World War One1914-1918

Millions die in trenches

World War Two 1939 -1945

Millions die worldwide

What is a war?

War is when a conflict involves the use of weapons for a minimum of 60 minutes when one or both sides use their regular armed forces

Since 1945 and the end of World War Two, not one day has gone by where there has not been a war going on somewhere in the world

Erik Remarque wrote a story which was made into a film of what war in the trenches was really like. He based it on his own personal experience

Task : For your book

Title Religion and WarComplete questions 1, 2 and 3. Question 2 is particularly important as it asks you to compare 3 different religious views which is level 6+ territory

Extension TaskCollect the activity sheet on the Cuban Missile Crisis

Christians are opposed to war because Jesus said it was wrong. However Christians feel that war is sometimes necessary to get rid of an evil dictator. Some groups like the Quakers are pacifists and are totally opposed to war.

Muslims believe that war is right in some circumstances such as in self-defence or fighting against tyrants and injustice. Such a war would be considered holy. This is called a ‘jihad’. They are opposed to nuclear weapons which kill innocent civilians and the environment.

Buddhists do their best to avoid killing and other forms of violence. To them all life is interconnected so injuring others would be like cutting off your left hand with your right. They believe that meditation and compromise should be used to stop war at all costs.

Some people talk about war being justified (right) if :

the war is fought for a ‘just cause’

or

where one or both sides believe that God is on their side and they are fighting against evil

Now think of a sentence about war with this word in it.

Now think of a sentence about war with this word in it.

• can compare the life and teachings of famous religious people with my own life and experiences• can see reasons for people’s beliefs and comment on if you agree with them.• can compare the moral views held by some people with those of your own.• can see a reason for people’s religious practices and lifestyles even if I don’t agree with them.• can understand how religious beliefs and ideas may be expressed in different ways.

To describe a war as ‘just’ or ‘acceptable’ is sometimes difficult to believe. The

following images of war should make us all stop and think about how we can justify

starting a war.

Task : For your book

Title Religion and WarComplete questions 1, 2 and 3. Question 2 is particularly important as it asks you to compare 3 different religious views which is level 6+ territory

Extension TaskCollect the activity sheet on the Cuban Missile Crisis

You are to design a powerpoint with a war theme which combines images of war with statements about war both for and against. You can add an appropriate piece of music to your powerpoint to attract more attention and make your theme more important.Use the link on the Ibstock Learning Zone to give you an idea of what to produce. Hand your work in on a memory stick to Mr Bower by January 30th.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfa9PS1wxpM

Look at this example of how you could present a war theme for your presentation. For adding music, look at the file on ILZ for how to do this. You could add in animated clipart. Folder for this is on the RS ILZ

Research one war since 1945 . Look for

causes, casualties and what religion

would say about it.

When war is justified When war is unjustified

Consider in pairs different excuses for countries going to war. Divide the excuses into ‘justified’ (which means the reason is right) or ‘unjustified’ (which means the reason is wrong).

To get rid ofan evil tyrant

To invade a country to get revenge

To seize the wealth of another country

To seize lands which were once

yours

Your neighbour has different political or

religious views to your own

To prevent terrorists in your neighbouring

country from attacking your people at home

To prevent a country from becoming too

powerfulTo support an ally

country which has asked for help

Following events on 9/11 America vowed it would hunt down all terrorists around the world, even if this meant invading countries which supported terrorism. The USA was worried about Arab countries using terror weapons against the west.

Soon after 9/11 the USA invaded Afghanistan and removed the extreme Muslim government called the Taliban. It was felt that the Taliban were giving help and shelter to the terrorist groups

The British army have been in Afghanistan for 8 years fighting to keep the Taliban Muslim extremists from regaining control and supporting terror groups like Al Qaeda

We are in Afghanistan to make sure that the Taliban do not return to control the country. If we pull out it will give terrorists a place where they can safely plan attacks on targets in the West and although the loss of life is hard to bear, it would be much greater if terrorists

groups like Al Qaeda are allowed to carry out their acts of violence without punishment by

our forces.David Cameron, Prime Minister

Why is it so necessary to fight a war so far away in a lawless country like

Afghanistan? My son’s life has been thrown away on a war which means nothing to my family. Why are other countries not getting involved in it?

Why do we have to take the burden of fighting this conflict?

Mother of Corporal James Bateman killed in Afghanistan June 2008

• can give different religious and non-religious views about what makes up a person’s identity.• can give different religious and non-religious views about if the Afghan war is right or not• can show how religious beliefs and ideas may vary according to when a person lived and their different situation.

For a level 5The reasons why we are fighting in Afghanistan are……

For a level 5-6The reasons why we should be leaving the country now include……..

For a level 6-7Some of the things that world religions would say about this war are…….Finally, in my opinion I think……….

A : Muslims only fight in self-defence but Christians fight against dictators. Some may think the Taliban are dictators so it makes war right. Buddhists would never hurt anyone so would be against it.

B : The Taliban are Muslims so they might see it is right to carry on the war because it is self-defence against the British. Christians wouldn’t like it but they think the Taliban are cruel so it would be fighting a tyrant. Buddhists won’t fight but might talk to the terrorists to stop what they are doing.

C :Buddhists don’t like violence so they would say to come out of the war. Muslims and Christians would be different as Muslims only fight in self-defence, but stopping Al Qaeda from bombing us would be a little bit like self-defence. Christians try to follow Jesus’ teachings of not using violence.

Discuss whether we should keep nuclear weapons or ban the use of them completely.