Conflict

What is war?

Christians generally discourage war however sometimes they believe there are times where a Christian has to go to war in order to avoid a worse consequence.

Christians stances on war are:

• Holy War

• Just War

• No War

Holy War

All the Christian teaching on forgiveness and living at peace refer to the behaviour of individual Christians rather than national foreign policy. Many political leaders are Christians and therefore the problem arises if they can support going to war

Example is the Bible supporting war include, “Now go and attack the Amelkites and completely destroy everything they have”. Furthermore Jesus overturned tables and drove animals out of the temple with a who which was clearly suggests that a violent reaction was the more appropriate in order to stop the corrupt trading at the temple courts.

Holy war is the belief of fighting a war on behalf of God, such as in the Middle ages where Christians started war to recover Jerusalem from the Muslims (Crusade).

Just War

Just war refers to a  war which aids in bringing about what is fair. In order to see a war is Just, a test was made by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century.

1. The war must be started an controlled by the authority of the stage

2. There must be a justified cause, those attacked must deserve it

3. The war must be fought to promote good and avoid evil. Peace and Justice must be restored afterwards

4. The war must be the last resort after all other methods of solving the issue have been tried

5. The war has to be fought with proportionality meaning that innocent civilians shouldn’t be killed and only enough force  should be used as is needed to achieve victory

6. The good gained by the victory should be greater than the evil which led to the war

Note:  Thomas Aquinas only made up to rule 3

Christians may justify their need to join the army as they believe they are fighting against evil. The church of England believes that the government has a responsibility to defend the nation and therefore war can be accepted. War also can be the “Lesser of two evils” and can be a way of “loving thy neighbour” by protecting another country. 

Roman Catholics support the idea of just war but is should be the last resort. The teachings of the Church however are in favour of peace, such as giving money to aid the poor rather than developing weapons. War should be a last resort.

Pacifist view of No war

A pacifist is an individual who believes that all type of warfare is wrong and will refuse to take part in any fighting. The Quakers are a Christian denomination associated with pacifism

The first world war Quakers founded the no- conscription fellowship which supported people who refused to join the army on religious and ethical grounds. 

The Bible has many references against war for instance 

• “Do not kill” 6th commandments

• “Blessed are the peace makers”

• “Love your enemies and pray for those who prosecute you”

• When Jesus was arrested, one of his followers took out his sword and attacked the man coming to arrest Jesus by cutting of his ear. “But Jesus said, “Enough of this!” He  touched the manes ear and healed him. In another variation of the story Jesus says “All who take the sword will die by the sword”. He also told his followers if they were struck, to not strike back but instead turn the other cheek

• War is a waste of resources given by God

• A cause of immense suffering, even for the innocent

• Encourages undesirable human instincts such as greed, hatred and prejudice

In favour of war

• “Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have”

• Jesus overturned tables and drove animals out of the temple with a who which was clearly suggests that a violent reaction was the more appropriate in order to stop the corrupt trading at the temple courts and bring about Justice.

• War also can be the “Lesser of two evils” and can be a way of “loving thy neighbour” by protecting another country.

Nuclear Warfare

In Favour:

• Shortens the war

• Less lives lost than in a war which drags on for years

• Deterrent 

Terrorism

Terrorism is the systematic use of terror in order to force people into doing something. These acts tend to be, violent and intended to create fear through a psychological impact. It is carried out for a political or ideological goal and is deliberately targeted at civillians.

Causes of terror:

• A sense of having no political influence

• Social and economical inequality

• Religious extremism

• Ethnic conflict

Christian responses:

• Prevents reconciliation between different people

• Aggravates problems and tensions 

• Leads to suffering and harm of innocent people also

• Encourages prejudice

Other side:

• Can bring Justice if nothing else has worked

• Freedom fighting

Crime and Punishment

Christians believe that:

• “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also”

• “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

• “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”

Different types of crime

• A crime that directly harms a person eg. Murder, burglary

• A religious offence e.g. blasphemy 

• A crime against property e.g. vandalism, graffiti

Causes of crime

Social

Drugs

Inequality

No support for families

Lack of leadership in communities

Gang culture

Economic

Lack of financial resources leading to poverty

Lack of education leads to poor work opportunities and housing

Family

Dysfunctional family conditions

Violence in the family

Substance abuse 

Christian perspectives on crime

• Moral failing due to original sin and the fact that humans are flawed and therefore are more likely to be sinful

• Evil or the Devil, Satan may be influencing criminals

Effects of crime

• Can cost people their lives

• Medical costs, property losses and loss of income

• Lead to anxiety and depression

• Develop fear of crime

Christian responses to violence

In favour:

• Refusing is seen as a weakness in a fight

• Some leaders are so corrupt that only violent force will change them

Against:

• Violence encourages more violence

• “he who lives by the sword dies by the sword”

• “love your enemy”

Christians responses to crime

• Live life with the love of your neighbour and God rather than pursuing your own selfish needs

• Be honest in your dealings –do not lie(commandment)

• Do not take or covet what is not yours (commandment)

• Be an upholder of Justice

• Respect the value of human life “Do not kill”, “Blessed are the peace keepers”

Note: Christians my challenge the law in the face of injustice e.g. Forms of prejudice

Aims of punishment

Protection: Putting people in prison to keep them away from the possibility of crime and so protects society

In Favour:

• Make society a safer place where law abiding citizens can relax with peace of mind

• Justice for serious ctimes

Against:

• Unfair for those who deeply regret what they have done

• It also seems unfair in the sense that those who have successfully reformed may have less Protection that those who have done a smaller crime and haven't reformed

Retribution:  Retribution refers to taking revenge

In Favour: 

• Gives dignity to criminals as humans are responsible for their actions and they have dignity because they are made in Gods image

Against:

• Jesus rejected the idea of an eye for an eye

• “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”- said during his crucifixion

• Those without sin cast the first stone

• Hypocritical - You kill my friend, that is wrong, so I will kill you

Deterrence: When an individual is caught and punished, they will not commit the crime again and it will put others of from committing crimes.

In Favour:

• Punishing people, stops other people from committing crimes so one bad thing (punishing a criminal) leads to a lot of good things (less crime)

Against:

• It is morally wrong as the criminal may be harshly punished just for the sake of stopping other committing similar crimes

Reformation: People who commit crime need help and therefore reformation is turning criminals into law-abiding citizens

In favour:

• Christians believe in forgiveness and in giving people a second chance eg when Jesus tells the women “to sin no more”

• “we forgive those who have sinned against us”

Against:

• Doesn’t the criminal deserve to suffer rather than going to a reformation centre where they will be treated well with education food and shelter?

Capital Punishment 

Capital punishment refers to the execution of a criminal by the government.

In Favour:

• Makes society guaranteed safer

• Cheaper than keeping them in prison

• A fair retribution (a life for a life)

• Good deterrence 

• Justice for victims family

Against:

• Thou shallt not kill

• Basic human right

• Some countries with death penalty have higher rate of murder

• Innocent will be executed

• Sanctity of Life

• May spark revenge

• No possibility or reformation

• Reduces society to the level of the murderer

• “Forgive those who have sinned against us”