How has the Catholic Church responded to the Crusades in recent times?

Pope John Paul II asked forgiveness in 2000 for sins committed by Christians, including violence in the service of the faith. The Church now sees such violence as a betrayal of the Gospel.

What does Jesus say in Matthew 10:34?

Jesus says, “I have come to bring not peace but the sword”. The saying can seem to support religious war.

How do Catholics interpret Matthew 10:34–36?

Catholics understand the sword as a symbol of division, not a call to fight. Following Jesus may divide families when some believe and others do not.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

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Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to peace and Jesus as a peacemaker Christian peacemaking and the work of Pax Christi Christian attitudes to conflict and its causes Christian pacifism, passive resistance and Martin Luther King Christian attitudes to the Just War theory Christian attitudes to Holy War Christian attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Christian responses to violence, war and terrorism

Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Islam: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

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Topic overview Buddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Buddhism Buddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittest Buddhist attitudes to abortion Buddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlife Buddhist responses to arguments against life after death Buddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care Buddhist responses to the environment and animal rights

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Topic overview Hindu responses to the origins and value of the universe Hindu teachings on the sanctity of life Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life Hindu attitudes to abortion Hindu teachings and arguments about life after death Hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Hindu attitudes to euthanasia Hindu responses to the natural world and animal rights

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Topic overview Hindu attitudes to justice Hindu attitudes to crime and its causes Hindu teachings on good, evil and suffering Hindu attitudes to punishment: danda and prayascitta Hindu attitudes to the aims of punishment Hindu teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Hindu teachings on the treatment of criminals Hindu attitudes to the death penalty

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Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Judaism Jewish teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Jewish family How the Jewish community supports families Jewish attitudes to contraception and family planning Jewish teachings on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Jewish family Judaism and gender prejudice

Judaism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Judaism, science and the origins of the universe The value of life in the Tenakh Jewish responses to evolution Jewish attitudes to abortion Jewish arguments for life after death Jewish responses to arguments against life after death Jewish attitudes to euthanasia Judaism and the environment

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Sikhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Sikhism Sikh teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the Sikh family How the sangat supports Sikh families Sikh attitudes to contraception Sikh attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Sikh family Sikh opposition to gender prejudice

Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Sikh responses to the origins and value of the universe Sikh teaching on the sanctity of life Sikh responses to evolution Sikh attitudes to abortion Sikh responses to arguments for life after death Sikh responses to arguments against life after death Sikh attitudes to euthanasia Sikh responses to the natural world and animal rights

Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh attitudes to justice Sikh attitudes to crime and the Five Thieves Sikh teaching on good, evil and suffering Sikh attitudes to punishment Sikh views on the aims of punishment Sikh teaching on forgiveness Sikh teaching on the treatment of criminals Sikh attitudes to the death penalty

Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh teaching on peace Sikhs and peacemaking Sikh attitudes to conflict Sikh attitudes to pacifism and passive resistance Dharam Yudh: the Sikh Just War The saint-soldier and Sikh views on holy war Sikh attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Sikh responses to violence, war and terrorism

Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Gurbani and Guru Nanak's revelation at the river Visions and mystical experiences in Sikhism Numinous experience, vismaad and enlightenment in Sikhism Miracles and Sikh belief Sikh attitudes to religious experience The design argument and Sikh belief The cosmological argument and Sikh belief A Sikh upbringing and belief in God

Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Sikh teaching on human rights Sikh attitudes to equality and solutions to inequality Sikh attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith society Sikh attitudes to prejudice and discrimination against religions Sikh teaching on racial harmony and Begampura Sikh responses to racial discrimination Sikh attitudes to social justice and Deg Tegh Fateh Sikh attitudes to wealth and poverty

Catholic Christianity: Peace and Conflict

Catholic attitudes to Holy War

3 things to know
Paper 2

Overview

The Crusades and the Church's recent response to them, Matthew 10:34 to 40 on the sword and following Jesus, Old Testament wars, the 2019 Document on Human Fraternity, and Humanist criticism.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What do Catholics understand by a Holy War?

Numbers

What were the Crusades?

Key term

What does the Catholic Church teach about Holy War today?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What do Catholics understand by a Holy War?
Model answer
A Holy War is a war fought for religious reasons and believed to be commanded or approved by God. A religious leader usually declares it.
2
What were the Crusades?
Model answer
The Crusades were wars fought by Christians from 1095 onwards to capture Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade at Clermont.
3
What does the Catholic Church teach about Holy War today?
Model answer
The Church teaches that no war can be fought in God's name today. Violence must never be used to spread or impose faith.
4
How has the Catholic Church responded to the Crusades in recent times?
Model answer
Pope John Paul II asked forgiveness in 2000 for sins committed by Christians, including violence in the service of the faith. The Church now sees such violence as a betrayal of the Gospel.
5
What does Jesus say in Matthew 10:34?
Model answer
Jesus says, “I have come to bring not peace but the sword”. The saying can seem to support religious war.
6
How do Catholics interpret Matthew 10:34–36?
Model answer
Catholics understand the sword as a symbol of division, not a call to fight. Following Jesus may divide families when some believe and others do not.

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