Peace (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Notes
Peace in Christianity
What is peace?
Christians understand peace as living without war or conflict. This concept holds tremendous significance within Christian faith, as believers understand peace to be part of God's original intention when He created the world. For Christians, achieving genuine peace requires people to collaborate, support one another, and work towards harmony in their communities and beyond.
The central message of Christianity emphasises that peace and justice must exist together within the world. Christians see this not just as an ideal to aspire to, but as a fundamental responsibility that flows from their faith.
The Christian understanding of peace goes beyond simply avoiding conflict - it involves actively building relationships and communities where all people can flourish together in harmony.
Why peace matters deeply to Christians
Peace sits at the very heart of Christian belief and practice. The pursuit of peace and justice represents one of Christianity's core values, shaping how believers interact with the world around them.
Christians believe that all members of their church community are interconnected, forming one united body. This unity becomes visible during worship services, particularly when congregation members shake hands during Sunday services - an action recognised as a 'sign of peace' that demonstrates their commitment to harmony and fellowship.
The Bible provides numerous examples where peace is actively promoted and encouraged. These scriptural teachings serve as guidance for how Christians should conduct themselves in their daily lives and relationships with others.
Jesus himself represents the ultimate example of peaceful living and teaching. Christians strive to follow his model, seeing him as the perfect demonstration of how to live peacefully with others whilst maintaining strong moral principles.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace." (John 16:33)
The interconnectedness of the Christian community means that when one person experiences conflict or suffering, it affects the entire body of believers. This is why working for peace becomes a collective responsibility.
Christian symbols of peace
Christians frequently use the image of a dove carrying an olive branch as their primary symbol of peace. This powerful imagery connects back to biblical stories and represents hope, reconciliation, and God's desire for harmony amongst all people.
This symbol originates from the story of Noah's Ark, where a dove returned with an olive branch to show that God's judgement had ended and peace was restored between God and humanity.
Different Christian perspectives on peace
Whilst the Christian Church universally teaches that peace remains vitally important, there exists some divergence in how different Christians interpret and apply peaceful principles, particularly when faced with conflict situations.
The Church draws upon Jesus's teachings to demonstrate that Christians should actively strive for peace throughout the world. Jesus instructed his followers to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44), establishing a clear foundation for peaceful relationships even with those who might cause harm.
However, some Christians point to certain biblical passages that appear to justify the use of violence under specific circumstances. They reference teachings such as "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot" (Exodus 21:23-24). This quotation seems to suggest that proportionate retaliation might sometimes be appropriate, creating tension with Jesus's later teachings about non-violence.
Although the church actively promotes peaceful ideals, there have been historical instances where violence has been considered necessary to establish or maintain peace. This creates an ongoing theological discussion about when, if ever, violent action might be justified in pursuit of a greater peaceful outcome.
Jesus as the ultimate peacemaker
Jesus's life and teachings provide Christians with five key examples of how to be effective peacemakers:
The golden rule of treatment
Jesus established the fundamental principle that people should love one another and treat others exactly as they would wish to be treated themselves. He taught: "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Luke 6:31). This golden rule forms the foundation for all peaceful relationships and encourages Christians to consider the impact of their actions on others before acting.
Embracing equality and dignity
Throughout his ministry, Jesus demonstrated radical acceptance by embracing society's outcasts, caring for sick and dying individuals, and performing miracles to help others. His actions showed that all people possess equal worth and deserve to live in peace, regardless of their social status, health, or background.
Teaching blessed peacemaking
In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explicitly declared: "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9). He encouraged his followers to actively pursue peace through love, teaching them to "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31). This wasn't merely about avoiding conflict, but about actively working to create harmonious relationships.
Stopping violence in the Garden of Gethsemane
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, his disciples instinctively turned to violence to protect him. However, Jesus immediately intervened to stop this aggression:
Worked Example: Jesus Preventing Violence
The situation: Jesus's disciples drew swords to defend him during his arrest.
Jesus's response: He immediately stopped the violence and healed the injured person.
"Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him" (Luke 22:49-51).
The lesson: This demonstrates Jesus's commitment to non-violence even when facing personal danger, and shows his compassion extending even to those who came to arrest him.
Demonstrating ultimate forgiveness
Jesus's death on the cross represents the supreme act of peacemaking through forgiveness. Even whilst dying, he brought about reconciliation between God and humanity by forgiving his enemies. This ultimate sacrifice shows Christians that true peace often requires forgiveness, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Key Points to Remember:
- Christians view peace as the absence of war and conflict, representing God's original intention for the world
- Jesus serves as the perfect example of peaceful living, teaching Christians to love their enemies and treat others with the same kindness they desire for themselves
- The dove and olive branch symbolise Christian hopes for peace and reconciliation in the world
- Whilst most Christians embrace non-violence, some believe certain biblical passages justify proportionate response to serious threats
- True Christian peacemaking involves active efforts to create harmony, demonstrate equality, offer forgiveness, and prevent violence wherever possible