Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict 2 (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Notes

Religion, peace and conflict: Contrasting beliefs

Understanding pacifism in Catholic Christianity and Islam

Pacifism refers to the belief that war and violence are morally wrong and that conflicts should be resolved through peaceful means. Both Catholic Christianity and Islam have complex relationships with pacifist ideas, though neither tradition is entirely pacifist in nature.

Catholic beliefs about pacifism

Catholic Christianity is not traditionally regarded as a completely pacifist religion, yet many Catholics embrace peaceful approaches to conflict resolution. The Catholic position on pacifism draws from several key sources and teachings.

Catholics often reference the Ten Commandments, particularly "You shall not kill," to support arguments for peaceful conflict resolution. This commandment provides a foundation for those who believe that taking life through violence contradicts God's will.

Many prominent Catholic individuals have championed peace movements throughout history. Notable examples include Betty Williams and Thomas Merton, who dedicated their lives to promoting non-violent solutions to conflicts. Their work demonstrates how Catholic teachings can inspire active pacifism.

The Bible contains numerous teachings from Jesus that suggest peace should be achieved through methods similar to pacifism rather than through violence. These scriptural foundations provide Catholics with religious justification for choosing peaceful approaches to conflict resolution.

Islamic beliefs about pacifism

Islam presents a nuanced approach to questions of war and peace. While Islam is not considered a pacifist religion, it contains strong teachings that promote peace and discourage unnecessary violence.

The religion recognises that sometimes conflict and fighting may be necessary to establish justice and protect the innocent. However, this acceptance of justified conflict exists alongside powerful teachings about the importance of peace and reconciliation.

The very word 'Islam' can be understood to mean both 'peace' and 'submission to Allah,' which reflects the religion's fundamental commitment to harmony when possible. Many Muslims adopt peaceful approaches to resolving conflicts in the world, viewing this as the preferred method when circumstances allow.

Islamic teachings emphasise the importance of working together for reconciliation and actively trying to achieve peace between opposing parties. This focus on reconciliation shows that even when conflict occurs, the ultimate goal should be returning to peaceful relationships.

Several prominent Muslims have refused to use violence and have campaigned for peace, including Muhammad Ali and Malala Yousafzai. These individuals demonstrate how Islamic principles can inspire dedication to non-violent approaches to social change.

Shared beliefs about weapons of mass destruction

Despite their different approaches to pacifism, both Catholic Christianity and Islam share similar concerns about weapons of mass destruction. Both religious traditions teach that such weapons are morally wrong because they cause tremendous destruction and enormous loss of life.

The foundation for this shared opposition lies in both religions' belief that all life is sacred, as it represents God's creation. Since God created life, humans should not destroy it through the use of weapons that cause indiscriminate death and suffering.

Both traditions also emphasise that peace is more important than war and that this should be the goal that believers strive to achieve. Christianity promotes Jesus's teachings about peace and non-violence, while Muslims understand that Allah created the world with the intention that peace would be part of his creation.

Key scriptural references

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