The document discusses Christianity's teachings about peace based on passages from the Bible. It states that Jesus taught peace, nonviolence, and love of enemies. While some early Christians refused military service, most later accepted just war theory allowing war under limited conditions. In the nuclear age, churches condemn the arms race and deterrence policies that could destroy life. Christians also work to overcome injustice and promote human rights as prerequisites for peace.

1. Christianity and Peace
Year 12 SOR II
Religion and Peace
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2. Video.google.com- John Lenon- “Give Peace a Chance”- 5 minutes 2
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3. Syllabus Points
Outline the principal teachings
about peace (in TWO religious
traditions)
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4. Christianity and Peace
In the Christian story, Jesus
Christ gave his followers the
gift of peace.
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5. On the Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 5–7), he declared
‘Blessed are the peacemakers’
and re-interpreted the
commandment
‘You shall not kill’
to non-retaliation to aggression
and love of enemies.
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6. For over twenty centuries
Christians have varied in their
interpretation of what this
challenge to peace and non-
violence means for their
everyday lives.
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7. Video.google.com- 222 people arrested marching for peace-4 minutes 7
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8. Respect for human life is
an enduring feature of
Christianity: intentional killing
of the innocent is forbidden.
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9. Everyday Christian living
is meant to be marked by
the qualities of gentleness
and compassion proposed
in the Bible
(e.g. Colossians 3).
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10. Colossians 3
(8) “But now ye also put off all
these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out
of your mouth.”
(15) “And let the peace of God rule
in your hearts”
10
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11. Safeguarding “Peace”
Examples of the Christian
response to ‘peace’
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12. The issue of safeguarding
the peace is more complex.
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13. Many early Christians
refused to serve in the
Roman army.
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14. The Testimony of Peace
(1660) of the Society of
Friends (sometimes called
Quakers) declares that they
will never fight and engage in
war against others.
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15. On the other hand, most
Christians recognise the
need for legitimate defence
by military force in time of
war.
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16. The traditional ‘just war’
doctrine, developed in the
thirteenth century sought
not to rationalise violence
and war, but to limit its
scope and methods.
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17. This doctrine allows war
only when a legitimate
authority declares war as a
last resort for a just
cause…..
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18. ...(e.g. certain, severe
danger) with good intention,
reasonable hope of success
and proportionality between
the evil of war and the good
to be gained.
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19. The nuclear age has firmed
up many Christian’s
approach to violence.
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20. In the nuclear age, Christian
churches have consistently
condemned the arms race
and ‘nuclear deterrence
theory’ because it has the
potential to destroy everything
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21. Furthermore, Christian
groups recognise that justice
and respect for human rights
are the precondition of peace
and they work extensively to
overcome injustice.
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22. These Christians are normally
horrified at events like the
invasion of Iraq by Western
forces, often using ‘Christian
principles’
(freedom and human rights)
as their justification.
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23. Just War Handout and Activity
23
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24. End
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