8968494
Description
Flashcards by Jeni McClean, updated more than 1 year ago
|
Created by Jeni McClean
over 7 years ago
|
|
| Question | Answer |
| Nuclear Weapons | These are explosive devices that generate huge amounts of energy from fission and/or fusion nuclear reactions. They are the most dangerous weapons on the planet and can devastate cities potentially killing millions of people. Countries that possess nuclear weapons include the UK, USA, Israel, China, India etc. |
| Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) | These weapons can be nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological etc. that can kill and bring significant harm to large numbers of people. |
| Chemical weapons (CW) | These are weapons that use chemicals (e.g. mustard gas, chlorine, cyanide etc.) to poison, burn, or paralyse humans & destroy the environment. |
| Biological warfare (BW) | Biological weapons (can also be referred to as Ôgerm warfareŐ) use biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses with the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war. |
| Hiroshima | City in Japan, the site of an atomic bomb that killed 140,000 people at the end of WW2. |
| Justification for nuclear weapons | They prevent world wars from occurring due to the fear of the consequences of nuclear escalation. Defenders of nuclear weapons would point out as proof of their effectiveness the relative peace within Europe since the Second World War. |
| Fundamental problem for Christians on the use of Nuclear weapons | As the creator, only God has the authority to end the life He has created |
| Commandment (from Exodus 20) that can be used against indiscriminate killing of nuclear weapons | "Do not murder" |
| Quote on behalf of Baptist and Methodist churches | "Faith groups in the UK are united in their conviction that any use of nuclear weapons would violate (break) the sanctity of life and the principle of dignity core to our faith tradition." |
| Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament | A group of Christians who are attached to the larger campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). The intention of CCND is to commit the world to the permanent elimination of nuclear weapons. They produce regular newsletters, organise events to raise awareness of their campaigns, and promote the need to pray for peace and nuclear disarmament. |
| The use of chemical weapons | These contain lethal chemicals that when released cause serious injury and death. In 1993, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) made the production, stockpiling and use of these chemicals illegal worldwide. However, since then there is evidence to suggest that have been used in countries such as Iraq and Syria. |
| The use of biological weapons | Biological weapons introduce harmful bacteria and viruses into the atmosphere. When they enter the food chain or water supplies, they cause illness and death on a massive scale. As with chemical weapons, they are illegal but there are instances of their use and many countries still possess them. |
| Quote from Old Testament (Exodus 21) used to justify proportionate response to violence (not WMDs) | "If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye and tooth for tooth..." |
| Two reasons why Christians would be against WMDs | 1) They cause widespread suffering 2) They go against Jesus' teachings on peacemaking |
| Pakistan | The only Islamic country that has nuclear weapons. |
| Islamic attitudes to nuclear warfare | Muslims also believe that God has created all life on Earth and that they have a duty and responsibility to care for them and to work for peace. Life is sacred (holy) and using weapons which could kill millions of people and potentially destroy the planet goes against the teaching of Islam. In conventional warfare, innocent civilians must be protected, but with nuclear weapons this is not possible. |
| Quote from Quran (2:195) that appears to rule out the use of any weapons | "Do not contribute to your destruction with your own hands but do good, for God loves those who do good.Ó |
| Outcome of the Chemical Weapons Convention | The convention made the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons illegal |
| The recent use of chemical weapons | Both the governments of Iraq and Syria have used chemical weapons on citizens of their own country in recent years |
| Warning from the Quran about disproportionate action, and putting others at risk | "Fight in God's cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits. God does not love those who overstep the limits.Ó |
| General religious comment on indiscriminate warfare | Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction are unacceptable. No religion agrees with their use because they are too extreme and uncontrollable. They do not fit in with any Christian idea of a just war or Muslim holy war theory |
| Sanctity of life as an argument against WMD | Both Christians and Muslims believe in the sanctity (holiness) of life and so the effects of these weapons go completely against this belief. |
| Long term effect of chemical weapons | When the US used a chemical weapon called Agent Orange in the Vietnam War, thousands of civilians died or were left permanently disfigured by its burning effects. The chemical has also infected the landscape and more than 50 years on, people are still being affected with birth deformities and cancers etc. |
| WMD and lack of justice | Christians and Muslims will also argue that if wars are to be fought it should be to gain justice for the people. Weapons of mass destruction are considered unjust because they arbitrarily kill and maim civilians. |
| Argument for the use of Nuclear weapons and WMD | Many people claim that the existence of nuclear weapons is effective as a deterrent. They stop other attacking a country, whilst at the same time there is no intention to actually use them. In other words, they help to keep the peace. |
| Financial argument against the use of nuclear weapons | If the weapons are only being kept as a deterrent, they are a hugely expensive way of deterring war. This money could be spent on health, justice, education etc |
| Fear of nuclear weapons getting in the wrong hands | While there are nuclear weapons there are fears that they will be intercepted. Or that regimes like N Korea will develop their own and be a risk to the world. |
| Quote from the Roman Catholic Vatican II council against the use of nuclear weapons, 1960s | ŇThough the monstrous power of modern weapons acts as a deterrent, it is feared that the mere continuance of nuclear tests, undertaken with war in mind, will have fatal consequences for life on earthÉnuclear weapons should be banned.Ó |
Want to create your own Flashcards for free with GoConqr? Learn more.