Pacifism and Peacemaking
Pacifism is the belief that violence and war can never be morally justified, and that conflicts should always be resolved through peaceful means. Peacemaking is the active work believers and organisations do to end conflict and build reconciliation between opposing sides, which is a distinct idea from simply refusing to fight yourself. This topic explores religious and non-religious teachings on both ideas, and the debate about whether an absolute refusal to use violence is a realistic response to real conflict.
Before you start
No specific prerequisites - this is a good place to start.
Method
- Learn the definitions of pacifism, peacemaking, reconciliation, nonviolent protest and forgiveness.
- Distinguish absolute pacifism (no exceptions, ever) from conditional pacifism (violence only as a genuine last resort).
- Learn at least one religious teaching that supports pacifism from Christianity and one from Islam, each with an accurately cited source.
- Learn how religious believers and organisations engage in practical peacemaking, such as mediation and interfaith work, as distinct from personal pacifism.
- Learn contrasting views on whether nonviolent protest actually works against an opponent unwilling to compromise.
- Practise writing an answer that explains two contrasting views using an accurately cited source for each.
- Practise structuring a 12-mark evaluation: state a point, support it with religious teaching, give a contrasting point, then reach a justified conclusion.
Worked example
A student is given the statement: 'A pacifist would never fight, even if their own family were being attacked.' Decide whether this statement describes absolute pacifism or conditional pacifism, and explain your reasoning.
- Recall that absolute pacifism rejects violence in every circumstance, including self-defence or defending others.
- Recall that conditional pacifism accepts that violence might sometimes be used, but only as a genuine last resort.
- Note that the statement claims the pacifist would never fight, even to defend their own family.
- Compare this claim against the two definitions: refusing to fight even in this extreme scenario matches the 'no exceptions' feature of absolute pacifism.
- State the final answer: the statement describes absolute pacifism, since it allows no exception even for defending family.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Religious Studies exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A school poll asked 150 students: 'Would you ever consider fighting in a war?' 45 students said they would never fight under any circumstances. (a) Calculate the percentage of students who said they would never fight under any circumstances. (b) Using this figure, explain whether the poll shows most of the students hold an absolute or a conditional view of pacifism.
Justify the view that practical peacemaking work by religious charities and organisations, rather than the personal example of individual believers refusing to fight, is the more effective way for religious believers to bring about lasting peace.
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