Pacifism Learning Intentions To understand what pacifism is

Pacifism Learning Intentions • To understand what pacifism is. • To recognise reasons for and against pacifism. • To evaluate religious belief about pacifism and recognise famous pacifists.

Learning Intention: To understand what pacifism is and the issues surrounding it. Success Criteria To understand what pacifism is To recognise reasons for and against Pacifism Learning Outcomes I know what pacifism is I can recognise reasons why pacifism is right and wrong To evaluate religious belief about I know what pacifism and recognise famous pacifists Christians believe and I can identify famous pacifists Apply your knowledge to exam questions and real life case studies

‘It is impossible to be a pacifist in today’s world’ ARGUMENTS FOR ARGUMENTS AGAINST

Pacifism is the belief that ALL war and violence is wrong. Pacifists believe that war is a category of violence that is never necessary.

If a war is declared, & they are ‘called up’, they become CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS, as killing people is against their conscience. 16, 00 in WW 1 59, 000 in WW 11

Do you think it is fair that some people should opt out of fighting? What do you think should happen to them?

Can think of any reasons why religious believers would not fight?

• Killing humans conflicts with their sacred writings • The SANCTITY OF LIFE • War wastes precious lives & damages the environment • It causes suffering, hatred & greed • In the end, negotiation is needed, so why not do it in the first place?

Christian pacifists Believe in TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK They are willing to die, but not to kill for their beliefs They refuse to be in combat roles But may be prepared to be ambulance drivers or nurses

Christians Early Christians opposed all fighting One of their leaders, Origen said ‘For we no longer take sword against a nation, having become sons of peace for the sake of Jesus who is our leader’

How did Jesus react to violence? How did he react to his own arrest? What did he say you should do if someone struck you on the cheek?

Quakers (The Society of Friends) This is the most famous Christian pacifist denomination Katherine Fisher, 26, from Boston is a Quaker pacifist. She feels that all war, including the one in Iraq, is wrong, and has refused to pay the £ 1, 200 she owed in federal taxes as a protest.

Famous Pacifists? Who have you studied, who is famous for having a non violent attitude, and maintaining non-violence in the face of open attack?

Who said…. . Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. . . Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

Martin Luther king

Gandhi was the leader of the Indian nationalist movement against British rule. His doctrine of non-violent protest to achieve political and social progress has been hugely influential. MLK was inspired by him, in planning non-violent protests

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Dietrich Bonheoffer was a German Christian minister in the time of Hitler’s Nazi regime. He was naturally a PACIFIST and tried non-cooperation with the government e. g. refusing to fly the Swastika flag. He came to a point of reluctantly changing his mind & decided that pacifism would not work against Hitler.

He said that if a huge vehicle was crushing people under its wheels, there came a time ‘not just to bandage the victims under the wheel, but to jam a spoke in the wheel itself. ’ He became convinced that Christians who did nothing were condoning the actions of Hitler

He became involved in a plot to kill Hitler. When the plot failed, he was captured, imprisoned & executed just days before the war ended.

TASKS 1. Design a symbol to show what pacifism is, then using the first 2 paragraphs, write what you know about pacifism. Copy the Quote – “Blessed are the peacemakers…. . ” then explain underneath what you think it means. Explain what you understand about pacifism in the first and second world war. Create a revision sheet on what you have learnt about pacifism. 2. 3. 4.