How can different faith positions lead to conflict? LO: To analyse a variety of different religious conflicts and identify the causes of these conflicts. STARTER: Look at the image. 1.What cause of religious conflict does it suggest? 2.Do you agree that this is a cause of religious conflict?

Why are Israel and the Palestinians fighting over Gaza? 1.Watch the two clips, identify which of the following things the conflict concerns: MONEY POWER LAND impact-on-palestinian-and-israeli-children/3224.html 2. What role has religion played in this conflict?

Look at the images below. They represent recent news stories to do with religion that also caused conflict. Work with your partner to identify the news stories they represent. Read the short newspaper articles and write a SUMMARY (a shortened version) of the article beneath the image on your worksheet.

A woman has been told by the European Court of Human Rights that she should have been allowed to wear a Christian cross at work. Nadia Eweida's employers, British Airways, banned visible jewellery but the court said that went against her human rights. BA banned the cross a few years ago but changed their uniform policy in 2007 to allow crosses. Nadia wanted the decision to be confirmed by law because she believes people should have a right to express their religion. The court's decision doesn't mean that everyone will be able to wear religious symbols at work - companies will still be able to set reasonable uniform rules and expect their employees to obey them. In this case, it was decided that British Airways was being unreasonable. A young bull from west Wales who faced being put down has been given the right to live after a campaign by the Hindu monks who worship him. Shambo tested positive for a cow version of a lung disease called tuberculosis - or TB for short. Welsh Assembly officials feared that Shambo would be a threat to other creatures if he was allowed to live. But a judge overturned the ruling, saying the bull could live, as long as he was kept away from other animals. However, he also said he could not guarantee that Shambo "would live until his natural death". Sacred to Hindus That means that Shambo's future is uncertain and it's possible that he might be put down in the future. Cows are sacred in the Hindu religion and the monks argued that, because of this, Shambo should live. They said that the bull's "religious importance" meant that normal farm animal rules shouldn't apply to Shambo. It's possible that the Welsh Assembly might appeal against the High Court's decision. French schools in over 20 countries have closed amid security fears. There are concerns that they could come under attack, after a magazine published offensive cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet Muhammad is one of the most important figureheads in the religion of Islam and many Muslims see an attack on him as an insult to their faith. French embassies across North Africa and the Middle East have also been closed.

You are now going to read a newspaper article on the HINDU- MUSLIM conflict. Complete your worksheet which analyses the different causes of the conflict.

Deadly Violence Erupts Again in India's Hindu-Muslim Conflict Published: May 09, 2002 Soldiers and paramilitary forces patrolled flashpoints in western Gujarat State today after at least 16 people were killed and nearly 50 wounded in a fresh upsurge of Hindu-Muslim violence. ''It's sheer madness ruling the streets,'' said Sahiteesh Dave, 29, whose store had been shut for the last three days because of a curfew in Ahmedabad's mainly Hindu western outskirts. ''There's no security in our lives -- nobody can predict what will happen where.'' On Tuesday, at least 14 people died and 45 were wounded after a Muslim teacher was dragged off his scooter on his way to work and burned to death. That started off revenge attacks by Muslims in which one Hindu cart-puller was stabbed and burned to death and his body dumped in a well. Other victims were stoned or stabbed to death. Many people have questioned the reasons for this violence. There is much anger and fear amongst Muslims about the amount of political influence Hindu’s hold. Muslims believe the views and concerns of Hindus dominate in government leading to the oppression of other religious groups. This lack of political representation leaves Muslims feeling powerless. Unable to voice their opinions and fight their cause through non-violent means. Furthermore disputes have erupted over land. A recent cause of violence was the destruction of a Mosque on land that a Hindu community claimed as their own. These instances of violence lead to revenge attacks, including riots and bombings. A long history of suspicion of the other religious community has led to distrust. Generation after generation have feared their Muslim or Hindu neighbours, lacking accurate knowledge of the other faiths beliefs and practices. Often, this suspicion is fuelled by the media misrepresenting the other religion. Exaggerating differences rather than similarities between the faiths and religious communities.

Political Influence Suspicion Power Land Misrepresentation in the media Conflict Muslims feel powerless – unable to voice their opinion and fight for their cause. How can different faith positions lead to conflict? CASE STUDY - India’s Hindu-Muslim conflict. Read the newspaper article. 1.Complete the explanations for each cause of conflict. The first one has been done for you. 2.Draw arrows to show how different causes of conflict link together. An example has been provided.

Political Influence Suspicion Power Land Misrepresentation in the media Conflict Muslims feel powerless – unable to voice their opinion and fight for their cause. How can different faith positions lead to conflict? CASE STUDY - India’s Hindu-Muslim conflict. Suspicion is caused by misrepresentation of religions in the media.

Homework: Which factor (or combination of factors) do you think is most significant in causing conflict? I believe the most important factor that causes conflict between religions is….. Because… This is linked to another factor……………. Because….. Furthermore,…. In addition,…………

Plenary: How can different faith positions lead to conflict? Identify 3 different answers to this question: MISUNDERSTANDING MISREPRESENTATION IN THE MEDIA LAND SUSPICION POWER FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN