Catholic Christianity — Peace and Conflict (2A)

Religious Studies B (1RB0) · Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) · 5 min read · Updated: 7 Sept 2026

Welcome to Peace and Conflict!

In this chapter, we are going to explore how Catholic Christians view the world when things get difficult. We will look at why peace is so important, when (or if) it is ever okay to fight, and how Catholics try to fix the world after a war. This is part of Paper 2 (Area of Study 2). Don't worry if some of these ideas seem big—we will break them down step-by-step!

4.1 Catholic Attitudes Towards Peace

For Catholics, peace is not just the absence of war. It is not just "not fighting." Instead, it is the presence of justice. The Church teaches that if people are being treated unfairly, there can never be true peace.

Key Concept: The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2304) says that peace is the "tranquillity of order." This means everyone living in harmony and respecting one another. Catholics believe peace is a gift from God and a goal for all humanity.

Quick Review: Catholics believe peace comes from following God's laws and treating everyone with dignity.

4.2 The Role of Believers in Peacemaking

Catholics believe they have a duty to be peacemakers. This isn't optional—it is a direct command from Jesus. In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:9), Jesus said: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

How do they do this?
1. Prayer: Asking God to bring peace to troubled areas.
2. Protest: Standing up against injustice.
3. Diplomacy: The Pope often meets with world leaders to encourage them to stop fighting.
4. Organisations: Groups like Pax Christi (an international Catholic peace movement) work to promote reconciliation.

4.3 Conflict and Its Causes

Conflict happens when groups of people have a serious disagreement. Catholics recognise several causes of conflict:
- Greed: Wanting more land or resources.
- Power: Wanting to control others.
- Injustice: When people are treated poorly, they may turn to violence to change things.
- Religion: Sadly, different beliefs can sometimes lead to tension, though the Church teaches that true religion should lead to peace.

Key Takeaway: Catholics believe that to stop conflict, we must address the "root causes" like poverty and inequality.

4.4 Pacifism

Pacifism is the belief that any form of violence or war is wrong.
- Absolute Pacifism: Believing it is never, ever right to kill or fight, even in self-defence.
- Relative Pacifism: Believing war is usually wrong, but sometimes it might be the "lesser of two evils."

While the Catholic Church teaches the Just War Theory (which we will see next), it also respects pacifists. The Catechism (CCC 2306) praises those who renounce violence and choose non-violent ways to defend rights.

Did you know? During wars, some people refuse to fight because of their religious beliefs. These are called Conscientious Objectors.

4.5 Just War Theory

This is a very important topic for your exam! The Just War Theory was developed by thinkers like St Thomas Aquinas. It provides a list of "rules" to see if a war is morally acceptable. For a war to be "Just," it must meet several criteria before it starts and during the fighting.

Criteria for starting a war (Jus ad bellum):
1. Just Cause: It must be to stop a great evil or in self-defence.
2. Proper Authority: It must be declared by a lawful government.
3. Right Intention: The goal must be to restore peace, not to get revenge.
4. Last Resort: All peaceful options (like talking) must have been tried first.
5. Proportionality: The good achieved must outweigh the suffering caused.
6. Reasonable Chance of Success: You shouldn't send soldiers to die if there is no hope of winning.

Criteria during a war (Jus in bello):
- Discrimination: Civilians (innocent people) must not be targeted.
- Appropriate Force: Don't use a sledgehammer to crack a nut! Use only the force needed.

4.6 Holy War

A Holy War is a war fought for religious reasons, usually believed to be authorised by God. In the past (like the Crusades), this idea was more common. However, modern Catholic teaching focuses on peace. The Church today generally teaches that violence in the name of religion is a distortion of faith. Most Catholics believe that "Holy War" is an outdated concept and that God wants us to seek reconciliation instead.

4.7 Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)

WMDs include nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. They are designed to kill huge numbers of people at once.
The Catholic Stance: The Church is strongly against the use of WMDs.
- CCC 2314 states that any act of war aimed at the "indiscriminate destruction of entire cities" is a crime against God and man.
- Because WMDs kill innocent civilians and soldiers alike, they break the Just War rule of discrimination.
- Pope Francis has even said that simply possessing nuclear weapons as a deterrent is now "immoral" because of the risk of total destruction.

Non-religious views: Some people (Atheists/Humanists) might agree that WMDs are too dangerous. Others might argue that having them (Deterrence) actually prevents war because everyone is too afraid to start one.

4.8 Issues Surrounding Conflict

War doesn't just end when the shooting stops. There are many lingering issues that Catholics feel called to help with:

1. Violence and Terrorism: Terrorism is the use of violence against civilians to create fear. The Church totally condemns terrorism as it attacks the sanctity of life.

2. Victims of War: Catholics follow the teaching of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25), which tells them to help those in need. This includes refugees and people who have lost their homes. Organisations like Caritas and CAFOD work to provide food and shelter to war victims.

3. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: This is the most important step for a Catholic. Jesus taught his followers to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). To prevent the next war, people must learn to forgive and rebuild relationships. Reconciliation is the act of bringing people together to make peace after a conflict.

Quick Review Box

- Peace: More than no war; it requires justice.
- Just War: A set of rules (e.g., Last Resort, Just Cause) to make war "fair."
- WMDs: Condemned by the Church because they kill indiscriminately.
- Forgiveness: Essential for ending the cycle of violence.
- Common Mistake: Don't confuse Pacifism (no fighting at all) with Just War (fighting only when rules are met).

Quick check

Can you answer these now?

Open each question to check the key ideas from this chapter.

What is the Catholic definition of peace?

For Catholics, peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice and the "tranquillity of order" (CCC 2304).

Why do Catholics believe they have a duty to be peacemakers?

Catholics believe peacemaking is a direct command from Jesus, most notably stated in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9).

According to Catholic teaching, what are some of the root causes of conflict?

Key causes include greed, the desire for power, injustice (poor treatment of people), and religious tension.

What is the difference between absolute pacifism and relative pacifism?

Absolute pacifism rejects all violence in any circumstance, while relative pacifism views war as usually wrong but sometimes the "lesser of two evils."

Who developed the Just War Theory, and what is its purpose?

The theory was developed by thinkers like St Thomas Aquinas to provide a set of criteria to determine if a war is morally acceptable.

What are the six criteria for starting a 'Just War' (Jus ad bellum)?

The criteria are: Just Cause, Proper Authority, Right Intention, Last Resort, Proportionality, and Reasonable Chance of Success.

What is the rule of 'discrimination' in Just War Theory?

Discrimination means that during a war, civilians and innocent people must never be targeted.

What is the modern Catholic view on Holy War?

The modern Church views Holy War as an outdated concept and teaches that violence in the name of religion is a distortion of faith.

Why does the Catholic Church oppose Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)?

WMDs are condemned because they kill indiscriminately, breaking the Just War rule of discrimination and causing "indiscriminate destruction" (CCC 2314).

How does the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats influence Catholic views on victims of war?

It teaches Catholics that by helping those in need—like refugees and war victims—they are serving Jesus himself.

What is reconciliation in the context of conflict?

Reconciliation is the act of bringing former enemies together to forgive one another and rebuild their relationship after a conflict.

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