1. Unit – Religion and Conflict
Revision Notes:
Unit – Religion and Conflict
Do you know your key words off by heart? Practice!
Conflict: Clashes and breakdown of relationships. Example: Fighting.
Interfaith Dialogue: Exploring common grounds between different faith groups. Example: Corrymeela.
Just War: A war that can be justified according to certain conditions. Example: A good cause
Pacifism: The belief that any form of violence or war is unacceptable. Example: Refusing to fight in wars
Non-Violent Protest: Showing disapproval without damaging property or using any violence. Example: Marching/Petitions
Reconciliation: Making up and saying sorry after a quarrel or dispute and working together again. Example: Forgiving each other.

2. New Testament (words of Jesus)
Wars and conflict within communities and between countries occur every day. An example of this is the war and crisis in Israel, between Israelis (Jewish people) and Palestinians (Muslim people). This war has been going on since the Holocaust ended after WW2 when the Jewish community who had survived the Holocaust were given areas of land to live in Palestine. Ever since there has been people being killed every week due to this conflict over land and religion.
‘Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends’.
New Testament (words of Jesus)
This means that there is no greater sacrifice a man can make than that of laying down his life for another. For example: Jesus sacrificed his life for the sins of humanity.
‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’. New Testament (words of Jesus)
This means that Christians should love and forgive their enemies and not hold a grudge. They should pray for those who hurt and fight against them.

3. Harb al-Muqadis - Holy War
When the Prophet Muhammad was asked which people fought in the name of Allah, he said: "The person who struggles so that Allah’s word is supreme is the one serving Allah’s cause".
The idea of Jihad is often misunderstood by non-Muslims who then see Islam as being a violent religion, when the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful.
Harb al-Muqadis - Holy War
Muslims may fight in self-defence but are forbidden to begin a fight. The aim of fighting is to create a situation where Muslims are free to worship Allah and live in peace.
One aim of Holy War may be to create a democracy where people are free to live their lives without beliefs and politics being imposed on them. There must be no hatred or vengeance in the fighting. As soon as peace is offered, fighting must stop. Once peace has been restored the differences between people must be resolved.
Hate your enemy mildly; he may become your friend one day.
‘And fight in the cause of God those who fight with you, but do not go over the limits: God does not love the aggressors’.
Qu’ran
This means it is acceptable to fight in the name of Allah. But your methods must be fair and you must not go over the top.