What is Pacifism?
Pacifism is the belief that war and violence are unjustifiable and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means. A conscientious objector is a person who refuses to serve in the armed forces on moral or religious grounds.
Christian Pacifism
Many Christians are pacifists. They base their beliefs on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who stopped his disciples from using violence to defend him when he was arrested.
- "Turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:39)
- "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44)
- "Put your sword back in its place... for all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52)
The Quakers are a Christian denomination dedicated to absolute pacifism. During WWI and WWII, many Quakers refused to fight and instead volunteered as medics or ambulance drivers in war zones, risking their lives without taking up weapons.
Pacifism in Other Religions
- Islam: Islam is not a pacifist religion because it permits the use of force in self-defence to protect the oppressed. However, it heavily prioritises peace.
- Buddhism: Buddhism is fundamentally pacifist. The concept of Ahimsa (non-harming) is central to the faith. The Dalai Lama has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet.
- Judaism: Judaism is not strictly pacifist, as the Torah permits wars of self-defence. However, peace (Shalom) is the ultimate goal.
Religious Peacemakers
Peacemaking is not just sitting back and avoiding conflict; it is the active pursuit of justice, reconciliation, and harmony. The AQA spec requires you to know about religious believers who have worked for peace.
Martin Luther King Jr. (Christian)
A Baptist minister who led the Civil Rights Movement in the USA during the 1950s and 60s. He used non-violent protest (boycotts, marches) to fight racial segregation. He was inspired by Jesus' teachings of agape (unconditional love) and Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent resistance.
Mairead Corrigan (Catholic)
Along with Betty Williams, she founded the Peace People in Northern Ireland during "The Troubles" (a violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants). She organised massive peace rallies demanding an end to the violence, proving that ordinary religious people can force politicians to seek peace.
Thich Nhat Hanh (Buddhist)
A Vietnamese Buddhist monk who coined the term "Engaged Buddhism". During the Vietnam War, he refused to take sides and instead worked to rebuild bombed villages, set up schools, and negotiate peace, embodying Buddhist compassion (Karuna).
Summary: Key Points
- Pacifism: The total rejection of war and violence.
- Conscientious Objectors: People who refuse to fight for moral/religious reasons.
- Christianity & Pacifism: Based strongly on Jesus' teachings ("love your enemies"). Quakers are the most famous Christian pacifist group.
- Active Peacemaking: Religions demand active work for peace, not just avoiding fighting, as seen in the lives of MLK Jr. and the Dalai Lama.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolute pacifists believe that violence is never justified under any circumstances, even in self-defence. Conditional pacifists generally oppose war but believe that in extreme circumstances (like fighting a genocidal dictator), violence might be a necessary lesser evil to protect the innocent.
The Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) are a Christian group established in the 17th century. They are the most famous absolute pacifists in Christianity. They refuse to fight in wars, often serving as conscientious objectors or medics, because they believe there is 'that of God in everyone', meaning taking a life is destroying a part of God.
No. While all major religions prefer peace, very few are strictly pacifist. Christianity and Islam both accept the use of force under strict conditions (Just War/Jihad). However, Buddhism is fundamentally pacifist in its teachings, though not all Buddhists practice it perfectly.