Pacifism is the belief that violence and war are always wrong. Pacifists settle disputes by peaceful means only.

What is a conscientious objector?

A conscientious objector refuses to fight because of a deeply held belief. Tribunals in both world wars assessed such claims in Britain.

Which teaching of Jesus supports pacifism?

Matthew 5:44 records Jesus telling followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. Pacifists treat the teaching as ruling out killing.

Give one argument against pacifism.

Critics argue that refusing to fight allows an aggressor to win. Standing aside while civilians are killed can itself cause harm.

AQA GCSE Religious Studies A 8062

BuddhismReligion

Topic overview The life of the Buddha The Dhamma and the Three Marks of Existence The human personality and human destiny The Four Noble Truths The Eightfold Path and the Threefold Way Places of worship, puja and devotional practice Meditation: samatha, vipassana and visualisation Death, mourning and Buddhist festivals Kamma, rebirth, compassion and loving kindness The five precepts and the six perfections

ChristianityReligion

Topic overview The nature of God and the problem of evil The Trinity and the role of Word and Spirit in creation The incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension Sin, salvation and atonement Resurrection, judgement, heaven and hell Forms of worship and prayer Baptism and the meaning of sacrament Holy Communion and the Eucharist Pilgrimage, Christmas and Easter The Church in the local and worldwide community

Catholic ChristianityReligion

Topic overview The Trinity and the Nicene Creed Creation, human dignity and stewardship The incarnation and redemption Life after death: judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory The sacramental nature of reality and the sacraments of initiation The eucharist and the sacraments of healing and service Prayer, the Lord's Prayer and popular piety Pilgrimage and the Catholic funeral rite Catholic social teaching and loving our neighbour Mission, evangelism and Catholic agencies

HinduismReligion

Topic overview Brahman and the three features of the divine The Tri-murti, the deities and avatara Matter, maya and Hindu cosmology Atman, samsara, karma and moksha Dharma, the four aims and personal virtues Places and focuses of worship Forms of worship: havan, puja, arati and darshan Diwali, Holi and pilgrimage The four paths of yoga Hindu environmental projects and charities

IslamReligion

Topic overview Tawhid and the six articles of faith The nature of God: mercy, justice and Adalat Angels, predestination and human freedom Akhirah: resurrection, judgement, heaven and hell Risalah, the holy books and the imamate Shahadah, the Five Pillars and the Ten Obligatory Acts Salah and its significance Sawm and zakah: fasting and almsgiving Hajj: the pilgrimage to Makkah Jihad and the festivals of Islam

JudaismReligion

Topic overview The nature of God and the Shekhinah The Messiah, judgement and life after death The Covenant with Abraham and the Covenant at Sinai The mitzvot, free will and key moral principles The synagogue and its features Public worship, the Amidah and prayer in the home Shabbat in the home and the synagogue Tenakh, Talmud and the dietary laws Brit Milah, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, marriage and mourning Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Pesach

SikhismReligion

Topic overview The Mool Mantar and the nature of God God as Creator and God's relationship with creation Human life, the Sikh virtues and living as a gurmukh Karma, rebirth and the aim of mukti The equality of all, sewa and the sangat The gurdwara and its religious features Prayer in the home, nam japna and the akhand path Langar and the gurdwara in the Sikh community Festivals and visiting historical gurdwaras Birth and naming, Amrit Sanskar and the Five Ks

Theme A: Relationships and FamiliesTheme

Topic overview Human sexuality and homosexual relationships Sex before and outside marriage Contraception and family planning Marriage, cohabitation and same-sex marriage Divorce and remarriage The nature and purpose of families Gender roles, equality and discrimination

Theme B: Religion and LifeTheme

Topic overview The origins of the universe Stewardship, dominion and the value of the world The use and abuse of the environment The use and abuse of animals The origins of human life: creation and evolution Sanctity of life, quality of life and abortion Euthanasia, death and life after death

Theme C: The Existence of God and RevelationTheme

Topic overview The Design argument The First Cause argument The argument from miracles Evil and suffering as an argument against God Science, atheism and humanism Special revelation: visions and enlightenment General revelation and ideas about the nature of God

Theme D: Religion, Peace and ConflictTheme

Topic overview Peace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation Violence, violent protest and terrorism Reasons for war: greed, self-defence and retaliation The just war theory Holy war and religion as a cause of conflict Nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction Pacifism, peace-making and the victims of war

Theme E: Religion, Crime and PunishmentTheme

Topic overview Good, evil and intention Reasons for crime Types of crime and views about criminals The aims of punishment The treatment of criminals Forgiveness The death penalty

Theme F: Religion, Human Rights and Social JusticeTheme

Topic overview Prejudice, discrimination and equality The status of women in religion Religious attitudes to homosexuality Racial prejudice and discrimination Human rights, freedom of belief and social justice Attitudes to wealth Poverty, exploitation and charity

Theme G: St Mark’s Gospel: The Life of JesusTextual studies

Topic overview John the Baptist, the baptism and the temptation Early miracles and the rejection at Nazareth Caesarea Philippi and the transfiguration Passion predictions, true greatness and Bartimaeus The Last Supper and Gethsemane The trials, the crucifixion and the empty tomb The titles of Jesus and the authority of Mark's gospel

Theme H: St Mark’s Gospel as a Source of Religious, Moral and Spiritual TruthsTextual studies

Topic overview The parables of the Kingdom Entering the Kingdom: children, wealth and the greatest commandment Jesus and those his society rejected Faith, giving and devotion The call and mission of the disciples The cost of discipleship, and failure The commission, and the authority of Jesus' teaching today

Theme D: Religion, Peace and Conflict

Pacifism, peace-making and the victims of war

3 things to know
Paper 2

Overview

Students learn absolute and relative pacifism, Quakers and conscientious objectors, Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu and Gandhi as peacemakers, and how religious organisations such as Christian Aid help victims of war.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Define pacifism.

Key term

Explain the difference between absolute and relative pacifism.

Key term

Which Christian group is best known for pacifism?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Define pacifism.
Model answer
Pacifism is the belief that violence and war are always wrong. Pacifists settle disputes by peaceful means only.
2
Explain the difference between absolute and relative pacifism.
Model answer
Absolute pacifism rejects violence in every situation without exception. Relative pacifism allows force in extreme cases, such as stopping a genocide.
3
Which Christian group is best known for pacifism?
Model answer
The Quakers, or Religious Society of Friends, are known for their peace testimony. Quakers have refused military service and worked for peace since the seventeenth century.
4
What is a conscientious objector?
Model answer
A conscientious objector refuses to fight because of a deeply held belief. Tribunals in both world wars assessed such claims in Britain.
5
Which teaching of Jesus supports pacifism?
Model answer
Matthew 5:44 records Jesus telling followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. Pacifists treat the teaching as ruling out killing.
6
Give one argument against pacifism.
Model answer
Critics argue that refusing to fight allows an aggressor to win. Standing aside while civilians are killed can itself cause harm.

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AMalaikah is the Arabic word for angels.

BBelief in angels is one of the six articles of faith.

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