What is peace?

Peace is more than the absence of war. It means living in harmony — a state of calm, wholeness and right relationships between people, groups and nations. Most religions treat peace as a gift and a goal, something believers must actively work for.

• Christianity: Jesus is called the "Prince of Peace" and teaches "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9). Believers are urged, "as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18).
• Islam: the greeting As-salamu alaykum ("peace be upon you") reflects that salam (peace) shares a root with Islam. The Qur'an teaches that saving one life is like saving all humanity (Qur'an 5:32).

Justice — treating people fairly and putting right what is wrong — is seen as a foundation for lasting peace: many believers argue there can be no true peace while injustice remains.

Key idea: for many religious and non-religious people alike, real peace requires justice — not simply the stopping of fighting.

Defining peace

Forgiveness and reconciliation

Forgiveness means letting go of the desire for revenge and pardoning someone who has done wrong. Reconciliation goes further: it is the restoring of a broken relationship, bringing former enemies back together.

• Christianity: the Lord's Prayer asks God to "forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us." Jesus told Peter to forgive "seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22) — meaning without limit.
• Islam: Allah is Al-Ghafur, "the Most Forgiving." The Qur'an praises those who "pardon and make reconciliation" (Qur'an 42:40), while also permitting fair, proportionate justice.

Reconciliation is central to peacemaking: real examples include South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission after apartheid, which sought to heal a divided nation through honesty and forgiveness rather than revenge.

Define the term

Why do wars happen?

Conflict rarely has a single cause. The 4RS1 spec expects you to recognise a range of them:

• Politics & power — disputes over who governs, or one nation seeking to dominate another.
• Resources — competition for land, water, oil, food or wealth.
• Ideology & nationalism — clashing beliefs or a group asserting its identity over others.
• Religion — sometimes a factor, though conflicts labelled "religious" usually also have deep political and economic roots.
• Injustice — oppression, inequality or historical grievances left unresolved.

Balance: most religious teachers argue that faith should be a force against conflict. Where religion is misused to justify violence, believers commonly say this distorts the teachings rather than following them.

Name the main cause

Tap the cause that best fits each example.

Just War theory

Just War theory sets out the conditions a war must meet to be morally acceptable. Developed in Christian thought by thinkers such as St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas, it does not say war is good — it tries to limit war and reduce suffering. Similar ideas about lawful, restrained warfare exist in Islam and other traditions.

The main conditions for going to war (jus ad bellum) are usually listed as:

List a criterion

Is this Just War thinking?

Holy war and jihad

A holy war is fighting believed to be in defence of, or on behalf of, one's faith. Historically the Christian Crusades were fought as holy wars, and some traditions have used similar ideas. Today many believers are cautious about the term, arguing that faith should not be used to justify aggression.

Understanding jihad accurately: in Islam, jihad literally means "struggle" or "striving" in the way of God. Muslim scholars traditionally distinguish:

• the greater jihad — the inner, personal struggle to be a good person, resist temptation and live faithfully. Many teachers regard this as the most important meaning.
• the lesser jihad — the outward struggle, which can include military defence, but only under strict conditions: it must be defensive or to right a serious wrong, declared properly, proportionate, and must protect non-combatants. Fighting "without a just cause" is against the Qur'an's teaching.

Misconception to avoid: jihad does not mean "holy war = terrorism." Its primary and most common meaning is personal spiritual struggle. The overwhelming majority of Muslims reject terrorism, and mainstream Islamic teaching forbids the killing of innocents.

What does "jihad" mean?

Pacifism

Pacifism is the belief that violence and war are always wrong and that disputes should be settled peacefully. Some pacifists are absolute — refusing to fight even in self-defence; others accept that force may sometimes be a tragic last resort but work tirelessly to avoid it.

• Christianity: Jesus taught "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:39) and "love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44). The earliest Christians were largely pacifist. The Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) are a well-known peace church who refuse to bear arms.
• Other views: many Buddhists emphasise ahimsa (non-harm); Gandhi drew on Hindu ahimsa for non-violent resistance. Some non-religious humanists are pacifists too, on ethical grounds about the value of human life.

Balance — pacifism vs Just War: both aim to reduce suffering. Pacifists say fighting can never be justified; Just War supporters say limited, defensive force can be the lesser evil against a greater wrong. Sincere believers hold each view.

Who is the pacifist?

Non-violent protest

Non-violent protest is opposing injustice without using violence — through marches, strikes, boycotts, civil disobedience and speaking out. Many faith traditions see it as a powerful way to seek justice while respecting the dignity of opponents.

• Martin Luther King Jr. — a Christian minister who led the US civil-rights movement with disciplined non-violence, inspired by Jesus's teaching and by Gandhi.
• Mahatma Gandhi — used satyagraha ("truth-force") and ahimsa in India's independence struggle.

Some believers argue that where peaceful means completely fail against tyranny, limited resistance may be justified — while others insist non-violence must never be abandoned. This is a genuine and respected disagreement.

Terrorism

Terrorism is the use of violence and fear against civilians to achieve political, ideological or religious aims, outside the rules of lawful conflict. It deliberately targets innocent people, which is why it is so widely condemned.

• Religious response: mainstream teaching in every major religion condemns terrorism. Christianity and Islam alike forbid the murder of innocents; the Qur'an's teaching that to kill one innocent person is like killing all humanity (5:32) is often quoted against it.
• Not a "religious" act: when violence is carried out in a religion's name, faith leaders and the vast majority of believers say it betrays the religion rather than expressing it.

Avoid stereotyping: terrorism has been carried out by people of many backgrounds, beliefs and none. It must never be linked to any one religion or community. Judging a whole faith by the actions of a tiny minority is both inaccurate and unjust.

Weapons of mass destruction

Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are weapons designed to kill very large numbers of people — nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Because they cannot distinguish soldiers from civilians, they raise deep ethical problems.

• Against WMD: most religious teaching argues they can never meet the Just War conditions of proportionality and protecting civilians, so their use — and even the threat of it — is gravely wrong. Many faith bodies and non-religious campaigners call for disarmament.
• The deterrence argument: some claim that simply possessing such weapons prevents war by making any attack too costly (deterrence). Others reply that this still relies on a willingness to commit mass slaughter, which cannot be justified.

Key term: WMD = weapons (nuclear, chemical, biological) that cause destruction on a massive scale and cannot spare civilians.

WMD and Just War

Individuals & organisations for peace

The spec expects you to know how believers respond — how faith is put into action for peace. Religious and non-religious groups often work side by side:

• The United Nations (UN) — a non-religious body founded to maintain international peace, resolve disputes and protect human rights.
• Pax Christi — a Catholic movement promoting peace, reconciliation and disarmament.
• The Quakers — long-standing work in conflict mediation and relief.
• Islamic Relief and other faith charities — aid and reconciliation in war-torn areas.
• Individuals — figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu and Malala Yousafzai have worked for peace, justice and reconciliation, drawing on both religious and shared human values.

How believers respond: praying and worshipping for peace; giving to and volunteering with peace charities; campaigning against war and WMD; forgiving and seeking reconciliation; and living peacefully day to day.

Match the view to the group

Tap a view on the left, then its best-matching group or figure on the right.

Key terms map

Bringing the vocabulary together — learn these accurately for 4RS1:

Term ↔ definition

Tap a key term, then tap its correct definition.

Just War criterion — or not?

Tap a statement, then drop it in the right box. Only genuine Just War conditions go in the green box.

Holding views fairly

4RS1 rewards answers that show different points of view and treat them with respect. On peace and conflict there is no single "religious view":

• Some believers are pacifists — war can never be right.
• Some accept Just War — limited, defensive force can be the lesser evil.
• Some emphasise justice — peace without fairness is not real peace.
• Non-religious people (e.g. humanists) reach these same positions through reason and the value of human life.

Exam tip: to reach the top marks, present contrasting views accurately and even-handedly, back them with a teaching or reason, and reach a reasoned conclusion — without stereotyping or dismissing any group.

A fair statement?

The ideas to know

You've covered the whole Peace and Conflict area of study for 4RS1 — with religious and non-religious views set out fairly. Press Finish to see your score.