Religion & Attitudes to Terrorism (OCR GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Notes

11.4.2 Religion and Terrorism

Understanding Terrorism

• Religious Justification: Some terrorists claim to act in the name of religion, using religious texts or beliefs to justify their violent actions. However, this is a misuse of religion, and most religious people strongly oppose these interpretations.

Christian Perspectives on Terrorism

• Condemnation of Violence: Christianity teaches that violence against innocent people is wrong. The Bible promotes peace, forgiveness, and love for others.

• Christians believe that violence is inherently wrong and that individuals should always strive to promote peace.

• This belief is rooted in the teachings of Jesus, which emphasise that peace should be the ultimate goal for all humanity.

• Jesus is often referred to as the "Prince of Peace" in the Bible (Isaiah 9:6), highlighting his role in promoting peace and harmony.

• Jesus taught that love and forgiveness should guide human interactions rather than violence and conflict. Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also" (Matthew 5:38-39).

Key Teaching: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil... if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:17-19).

Jesus' Teachings: Jesus taught non-violence and encouraged turning the other cheek rather than retaliating with violence (Matthew 5:39).

• Christian Responses:
  • Promotion of Peace: Christians are encouraged to seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts and to work towards reconciliation.
  • Rejection of Terrorism: Most Christians believe that terrorism is entirely incompatible with Christian teachings, as it targets innocent lives and spreads fear.
  • Jesus commanded his followers to "Love your enemies," meaning that love, not violence or retaliation, should be the response to wrongdoing.

Muslim Perspectives on Terrorism

• Condemnation of Violence: Islam, like Christianity, strongly condemns the killing of innocent people. The Qur'an teaches that life is sacred and should be protected.

Key Teaching: "Whoever kills an innocent life, it is as if he has killed all of humanity" (Qur'an 5:32).

• Misuse of Jihad:
  • Jihad: While jihad means "struggle" or "striving" in the way of God, it is often misunderstood or misused by terrorists to justify their actions. Jihad in Islam refers primarily to the spiritual struggle against sin, not violent warfare against others.
  • The Lesser Jihad permits the use of force in specific circumstances, such as in self-defense or protecting the religion from attack, but this is only considered justifiable under strict conditions.
• Muslim Responses:
  • Promotion of Justice and Peace: Muslims are encouraged to work for justice and peace in a lawful and non-violent manner.
  • Rejection of Terrorism: The vast majority of Muslims reject terrorism, seeing it as a distortion of Islamic teachings and a grave sin. While Islam does not promote pacifism in the same way some other religions might, it does emphasise that violence should be a last resort and only used when all other options have failed. The aim is always to restore peace and justice, not to perpetuate violence or conflict.

Religious People's Response to Terrorism

• Opposition to Justification: Religious people from both Christianity and Islam feel strongly that using religion to justify terrorism is a profound misuse of their faith. They argue that true religious teachings promote peace, compassion, and respect for all human life.
• Interfaith Efforts: Many religious leaders and communities work together across faiths to combat terrorism and promote understanding, emphasising that terrorism is a political and social issue rather than a religious one.

Summary

• Terrorism: Involves using violence to achieve goals, often wrongly justified by misinterpreting religious teachings.
• Christianity: Condemns violence and promotes peace; terrorism is seen as incompatible with Christian beliefs.
• Islam: Strongly condemns the killing of innocents and rejects terrorism; jihad is often misused by terrorists.
• Religious Response: Both Christians and Muslims work to promote peace and reject the misuse of religion to justify terrorism.