Religion, peace and conflict

1. Desmond Doss
2. White Rose

1. Just War Theory
   1. Thomas Aquinas
   2. Colonel von Stauffenberg
   3. World War II
   4. 7 criteria for Just War

Nota:

• Quakers are perhaps best known for our peace testimony. It comes from our belief that love is at the centre of existence and that all human life is of equal worth. It has led Quakers to refuse military service and work creatively for peace. This has ranged from practical work in areas affected by violent conflict to developing alternatives to violence at all levels. This could be personal or international.

1. 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.' Matthew 5:9
2. Justice
   1. The parable of the Sheep and the Goats Matthew 25: 31-46
   2. God said, 'learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.' Isaiah 1:17
      1. Sometimes ensuring justice, protecting the weak from the evil and powerful, can require the use of force.
         1. NATO bombs Yugoslavia
   3. Protest
   4. Holy War

      Nota:

      • All mainstream Christian denominations reject this concept BUT see the War in Ukraine and the Yugoslav/Serbian wars in Kosovo and Bosnia.
      1. The Russian invasion of Ukraine
      2. Apocalyptic
         1. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
            1. Conventional war
               1. Drones
            2. Nuclear weapons
               1. Deterence
               2. Multilateral disarmament
               3. Unilateral disamament
            3. Chemical and biological weapons
      3. Yugoslavia, Kosovo and Bosnia
3. Reconciliation
   1. Truth and Reconciliation Commission
   2. Corrymeela Community

1. Jesus prayed for those crucifiying him, 'Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.' Luke 23:34
2. A slightly different view of Jesus is given by John's account of Jesus cleansing the Temple John 2: 13-22