RS15Peace and Conflict: Religion and 21st-Century Conflict

AQA has never yet set a question on this part of the spec, so it could come up. It needs care: the evidence is debated, and no current conflict should be blamed on a religion as a whole.

• Arguments that religion is a cause: some conflicts are between groups partly defined by religion; some extremist groups claim religious motives for violence; religious beliefs can make people certain they are right; history includes religious wars such as the Crusades. Some atheists argue that religion divides people into “us” and “them”.
• Arguments that it usually isn’t the main cause: most wars are about power, land, resources, national or ethnic identity, or past injustice; religion is often a label for a group rather than the reason for fighting; leaders may use religion to win support for a war they want for other reasons.
• A dated example: the Troubles in Northern Ireland (1968–98) are often described as Catholic against Protestant, but many historians see them as mainly political and national: whether Northern Ireland should stay in the UK or join Ireland. Religion marked which community people belonged to.
• Christian teaching: James 4:1-2 says wars come from people’s selfish desires; Jesus is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and Christians argue that violence in his name goes against his teaching.
• Muslim teaching: God made people into nations and tribes so that they may know one another (Qur’an 49:13), and “There is no compulsion in religion” (Qur’an 2:256, Pickthall’s translation). Muslims argue that violence in Islam’s name misuses it.
• Religion and peace: many religious believers and groups work to end conflicts (see the peacemaking section). Many people point out that some of the deadliest wars of the 20th century were not about religion.

Most conflicts have several causes at once

Conflict

A dispute between sides, which may be individuals, groups or nations.

Extremist

Someone whose views are far from the mainstream, sometimes including support for violence.

Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are weapons that cause widespread, indiscriminate damage and loss of life. They are one of Theme D’s three named issues: you must know Christian views.

• Nuclear weapons destroy by blast, heat and radiation. They have been used in war only twice: on Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and Nagasaki (9 August 1945).
• Chemical weapons use poison gases or nerve agents. Biological weapons spread deadly diseases.
• International law: the Biological Weapons Convention (1972) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (1993) ban these weapons for the countries that have joined them. The Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) aims to stop nuclear weapons spreading.
• Why they are seen as different from other weapons: they can’t tell soldiers from civilians, their effects spread and last for years (radiation, disease), and they harm animals and the environment.
• Having is not using. A country may keep nuclear weapons without ever intending to use them first. Questions may ask about having WMD or about using them: answer the one you are asked.

Nuclear, chemical and biological weapons

Weapons of mass destruction (WMD)

Weapons that cause widespread, indiscriminate damage, such as nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Nuclear weapon

A weapon of mass destruction that causes widespread damage and loss of life by blast, heat and radiation.

Indiscriminate

Not telling soldiers and civilians apart.

Nuclear deterrence means having nuclear weapons to stop other countries attacking, because they fear a nuclear reply.

• Mutually assured destruction (MAD): if both sides would be destroyed by a nuclear war, neither side will start one.
• Arguments for deterrence: there has been no nuclear war between nuclear powers since 1945; a government has a duty to protect its people; it may stop aggressive states threatening weaker ones; giving up weapons alone could leave a country open to blackmail.
• Arguments against: it threatens to kill millions of civilians, which many see as wrong in itself; it only works if a country is willing to use the weapons; accidents, mistakes or a reckless leader could still cause catastrophe; it encourages other countries to want nuclear weapons too (proliferation); it costs huge sums that could help the poor.
• Multilateral disarmament: all countries reduce their weapons together. Unilateral disarmament: one country gives up its weapons whatever others do.

The logic of nuclear deterrence

Nuclear deterrence

Having nuclear weapons to stop other countries attacking, for fear of a nuclear reply.

Mutually assured destruction (MAD)

The idea that a nuclear war would destroy both sides, so neither will start one.

Proliferation

The spread of nuclear weapons to more countries.

Multilateral disarmament

All countries reducing their weapons together.

• Trident: the UK’s nuclear weapons are carried by submarines, one of which is always at sea. New Dreadnought-class submarines are being built to replace the current Vanguard class.
• Warhead limit: the UK set a ceiling of 260 warheads in 2021, which it calls “a ceiling, not a target”. It keeps deliberate ambiguity about when it would use them.
• 2025: the government announced (24 June 2025) that the UK will buy at least 12 F-35A aircraft able to carry nuclear weapons and join NATO’s nuclear mission.
• The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) bans developing, having or using nuclear weapons. It came into force on 22 January 2021. As of July 2026 it had 96 signatories and 75 parties. The UK has not joined it, and nor has any other country with nuclear weapons.
• Last checked: November 2026.

Trident

The UK’s submarine-based nuclear weapons system.

TPNW

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (in force 2021), which bans nuclear weapons for the countries that join it.

Almost all religious believers oppose using WMD. They disagree more about having them as a deterrent.

• The Church of England has debated nuclear deterrence many times. Many of its leaders call for multilateral disarmament: all countries reducing their weapons together.
• The Catholic Church: earlier popes accepted deterrence only as a step towards disarmament. Pope Francis went further, calling possession itself immoral.
• Supporting the use of WMD goes against the teaching of every major religion, AQA’s examiners note. A Christian or Muslim who accepts deterrence still hopes the weapons are never used.

Christian CND

A Christian group in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, opposing nuclear weapons.

Peacemaking is working to bring about peace and reconciliation. Many believers see it as a duty: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9, World English Bible).

• Groups: Pax Christi (an international Catholic peace movement); the Fellowship of Reconciliation (a multi-faith peace movement); Quakers, who work for peace through mediation and campaigning; Coventry Cathedral’s Community of the Cross of Nails, a worldwide network for reconciliation.
• Muslim peacemaking: Qur’an 49:9 tells believers to make peace between those who fight; Qur’an 8:61 says to accept an enemy’s offer of peace. Many Muslim organisations in Britain run interfaith projects with Christians and Jews.
• How believers make peace: praying for peace; campaigning against war and the arms trade; mediating between sides; bringing divided communities together; interfaith dialogue; teaching young people about peace.

Peacemaking

Working to bring about peace and reconciliation.

Interfaith dialogue

People of different religions meeting to talk and work together.

Ending the fighting is only the start. Reconciliation restores relationships so that former enemies can live together.

• Coventry Cathedral was destroyed by bombing on 14 November 1940. Its leaders chose forgiveness over revenge: the words “Father forgive” were written on the wall of the ruins, and the cathedral built links with cities in Germany. Its Community of the Cross of Nails now works for reconciliation worldwide.
• Christian teaching: Jesus forgave those who crucified him (“Father, forgive them”, Luke 23:34); Christians pray “forgive us our sins, as we forgive” in the Lord’s Prayer; Paul says God has given believers “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
• Muslim teaching: God loves those who forgive; Qur’an 42:40 says whoever pardons and makes amends will be rewarded by God; Qur’an 41:34 says repelling evil with good can turn an enemy into a close friend.
• In practice: truth commissions (South Africa), meetings between victims and former fighters, shared schools and community projects (Corrymeela in Northern Ireland), and rebuilding together.
• Difficulties: some victims feel unable to forgive; forgiveness doesn’t mean there should be no justice; reconciliation can take generations.

Reconciliation

Restoring harmony after a relationship has broken down.

Victims of war include those killed or injured, refugees forced from their homes, and people left without food, water, health care or schools.

• What religious organisations do: emergency food, clean water, shelter and medical care; support for refugees; counselling for trauma; rebuilding homes, schools and hospitals; campaigning for peace and for the rights of refugees.
• Christian Aid (the relief and development agency of many British and Irish churches), CAFOD (the Catholic Church’s aid agency in England and Wales) and Tearfund (an evangelical Christian charity) all respond to conflicts as well as disasters.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide was founded in Birmingham in 1984. It gives emergency aid in war zones, helping people of any faith or none. Muslim Aid does similar work.
• Why Christians help: the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33-34); Jesus’ teaching that helping the hungry, the stranger and the sick is helping him (Matthew 25:35-36); love your neighbour (Matthew 22:39).
• Why Muslims help: the ummah, the worldwide Muslim family; zakah and sadaqah (charity); saving one life is like saving all humanity (Qur’an 5:32); a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari (13) says none of you truly believes until you want for your brother what you want for yourself.
• The Red Cross and Red Crescent help victims too, but they are humanitarian, not religious, organisations.

Refugee

Someone forced to leave their country because of war, persecution or disaster.

Relief

Emergency help in a crisis: food, water, shelter and medical care.

On Theme D’s three named issues, violence, weapons of mass destruction and pacifism, a 4-mark question may say: “In your answer you should refer to the main religious tradition of Great Britain and one or more other religious traditions.”

• The main religious tradition of Great Britain is Christianity, so at least one of your two beliefs must be clearly Christian. With no Christian belief, the most you can get is 2 out of 4.
• The second belief can be another Christian view or a view from Islam or another religion.
• Check the question’s key word: having or using WMD, nuclear or all WMD, and similar or different beliefs.
• Non-religious views earn nothing where the question asks for religious beliefs.