Religion, violence, terrorism and war

Theme D1 covers religious and non-religious views on violence, terrorism, and war. AQA expects knowledge of the causes of war, reasons against war, terrorism, and religious responses to violence.

The causes and nature of war

War is organised, large-scale armed conflict between groups or states. Causes include:

• Greed — desire for resources (oil, land, water) or territory.
• Self-defence — protecting one's people from attack.
• Retaliation — responding to perceived injustice or aggression.
• Ideology/religion — fighting for beliefs, political systems or divine command.
• Nationalism/tribalism — ethnic, national or religious group identity.
• Injustice — opposing oppression (e.g. liberation movements).

Religious views on war

Christianity

• Just War Theory (developed from Augustine, 4th century; codified by Aquinas, 13th century): war can be morally justified if it meets specific criteria (addressed more fully in 3.2.D.2).
• Romans 13:1–4 — governing authorities bear the sword to punish wrongdoers; Christians may serve in armies.
• Most mainstream denominations (Catholic, Anglican) accept the possibility of just war.
• Pacifism — some Christians (Quakers, Mennonites, some Methodists) believe all war is wrong: "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9); "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44); "All who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52).
• The Sermon on the Mount is the primary pacifist text.

Islam

• Jihad (Arabic: "striving") has two dimensions:
  • Greater Jihad (jihad al-nafs) — the inner spiritual struggle against sin and ego. The Prophet Muhammad said this is the greater jihad.
  • Lesser Jihad — physical struggle, including war. Strictly regulated.
• The Qur'an permits war in self-defence: "Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress" (Qur'an 2:190). War cannot be started for aggression.
• Conditions for just war in Islam:
  • Declared by a legitimate authority.
  • For self-defence or to protect the oppressed.
  • Non-combatants (women, children, elderly, monks) must not be harmed.
  • Minimum necessary force.
  • Peace accepted when offered.
• "Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption in the land — it is as if he had slain mankind entirely" (Qur'an 5:32).

Terrorism

Terrorism is the use of violence against civilians to achieve political, ideological or religious goals through fear.

• Terrorism is condemned by all mainstream religious traditions.
• Christianity: terrorism violates the sanctity of life and the principle of non-combatant immunity. The Catholic Church explicitly condemns terrorism as an offence against human dignity.
• Islam: major Islamic bodies (including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Al-Azhar University) condemn terrorism absolutely. Groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS are regarded by most Muslims as perverting Islam. "There is no compulsion in religion" (Qur'an 2:256). The Qur'an forbids targeting civilians.
• Humanism: terrorism is an extreme form of violence that overrides individual rights and reason; always wrong.

Causes of violent conflict involving religion

Religion has been involved in many conflicts (the Crusades, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, sectarian conflict in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar). However, scholars debate whether these conflicts are about religion or whether religion is used to legitimise conflicts that are primarily about land, resources, or power.

Karen Armstrong (Fields of Blood, 2014) argues that religion is rarely the root cause of war; it is typically invoked to sanctify conflicts driven by political and economic factors.

Christopher Hitchens and the New Atheists argue the reverse: religion has an inherent tendency to violence because it involves absolute certainty and the sanctification of killing for God.

Religious reasons against war

• The sanctity of life — human life is sacred; war inevitably destroys it.
• "Love your neighbour" (Mark 12:31) — the enemy is also a neighbour.
• The Sermon on the Mount — "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9).
• Islam — "Allah loves not the aggressors" (Qur'an 2:190); peace (salam) is the goal.
• Many religious traditions promote reconciliation (the Coventry Cross of Nails; the community of Sant'Egidio mediates conflicts).

Examiner tips

• Distinguish "greater jihad" (inner struggle) from "lesser jihad" (external/military).
• Always cite the relevant scripture — Matthew 5:44 for pacifism, Qur'an 2:190 for regulated Islamic war.
• For 12-mark questions: contrast the pacifist and just war positions within Christianity; then add an Islamic or Humanist view.