GCSE Religious Studies: Religion, Peace & Conflict Revision

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Do all religions teach that violence is always forbidden?

Religion, Peace & Conflict is a core part of GCSE Religious Studies. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.

Key concepts

Just War TheoryAugustine and Aquinas developed criteria: just cause, last resort, proportionality, just authority, intention of peace.

PacifismRefusal to participate in war; Quakers, Mennonites; Christian basis in Matthew 5:9 'blessed are the peacemakers'.

JihadArabic 'struggle'; greater jihad is inner struggle against sin; lesser jihad is defensive warfare under strict rules.

Holy WarConflict justified by religion; Crusades 1095-1291 against Muslims; rejected by mainstream Christianity today.

Weapons of Mass DestructionNuclear, biological, chemical; religions generally oppose; Vatican II called nuclear war 'crime against God'.

ForgivenessReligious response to conflict; Christian 'turn the other cheek' (Matthew 5:39); restorative not retributive justice.

Just warWar meeting strict moral conditions

Holy warWar for religious reasons — e.g. the Crusades

QuakersReligious Society of Friends — historic pacifists

BonhoefferLutheran pastor who opposed the Nazis

Defensive jihadIslamic teaching: force only to defend

TerrorismViolence against civilians for political ends

WMDWeapons of mass destruction — nuclear, biological, chemical

Nuclear deterrenceOwning nukes to discourage attack

What your exam board covers

Where Religion, Peace & Conflict sits in each exam board's specification. Tap a board to see what it lists.

OCRReligion, peace and conflictSpec J625

Part of: Religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world

Source: OCR GCSE (9–1) Religious Studies (J625) specification, accessed 23 June 2026.

Learn Religion, Peace & Conflict step by step

Free interactive mini-lessons: short screens, worked examples and quick checks. Pick your exam board:

Other boards:CCEA Eduqas/WJEC Cambridge IGCSE

Common mistakes to avoid

Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:

Do all religions teach that violence is always forbidden?✗ Yes, all teach absolute non-violence with no exceptions. ✓ Most emphasise peace, but many also discuss 'just' or defensive conflict under conditions.

Does pacifism mean doing nothing about injustice?✗ Yes, pacifists ignore injustice. ✓ No — pacifists reject violence but may actively pursue peace and justice non-violently.

Practise Religion, Peace & Conflict — free games

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Religion, Peace & Conflict

Key concepts

What your exam board covers

Common mistakes to avoid

Practise Religion, Peace & Conflict — free games

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