Theme B: Religion, peace and conflict — AQA GCSE Religious Studies B

Theme B: Religion, peace and conflict examines philosophical and religious frameworks governing war, violence, justice, and peacemaking. Students investigate ethical responses to contemporary conflicts, ranging from terrorism and violent protest to nuclear deterrence and humanitarian assistance.

This unit integrates fundamental theological principles—such as the sanctity of life, divine justice, and stewardship—with applied ethics. It equips learners to analyze global geopolitical tensions through Christian and Islamic moral lenses, preparing them for advanced evaluative discourse.

• →Peace and Justice: Peace is not merely the absence of war, but the establishment of justice, harmony, and well-being (Shalom in Judaism/Christianity, Salaam in Islam).
• →Sanctity of Life: The doctrine that human life is created by God, sacred, and inherently valuable, placing profound constraints on taking human life.
• →Just War Criteria: Traditional conditions justifying war, divided into 'jus ad bellum' (cause, authority, intention), 'jus in bello' (proportionality, discrimination), and 'jus post bellum' (fair treaties).
• →Pacifism: The total or conditional rejection of war and violence as a means of settling disputes, championed by groups like the Quakers.
• →Jihad: In Islam, meaning 'struggle'—divided into greater jihad (internal spiritual discipline) and lesser jihad (the external, defensive military defense of faith and community).

• Identifies a biblical teaching about violence, such as the account of Cain and Abel, and explains what it shows about human capacity to harm others.
• Explains how a teaching of Jesus, such as loving enemies, applies to the behaviour of a bully and to the response of a victim or bystander.
• Distinguishes bullying from a single disagreement by referring to repetition and an imbalance of power.
• Applies a biblical perspective to a named form of bullying, such as physical, verbal or online bullying, and explains the link.
• Recognises that some Christians interpret biblical teaching about violence differently, for example by distinguishing personal restraint from the role of the state.

• 💡Read the question carefully to check whether it asks for one perspective or for more than one, and answer only what is asked.
• 💡Use a specific example of bullying so your application is concrete rather than general.
• 💡Explain the reasoning behind each biblical point instead of stopping at the quotation.
• 💡Check that your answer addresses both parts of the statement: violence as a feature of the human condition and bullying.
• 💡Always define key technical terms accurately in your introductory points, such as proportionality, deterrence, or reconciliation.
• 💡When quoting sacred texts, you do not need verse numbers, but you must accurately paraphrase the concept and explicitly link it to the moral argument being made.
• 💡In 12-mark questions, ensure your evaluation weighs the arguments against each other instead of just listing two opposing viewpoints.

• Lists biblical quotations without explaining what each one teaches about violence; link every quotation to a specific idea.
• Treats bullying as a single unkind act; explain that bullying is repeated and involves an imbalance of power.
• Assumes all Christians respond to violence in exactly the same way; note that Christians may interpret and apply teaching differently.
• Ignores the human condition clause and writes only about bullying; explain what the Bible says about the human capacity for violence.
• Equating 'lesser jihad' with aggressive holy war: Islamic jurisprudence strictly defines lesser jihad as defensive against active tyranny or persecution, forbidding the harm of civilians, livestock, or trees.
• Assuming Christian theology is exclusively pacifist: While Jesus promoted non-retaliation, historical Christian orthodoxy (Augustine, Aquinas) systematically developed Just War theory to defend the vulnerable.
• Confusing forgiveness with ignoring justice: In religious ethics, forgiveness removes resentment and vengeance, but restorative or retributive justice is still required to right wrongs.

1. 1Week 1, Days 1-2: Master the core definitions (peace, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation, pacifism) and Just War criteria.
2. 2Week 1, Days 3-4: Contrast Christian and Islamic perspectives on violent protest, terrorism, and holy war.
3. 3Week 1, Days 5-7: Study modern warfare issues, focusing on weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and nuclear deterrence arguments.
4. 4Week 2, Days 1-3: Memorize key supporting scriptures and religious quotes across both traditions.
5. 5Week 2, Days 4-7: Practice timed 5-mark and 12-mark evaluative essays using past AQA exam questions and model mark schemes.

• 📋Multiple choice / 1-mark recall: Tests definitions of terms like 'pacifism', 'justice', or specific Just War criteria.
• 📋4-mark contrast/similarity questions: Requires two developed points explaining religious beliefs on concepts like forgiveness or violent protest.
• 📋5-mark scripture-referenced questions: Requires two developed points explaining a belief, explicitly supported by relevant sacred writing or moral authority.
• 📋12-mark evaluation essays: Requires a balanced, structured debate on a controversial statement (e.g., 'War is never right'), culminating in a justified conclusion.