are against war believe that more destruction comes out of war than good things. They believe that war is almost pointless, as it causes poverty, death and destruction. It also affects the economy, which could be used to help injured or homeless civilians. These arguments are known as ethical pacifism.
Peacemaking
There are worldwide organisations that ensure that peace remains between countries. The most famous one is The United Nations. Set up in 1945, they ensure that:
- There is international law and security.
- They encourage economic development.
- They protect human rights.
- They establish world peace.
They also help the victims of war and try to give them relief. They also, sometimes, send troops to intervene in conflicts by simply standing between the two sides.
An example of a famous peacemaker is Irena Sendler. She smuggled thousands of Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto that Nazis had set up. She smuggled them out through various tactics, including under dead bodies and in ambulances. She changed their names to christian names and kept their original names in a jar buried in her neighbour's back yard, later reuniting families once the war was over.
Another organisation is NATO, whose job is to establish peace and prevent war. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was made in 1949 between the countries in Europe, The USA and Canada. They vowed to protect one another if conflict rose with any of those countries.
The Victims of War
Victims of war are people who are affected by war, including refugees and soldiers. The effects include loss of limbs, PTSD, serious poverty issues etc.
An example of someone affected is John Dale, who served 20 years in the army and had fought in numerous wars. He had hallucinations and nightmares after, and dealt with life struggles such as losing his first wife. He now lives homeless in his second wife brother's garden. He expressed that the military "are training to kill without emotion".
Refugees are people who are forced to flee their country due to persecution or war. They often travel to countries by boat and also live in refugee camps. Conditions are rough and safety is never assured. They have to make big decisions on how to travel, who with etc.
There are organisations that help the victims of war. This includes The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. With over 100 million members, they travel to many countries to provide food, water and shelter. They also teach uneducated children. The movement was created by Henry Duant in 1859. They assist the vulnerable around the world.