Violence and terrorism (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Notes

Violence and terrorism

Understanding violence and terrorism

Violence refers to behaviour that is deliberately intended to cause harm or death to others. Terrorism involves using violence and creating fear through intimidation as a method of achieving goals. The Catholic Church teaches that believers should actively work towards peace and therefore stands firmly against terrorism and unjustified violence.

Catholic beliefs about violence

The Catholic Church draws from several key sources when teaching about violence and the importance of pursuing peace instead.

Biblical guidance

The Bible offers clear direction on how Christians should approach conflicts and work towards peace, reconciliation and justice rather than resorting to violence.

Papal teachings

Pope Francis has spoken strongly against conflict in modern times. In his Angelus address in August 2016, he declared it "unacceptable that so many unarmed persons, including many children, have to pay the price of the conflict." This demonstrates the Church's concern for innocent victims of violence.

Following Jesus's example

Catholics are called to follow the model set by Jesus Christ, who consistently taught and demonstrated peaceful approaches to resolving conflicts and tensions.

Official Church doctrine

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) provides formal teaching that violence and conflict are morally wrong approaches to solving problems.

Biblical teachings on violence

The scriptures contain numerous passages that show Jesus advocated for non-violence and peace:

These passages demonstrate that Jesus actively opposed violence, even when his followers wanted to use force to protect him. Instead, he chose healing and restoration over retaliation.

Understanding terrorism

Terrorism involves using violence deliberately to create widespread fear among populations. Throughout history, terrorism has affected societies in various ways.

Historical context

Terrorism has ancient roots, with disputes between different groups sometimes leading to targeted killings and assassinations as early as the first century. The term "terrorism" itself was first coined during the French Revolution between 1789-99. Unfortunately, terrorist attacks continue to impact communities around the world today.

Modern impact

Terrorist incidents, such as the attack in Westminster, London on 22 March 2017, demonstrate how terrorism affects innocent people and disrupts peaceful communities.

Catholic beliefs about terrorism

The Catholic Church completely rejects terrorism as a legitimate method of achieving any goals, regardless of the cause or motivation behind it.

Church and biblical foundation

Catholics turn to Church teachings and biblical guidance, which consistently promote peace, justice and reconciliation rather than condoning violence of any kind.

Sanctity of life

Catholics believe that God created all human life, making every person's life sacred and valuable. This fundamental belief means that murder and deliberate killing are always morally wrong, regardless of the circumstances or justifications offered.

Understanding the roots of terrorism

Pope Francis has acknowledged that "Terrorism grows when there is no other option ... this is fundamental terrorism, against all humanity." This suggests that while the Church condemns terrorist actions, it also recognises the importance of addressing underlying causes that might lead people towards extremism.

Non-religious attitudes

People who do not follow religious beliefs may have different perspectives on violence and terrorism.

Religion as a cause

Some non-religious individuals, including atheists and humanists, argue that religion itself contributes to conflict and terrorism. They suggest that without religious differences and beliefs, there would be fewer reasons for people to engage in violent conflicts.

Accepting necessary violence

While many non-religious people also oppose violence in principle, some may argue that certain situations require violent responses to resolve conflicts and achieve lasting peace. This differs from the Catholic position which emphasises peaceful resolution wherever possible.