Peace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation
- Peace: an absence of conflict and also harmony and safety for everyone.
- Justice: fairness; righting wrongs. Many say there is no lasting peace without justice.
- Forgiveness: letting go of anger and the wish for revenge.
- Reconciliation: rebuilding a broken relationship, e.g. truth and reconciliation commissions after civil conflicts.
Most faiths teach peace as an ideal: love your neighbour, do not harm (ahimsa), make peace between people.
Reasons for war and religion as a cause
- Greed: wanting land, oil, water or power.
- Self-defence: protecting a country or ally.
- Retaliation: revenge for an attack.
- Religion and identity: some conflicts involve religious groups; often religion is mixed with politics, land and history and used to stir people up.
Many say religion is rarely the only cause, and that religious teachings, rightly understood, call for peace.
Just war theory and holy war
Just war theory (developed by thinkers such as Augustine and Aquinas) says war can be right only if:
- there is a just cause (e.g. self-defence);
- it is declared by a legitimate authority (a government);
- it is the last resort after talks fail;
- the intention is good (to restore peace, not to gain);
- there is a reasonable chance of success;
- force is proportional, and civilians are not targeted.
Holy war: fighting for God or to defend a faith (e.g. the medieval Crusades; the lesser jihad in Islam has strict rules: defence, no harm to civilians, crops or places of worship). Most believers today reject fighting to spread a religion.
Pacifism, violent protest and terrorism
- Pacifism: the belief that all violence and war is wrong, e.g. Quakers, many Buddhists and Jains; Gandhi's satyagraha (truth-force).
- Peaceful protest: marches, strikes, sit-ins, petitions. A legal right in many countries.
- Violent protest: riots or damage to property; most faiths say it harms innocent people and breeds more violence.
- Terrorism: illegal violence, often against civilians, to create fear for political aims. Religious leaders of all faiths condemn it; killing innocents contradicts their teachings.
Nuclear weapons and WMD; peacemaking and victims of war
Weapons of mass destruction (WMD): nuclear, chemical and biological weapons that kill huge numbers without choosing targets. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945) showed the effects lasting for generations.
- Against: they cannot meet the just war rules of proportion and protecting civilians; they damage the environment.
- Some argue for deterrence: owning them stops others attacking. Treaties (e.g. the Non-Proliferation Treaty) try to limit them.
Peacemaking
Talks, mediation, UN peacekeeping, interfaith dialogue. Faith and aid groups (such as the Red Cross / Red Crescent, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief, Khalsa Aid) give food, shelter, medicine and support to refugees and victims.
Try it: the 3D and at home
Use the just war checklist in free play. Then find one peacemaker in the news and write what they did.
Key formulas and definitions
- Lasting peace = Justice + Forgiveness + Reconciliation
- Just war: cause + authority + last resort + good intention + success chance + proportion (all six)
- Terrorism = violence on civilians + aim of spreading fear
- Pacifism = no violence in any situation
Worked examples
1. Country A is invaded. Talks have failed. Its government declares war only to drive the invaders out and avoids hitting towns. Does this meet just war theory?
It has a just cause (self-defence), legitimate authority, last resort, good intention and proportional means. If it also has a reasonable chance of success, it meets the conditions.
2. Why can most nuclear attacks not be a just war?
A nuclear bomb kills civilians on a huge scale and harms future generations. This breaks proportionality and the rule of not targeting non-combatants.
3. Compare a pacifist and a just war supporter on defending your country.
A pacifist refuses to fight, choosing non-violent resistance and perhaps helping as a medic, because all killing is wrong. A just war supporter says fighting can be a duty to protect the innocent if all conditions are met. Both want peace but disagree about the means.
Common mistakes
- Saying religion is the main cause of all wars. Most wars have many causes.
- Thinking just war needs only a good cause. All conditions must be met.
- Confusing pacifism with doing nothing. Pacifists often work actively for peace.
- Calling every protest violent. Most protests are peaceful and legal.