Syllabus Point 1.

1 Religion and Peace: Islam and Christianity

Investigate the understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant
writings within sacred texts for both Islam and Christianity
RELIGION AND PEACE
Islam (Quran and Hadith) and Christianity (The New Testament)

The understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant writings within
sacred texts of Islam:
Islam The Quran and Hadith

Qur'an is the fundamental text for all Muslims. It contains the revelation of Allah,
complete and unaltered as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Qur'an is organised
into 114 surahs or chapters

Hadith refers to the collection of traditions of the words and deeds of Muhammad

The word "Islam" comes from selm and salam the Arabic words for peace Muslims
greet one another with the expression "As-Salamu-Alaykum" which means peace be
with you

The first verse of the Qur'an contains the wish for peace " In the name of Allah, the
Most Merciful, the Most compassionate."

One of Allah's names in the Qur'an, is "As Salaam" which means peace.

The Qur'an refers to Islam as 'the paths of peace' ( 5:16 )

It describes reconciliation as a basic stance (4:128) and states that Allah abhors
disturbance of the peace (2:205)

The mission of the Prophet Muhammad is one of peace and mercy to humankind.
(21:107)

The ideal society, according to the Qur'an is "Dar al Salaam" which means the house
of peace. ( 10:25 )

The accounts of creation and the natural order in the Qur'an present the universe as
a model, which is characterised by harmony and peace (36:40)

When Allah created heaven and the earth it was ordered so that each element may
perform its function peacefully without clashing with any other part

The Qur'an states that "the sun is not allowed to overtake the moon, nor does the
night out pace the day. Each in its own orbit runs." (36:40)

Peace is not simply an absence of war

The tradition of the Prophet Muhammad affirms "Allah grants to ifq (gentleness) what
he does not grant to unf (violence), (Hadith4/255)
 No aggressive war is permitted in Islam

Muslims can engage themselves only in a defensive, not in an offensive war,

whatever the circumstances (2:190)

According to Islam, peace is the rule and war is only an exception

In the situation of a defensive war if the likely outcome does not warrant the conflict
Muslims should avoid the war

Jihad is a central teaching of Islam but is not synonymous for war

When the Qur'an refers to war or fighting it uses the word "qital" and not jihad.

Jihad literally means to strive or to struggle

In its proper usage Jihad refers mostly to the essential struggle in overcoming
obstacles to submission to Allah

Jihad can, and does also refer to the military struggle to achieve religious freedom for
Muslims and the protection of Muslim values

The use of force is always a last resort and war of aggression is never an option for
Islam.

According to the Hadith, the daily prayer of the Prophet Muhammad was centered on
peace "O Allah, you are the original source of peace; from you is all peace, and to
you returns all peace, So, make us live with Peace; and let us enter paradise; The
House of Peace. Blessed be you, our Lord, to whom belongs all Majesty and
Honor!"

The understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant

writings within sacred texts of Islam:

Christianity - the New Testament

The understanding of peace expressed in the New Testament

The New Testament is the normative text for all Christians, the principal and
foundational source of teaching for all Christians

Made up of 27 individual books, 4 gospels, 21 letters and the Acts of the Apostles
and the book of Revelation

Peace is mentioned over ninety times in the New Testament

The announcements of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:14 )

The teaching of Jesus (Matthew 5:9)

The life of the early Church communities (Galatians 5:22 )

 The vision of the messianic age (Revelation 6:4).

Commonly used as a form of greeting and/or blessing (Romans 1:7).

Many other occasions where peace is clearly an underlying value or principle in the
message

Peace is at the heart of Jesus' life and ministry

Peace is a foundational element of the Christian communities

New Testament extols peace as a virtue and identifies it as a key element of the reign
of God

Jesus is known as the prince of peace and is regarded as the source of peace.
Christians are encouraged to model their "peacemaking" on his example

Very few practical instructions relating to the seeking of peace and the avoidance of
conflict

The vast majority of references relate to an inner peace and or a state of peace in
interpersonal relationships

A small number give guidance to Christians in relation to peace at a global level and
the involvement or otherwise of Christians in warfare

The Peace of God

Philippians promises that "the peace of God which is beyond all understanding will
guard your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

Inner peace promised to Christians who live faithfully according to the requirements
of the gospel and who place their faith and trust in God.

Peace understood as a sense of wellbeing, free from anxiety

Not merely an absence of conflict and violence but a far deeper notion recognising a
profound serenity and sense of wellbeing

The peace of God as a foretaste of the peace experienced in eternal life with God

In Jesus' ministry peace often accompanies the forgiveness of sin or an occasion of

healing. (Luke 7:50 & Luke 8:48 )

Jesus promises peace as his parting gift. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to
you" (John 14:27 )

Peace associated with the presence of God through the gift of the Holy Spirit Peace
is seen as one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22 )

Regarded as a sign of God's activity and the fidelity of the Christians to the gospel
 Contrasted with selfish values which undermine the gospel (Romans 8:6).

To experience the peace of God Christians must devote themselves to listening to

the good news and commit themselves to following the example of Jesus in his life
and ministry

Includes a requirement of prayer and contemplation, of communal life and

celebration and of commitment to the welfare of others and to the wider community

Peace in Relationships

"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all" (Romans 12:18 )
Christians expected to live in peace with others

Christians obliged to be people of peace and to work towards harmonious dealings

with all people

To diffuse situations of tension before they escalate and to create cycles of harmony
and reconciliation rather than support cycles of conflict and violence

Christians are encouraged to forgive one another, to bear with one another, to act
with love towards each other and to avoid selfish motives in dealing with each other

These responses in relationships will lead to peace and help avoid the destructive
behaviour which often leads to conflict and violence

New Testament communities expected to live peacefully with other members of the
Church

The peacemakers are recognised as God's children

War and Peace

In Matthew 6:39, Christians are told not to retaliate or return violence with violence.

The Beatitudes provide another statement against warfare with their praise of the
peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9).

Other teachings include the command to love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew
22:39 ), the requirement to love enemies (Matthew 5:44 ) and to treat others as you
would want to be treated (Luke 6:31 )

Jesus was a strong advocate of peace and a staunch opponent of violence

Until the fourth century Christians refused to undertake military service and engage in
warfare

The pacifist stance of the Christian communities came to be one of their identifying
features and was one of the reasons that they suffered persecution from Roman
authorities
 The gospels provide accounts of Jesus ministering to the needs of military personnel
such as the Centurion's request on behalf of his servant (Matthew 8:5-13)

Jesus does question the Centurion's profession

There are no indications in the New Testament letters that soldiers who convert to
Christianity must renounce their military service.

Other issues include the account of Jesus expelling the money changers from the
temple (Mark 11:15 -18) and his statement about his mission bringing division not
peace (Matthew 10:34 )

It is not legitimate to portray them as an endorsement of the use of force or violence

In the context of the wider teaching of the New Testament they do not take away the
strength of the message condoning peace and condemning violence

Syllabus Point 2.1 Religion and Peace: Islam and Christianity

Outline the principal teachings about peace within Islam and Christianity

Principal teachings about peace in Islam

Islam is based on the notion of peace as an essential element

The word "Islam" itself comes from the Arabic words for peace selm and salam

The traditional Muslim greeting "As-Salamu-Alaykum" means peace be with you

The first verse of the Qur'an expresses the Muslim understanding of peace. " In the
name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most compassionate"

One of the names for Allah is "As Salaam" which means peace

The Qur'an refers to Islam as 'the paths of peace' ( 5:16 )

It describes reconciliation as a basic stance (4:128) and states that Allah abhors
disturbance of the peace (2:205)

The mission of the Prophet Muhammad is one of peace and mercy to humankind.
(21:107)

The principal teachings of Islam strongly advocate peace

Clear teachings in Islam also permit the use of force in certain situations

The teachings of Islam on the use of force have frequently been misrepresented
 The concept of "Jihad" is often the source of the misrepresentation

Jihad is a central teaching of Islam but is not synonymous for war

Qur'an uses the word "qital" and not jihad to refer to war and fighting

Jihad literally means to strive or to struggle

In its proper usage it refers mostly to the essential struggle in overcoming obstacles
to submission to Allah

Jihad can also refer to the military struggle to achieve religious freedom for Muslims
and the protection of Muslim values

The use of force is always a last resort

War of aggression is not permitted Islam

Peace is the fundamental aim of Islam

Wars can be fought to defend against acts of aggression and overcome oppression

War is not a way to advance ideology or extend political power and influence

Peace in Islam does not just mean the absence of war

Extends to the absence of oppression and tyranny

True peace can only exist where there is justice

Islam justifies war against oppressive regimes that prevent people from living in
freedom and upholding their religious beliefs and practices

Does not justify war against non-Muslim people for the purposes of forcefully
spreading the influence of Islam

In the early years of Islam, under persistent threats of persecution and harassment
Muslims adopted a pacifist stance in Makkah

In Madinah, force was only used in response to those who attacked the Muslims
Permission to use force is expressed in the Qur'an "to those against whom war is
made, permission to fight is given" ( 22:39 )

Muslims remained at peace with the Jews who lived in Madinah

Muhammad forged an alliance of cooperation and friendship with the Jews

Assured them of their freedom of religion as well as their security in the Muslim world

Notion of the two domains "dar al lslam" and "dar al Harb" did not arise until
sometime later during a period of conflict between Islam and the Byzantine empire
 Previously peaceful relations had existed between the Islamic world and the Christian
realm of Abyssinia

The Qur'an has been used to provide support for extremists in their campaigns
Surahs such as 2:193 at face value suggest an endorsement of a campaign to force
others to submit to Islam. "And fight them on until there is no more Fitnah and
religion should be only for Allah" (2:193)

In context this surah clearly refers to a defence of Islam in the face of aggression by
others. "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not commit
aggression, for Allah loves not aggressors." (2:190) . but if they cease, let there be
no hostility except to those who practice oppression" (2:193)

Another section of the Qur'an seems to invite aggression towards non Muslims "slay
the mushrikin wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in
wait for them in every stratagem; but if they repent, and establish Salat and pay
Zakat, then open the way for them" (9:5)

The context is clearly a reference to the non Muslims at the time of Muhammad who
were actively plotting against the Muslims in Madinah

This surah is not an endorsement of hostility towards non Muslims it does contain the
basis for the Muslim support of a pre-emptive strike where the evidence of an
imminent attack is unmistakable

In Islam, the permitted use of war is to establish and assure justice, and to overcome
oppression and tyranny

Four situations can be seen where an Islamic state is justified in using force

The first situation is to overcome oppression where there is the denial of religious
freedom

The second situation is when individual Muslims and their property are under attack
from another group in the community

The third situation is where an Islamic state is invaded by a foreign power

The fourth situation relates to law enforcement where there is a need to subdue
rebellion against legitimate authority within an Islamic state

Muslims see the use of force as necessary in certain contexts, believing that without
the responsible use of force there would be chaos and the triumph of tyranny in the
community

"Had it not been (the Will of) Allah that one set of people is repelled by another,
certainly the earth would have been in a state of disorder." (2:251)

"Had it not been (the Will of) Allah that one set of people is repelled by another,
certainly there would have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues,
and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure."
( 22:40 )
Principal teachings about peace in Christianity

New Testament affirms the centrality of peace to the Christian message

At the heart of the life and ministry of Jesus

Sought after and taken up by the Christian

Peace is more than merely an absence of violence and conflict

Refers to an overall sense of wellbeing

Peace is found in union with God

Christians are taught to live at peace with others, both within their own communities
and in the wider human family.

Christians initially adopted a pacifist position and refused to engage in military

service or warfare

This contributed to them being marginalised in the wider community and persecuted
by the Roman authorities

Despite this Christians refused to engage in warfare, believing that to do so would be

contrary to their faith

Situation changed with the conversion of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth
century

Christians now part of the establishment and the empire was their ally rather than a
threat to their existence

Resulted in a rethinking of the position of the Christian Church in relation to its

involvement in warfare

Created a number of philosophical challenges to the pacifist stance held by the

Christians

How could they maintain and guarantee the freedom of people in the society, in

particular their religious freedom

How could they protect their property from theft or destruction

How could they protect innocent people in the light of acts of aggression by others

The Just War Theory

The challenges of this new situation over time led to the development of a Just War
theory
 This theory originated from Augustine in the fourth century, modified and refined by
others including Aquinas in the middle ages and de Vitoria in the 16 th century.

The "Just War" theory sought to establish guidelines under which it was morally
acceptable to engage in warfare

The Just War theory is the source of ongoing debate

The Just War theory maintains that nations are morally justified in waging war
providing that the circumstances of the conflict and the waging of the war meet the
following seven principles.

War must be aimed at repelling or deterring aggression and safeguarding human

rights.

It must be authorised by a legitimate authority.

The stated objectives for going to war must be the real ones.

War must be a last resort; all peaceful alternatives must be exhausted.

The probability of success must be sufficiently clear to justify the human and other
costs.

The damage inflicted by war must be proportionate to its objectives.

Noncombatants must not be targeted.

The application of the Just War theory remains problematic

In recent decades religious authorities have been virtually unanimous in their

condemnation of warfare.

Peace and Justice

In modern times emphasis has been placed on the underlying causes of the conflicts
that undermine peace

Leaders of the Christian Churches have increasingly focused their attention on the
relationship between poverty, justice and human rights and the escalation of conflicts

That the world cannot expect to achieve peace without first achieving justice and that
while so many people live in poverty and without basic human rights that there will
always been unrest leading to conflict and violence

Syllabus Point 3.1 Religion and Peace: Islam and Christianity

Demonstrate how Islam and Christianity guide the individual in achieving inner peace
Guidance for Muslims in achieving inner peace

For Muslims, peace is not a single dimensional or individual concept

Peace is firstly to be at rest with one's own desires and ambitions

Secondly, to have peace with the world around

There is a reciprocal relationship between this inner peace and the peace with the
wider world

No one can be at peace with themselves until they are also at peace with others

It will not be possible to live at peace with others until there is a sense of peace and
wellbeing with one's self

In Islam the concept of peace is two-fold

Firstly, to be at peace with Allah and then, secondly, to be at peace with oneself and
with the rest of the world

In Islam the concept of peace is closely related to the idea of submission

The goal of Islam is submission to Allah and in this submission peace is found

Muslims understand that peace is not possible outside of this relationship with Allah

In submitting to Allah a person finds peace, peace first of all with Allah then with self
and also with others

Submission to the will of Allah is the only means of attaining peace with Allah

The Qur'an sets out clear paths for Muslims to follow in their desire to submit to Allah

The most significant of these are the five pillars or the pillars of Islam (arkan al-islam)

Each of the pillars requires both an internal or spiritual commitment together with an
outward action or sign

The first of the five pillars is a witness to the oneness of Allah and the role of the
Prophet Muhammad as its messenger

Known as the shahada which means to bear witness "I bear witness that there is no
god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah".

The witness in the shahada is essentially all that it takes to be considered a Muslim
 The repudiation of anything false includes a repudiation of self and selfishness which
frees a Muslim to worship Allah freely without the restrictions of egocentrism

This freedom is an integral part of the quest for inner peace as a focus on self and
selfishness will effectively destroy this peace

The second of the pillars of Islam is the requirement of ritual prayer known as "salat"

The requirement here is that every Muslim will offer five daily prayers

They are an act of obedience to Allah

They proclaim the oneness and greatness of Allah

The prayers serve the function of bringing people closer to Allah

They contribute to the purity of the person praying, provide strength to carry out the
requirements of Islam and forgiveness for transgressions

The purity and strength associated with salat provide important foundations for a
sense of peace and wellbeing

The third pillar of Islam is the requirement of almsgiving known as "zakat"

The aim of zakat for the one contributing is to purify and cleanse wealth and to allow
it to be free from greed and selfishness

It helps Muslims to overcome feelings of attachment to money and the wish to cling
to it

It affirms that money is for the service of human kind and not for exclusive personal
gain

The freedom from the attachment of wealth and possessions is considered by

Muslims to be an essential element in the quest for inner peace

To maintain close ties to wealth and possession will effectively undermine the search
for inner peace.

The fourth pillar of Islam involves fasting

It refers to voluntary fasting and is known as "sawm"

The period of fasting is for the month of Ramadan

The fast will be rendered worthless if the disposition of the person fasting is not as it
should be

It is a primary way of commemorating Ramadan and honouring the occasion of the

revelation of the Qu'ran

Secondly it is a time where the hunger of the person fasting brings to mind the reality
of poverty and where almsgiving is strongly encouraged
 The self discipline of fasting is an important companion to achieving inner peace as it
is one of the ways of putting aside self and selfishness

The fifth pillar of Islam is the pilgrimage or "hajj"

Every devout Muslim male will desire to make the pilgrimage to Makkah at least once
in their lifetime

The word "hajj" means to embark on a journey with a purpose

The purpose is essentially to visit the Ka'bah in Makkah and worship on Mount Arafat

The physical demands of the Hajj, the organisation required for someone to take part
and the material cost are all elements which require sacrifice and dedication

These elements involve putting aside selfishness in seeking to submit to the will of
Allah

The more perfect the submission to Allah, the more profound the sense of inner
peace that will be experienced by the Muslim

The mystical movement of Sufism has had significant influence on the quest for inner
peace

Sufi teachings have a strong emphasis on peace in general but most particularly on
the attainment of a deep inner peace.

Sufism teaches that a person travels through three stations or stages of peace in
their spiritual journey

The first station is known as the stage of Islam and it refers to the conscious act of
submission to the will of Allah such as achieved through the sincere practice of the
pillars of Islam

The second station refers to a stage where the peace of Allah has come into the
heart of the Muslim and where the peace of Allah has become internalised

This second station is known as Iman

The third station known as the stage of Ihsan is a transformative stage where the
power of evil is defeated and the Muslim experiences the peace of Allah free from the
entrapments of evil

Guidance for Christians in achieving inner peace

New Testament literature reveals an important relationship between an individual's

fidelity to the requirements of the gospel and their own sense of peace and wellbeing

Christians can expect to find inner peace in and through living out their vocation as
disciples of Jesus Christ and directing their lives towards the following of his
teaching.
 Jesus is regarded as the bringer of peace and to live in close relationship to him and
his teaching will allow the follower to experience this peace

Jesus' life is seen as a model of living in peace

Christians are encouraged to model their lives on his example in doing so they will be
able to find peace

Integrity and Fidelity

Integrity and fidelity to one's vocation fundamental to finding inner peace

Not possible to achieve inner peace while experiencing turmoil and inner conflict due
to compromising personal values

Jesus faced temptations to compromise his integrity

These temptations are about serving self or avoiding challenging situations

Jesus' example shows the importance of being true to the values of the gospel and
not being prepared to accept compromise

Compromise would inevitably erode a sense of inner peace as it amounts to a lack of

integrity and will result in inner conflict

By refusing to be tempted Jesus retains his integrity and is able to faithfully go about
his ministry

Selflessness is a liberating quality which has a significant impact on the capacity to

achieve inner peace

Prayer and Service

Ministry of Jesus highlights prayer and service being kept in balance

Jesus portrayed as a man of prayer who is frequently in communion with God

Occasions of prayer are particularly evident leading up to significant moments in
Jesus' ministry

Prayer is a vehicle through which Jesus is able to nurture and sustain the relationship
with God which is the source of his wellbeing and inner peace

Prayer is something which followers of Jesus try to emulate in order achieve this
sense of peace and serenity.

Prayer is not a withdrawal from the events of daily life

Prayer an opportunity to reflect on events and gain strength to face challenges Jesus'
ministry conveys a sense of balance between prayer and contemplation on one hand
and active service on the other

Two elements are seen as complementary, not in competition with one another
Prayer is seen as an essential adjunct to the active ministry
 Ministry is seen as a practical expression of the life of prayer

Prayer enables the Christian to sustain and nurture their relationship with God
Through prayer Christians draw meaning and understanding concerning day to day
life

Christians also gain strength and inspiration from prayer to enable them to meet daily
challenges

Service flows out of the contemplative element of prayer

Understanding gained through prayer and reflection informs and guides the Christian
to respond to the call to service

Strength and inspiration gained through prayer enables Christians to rise to the
challenges they may face in serving others.

Christians are encouraged to find a balance between the contemplative and the
active elements of life

Overemphasis on prayer and contemplation can lead to insularity

Overemphasis on active service can lead to burn out

Either of these excesses will undermine the search for an inner peace

Community

Christian community is an important source of help and support

The unity exists in community assists in the search for inner peace

Jesus' community of followers shared a great deal of his experience, learned from
him and supported him in his ministry

Elements of sharing, learning and supporting will assist individuals to find a harmony
and sense of purpose in community which assists in the search for inner peace and
wellbeing

The absence of community leads to isolation and separation

The breakdown or disintegration of a community through conflict, disunity etc will also
have a negative effect on an individual's sense of wellbeing

Towards Inner Peace

Following the example of Jesus is a fruitful and worthwhile path to find inner peace

Various groups within the Christian tradition will have established methods of
following this example

These include the use of prayer, ritual and the reading of scripture, the service of
others and the participation in community with those of similar beliefs
 A basic orientation in life which supports the quest for integrity and fidelity to the
gospel is an important foundational element

Not be possible to achieve inner peace while values are seriously compromised.

Maintaining a balance between prayer and service is also fundamental to the quest
for a sense of peace and wellbeing

Both prayer and service are essential and each should support and draw from the
other

Engaging with a local community is also an important element

Communities provide important occasions of interaction for sharing, for learning and
for support

The absence of meaningful community undermines the possibility of achieving inner

peace

Syllabus Point 3.2 Religion and Peace: Islam and Christianity

Discuss how Islam and Christianity are contributing to world peace

Contribution of Islam to World Peace

Islam is essentially a religion of peace and true Muslims are peace loving people

Strong misconception about the nature of Islam and its followers.

The sources of this misconception are varied

The misconception stems from a prejudice arising from the fear of the unknown.
Islam is a relatively unknown religion in Australia

Only a small number of Muslims in Australia , few non Muslim Australians have had
the opportunity of getting to know Australian Muslims

Most rely on secondary sources of information to inform their views on Muslims and
Islam in Australia

Tendency to hold prejudices against people and groups who are not well known and
understood in a community

The second source of misconception stems from the political conflicts that have
existed in the Middle East

Particularly through the conflicts between Western interests and those of Middle
Eastern countries
 People in countries such as Australia feel uneasy when there is conflict around
Western interests and the use of terrorist tactics by some groups has heightened this
sense of unease

Many people are not able to differentiate between the political interests of some
Middle Eastern countries and the religious interests of Islam

The activities of some extremists who claim to be acting in the name of Islam tend to
reinforce the misconception that Islam is in some way responsible for the unrest

A third source of misconception is the media

Media organisations in Australia have been only too willing to promote

misconceptions and stereotypes in order to create a greater interest in their product

Fear and uncertainty is a great motivator in Australian society and media

organisations have traded on this fact

It serves their purposes to demonise certain members of the community in order to

foster this sense of unease

The fact that so many Australians rely on the media for their information and the
media's propensity to stereotype Muslims as terrorists has contributed greatly to the
misconception of Islam

In the light of this prevailing misconception it is very difficult for Muslims to play a
constructive role in the work for world peace

Many Muslim organisations and individual Muslims who are undertaking important
work for peace

In Australia it is difficult for such work to be recognised and supported because of the
negativity felt towards Muslims

Muslim groups in Australia have found that the most constructive way they can be
involved in the peace process is to provide opportunities for people in the Australian
community to become more familiar with Muslim values and beliefs

Such initiatives have profound significance in terms of addressing the underlying

causes of conflict

Muslims has also taken active roles in partnerships with other religious organisations
in the search for peace

In particular, Muslims work closely with Jewish and Christian organisations

Muslim organisations in Western countries include statements on their websites

which state their opposition to the terrorist activities of extremist groups

Muslim leaders have also contributed to joint statements and programs with leaders
of other religious faiths to condemn violence and work for peace
 Throughout the world there are a number of countries which have predominantly
Muslim populations and in all of these there are organisations and activists who are
prominent in their work for peace.

Nurdin Rahman is a Muslim peace activist who has worked tirelessly during the
conflict in Aceh province

The Israeli-Palestinian Relations Committee of the Israeli & Palestinian Bereaved

Families for Peace has worked in the midst of the conflict in the Middle East

It is a gathering of Palestinians and Israelis who've lost family members due to the
occupation and the severe cycle of violence

They work towards an end to the occupation and peaceful reconciliation between
warring sides in the conflict

In India the South Asia Forum for Human Rights has developed a number of
important programs including the program of "Regional Dialogues of Women Building
Peace"

Their work acknowledges that women are so often the innocent victims of conflict

The dialogues seek to engage women in partnerships that will begin to breakdown
the sources of the conflict

Contribution of Christianity to World Peace

The Christian tradition makes significant contributions to world peace at a number of

different levels

These contributions include public statements by Church leaders, programs of action

at local and international levels, organisations dedicated to bringing about peace,
courses of study, commemorative days etc.

Public Statements

Church leaders have frequently made statements in support of peace

Some have been specific appeals for peace in particular circumstances however,

Some have also published more comprehensive statements on the need for peace
and the means of achieving it.

In the Catholic community, one of the more well known statements was the 1963
statement of Pope John XXIII "Pacem in Terris" (Peace on Earth)

In Pacem in Terris John XXIII discusses an issue of critical importance to the

establishment of peace

Other organisations such as the World Council of Churches and individual

denominations such as the Society of Friends (Quakers) have also released many
public statements relating to peacemaking
 In the months before the beginning of the 2003 Gulf War, Christian Churches in the
United States made frequent public appeals to avoid the conflict

The Society of Friends website contains excerpts from over forty statements from US
Churches, many of them representing the views of groups of Church leaders from a
particular State or region

Similar statements were made throughout Europe and the UK

In Australia statements were made by leaders of most major Christian denominations

together with representative statement issued by the National Council of Churches of
Australia (NCCA)

Programs and Organisations

There has always been a tradition of opposition to warfare in Church communities

Francis of Assisi is a famous example of opposition to war. Another interesting

example

The Society of Friends (Quakers), a Christian group with a pacifist stance.

The modern peace movement has a strong link to Christian peace groups in its
infancy.

Movements such as the Catholic Worker movement led by Dorothy Day and Peter
Maurin have been prominent in the quest for world peace

The Catholic worker movement developed an approach of active non-violence and

often used civil disobedience as a means of protest.

Another well known organisation is the international group Pax Christi who have
pioneered peacemaking at an international level for decades

In preparation for the coming of the third millennium, Pax Christi published a
manifesto for a culture of peace and non violence.

This manifesto came in support of the United Nations declaring a decade for a
culture of peace and non violence beginning in the year 2000.

Pax Christi's declaration contained 6 principles which it invited people to take up

respect the life and dignity of every person without discrimination or prejudice

practise active non-violence, rejecting violence in all its forms: physical, sexual,
psychological economic and social, in particular towards the most deprived and
vulnerable such as children and adolescents

share my time and material resources in a spirit of generosity to put an end to

exclusion, injustice and political and economic oppression

defend freedom of expression and cultural diversity, giving preference always to

dialogue and listening rather than fanaticism, defamation and the rejection of others
 promote consumer behaviour that is responsible and development practices that
respect all forms of life and preserve the balance of nature on the planet

contribute to the development of my community, with the full participation of women

and respect for democratic principles, in order to create together new forms of
solidarity

The World Council of Churches in launched a campaign of a "Decade to Overcome

Violence"

This campaign provides an ecumenical dimension to the search for peace and
highlights the commonalities held among Christian Churches in this area

The campaign of the Decade to Overcome Violence has also highlighted the statistic
that domestic violence is responsible for the deaths of more women worldwide than
any other single cause

Other important organisations include the Church and Peace alliances in Europe and
the UK as well as the Kairos organisation in Canada and the USA .

In Australia major Christian denominations have organisations which have

responsibility in working towards peace

These include the Uniting Church Board of Social Responsibility and the Australian
Catholic Social Justice Council

These organisations, together with the National Council of Churches of Australia

have peacemaking as an important part of their mandate

The element of working towards peace is carried out alongside other social concerns
such as justice and ecology

This highlights the close relationship between the search for a more just society and
the search for peace

Church organisations have frequently stated that the achievement of lasting peace
will only be possible with a renewed social order where there poverty is substantially
overcome and there is justice among people and between nations

Courses of Study

Throughout the world major learning institutions provide studies in peacemaking.

Among these, universities run by Christian denominations often feature prominently
in offering such courses

Some significant organisations providing for the study of peace and peace making
include the Washington based Center of Concern and the Maryknoll Justice and
Peace Office

In Australia the Society of Saint Columba (Columbans) have been prominent in

providing peace education
 Firstly through their Columban Mission Institute and through their Centre for Justice,
Ecology and Peace.

Courses of study in peacemaking are available at major theological institutes such as

the United Theological College and the Catholic Institute of Sydney

Days of Commemoration

Christian Churches have made use of significant days of commemoration to help

focus people's attention on the need for peace

All major denominations will have special liturgical events on Anzac day

Many would also hold events on other occasions such as Remembrance Day and
Hiroshima Day

Palm Sunday has become a day for public gatherings, marches and rallies in support
of peace

Christian churches have traditionally sponsored these events which usually begin
with an ecumenical service followed by a rally and a march through city streets

Palm Sunday rallies have become a regular feature of life in Australian cities

The numbers of people attending had tended to fluctuate depending on the world
situation at the time

Very large numbers gathered in 2003 to protest against the war in Iraq

Smaller, but still quite significant numbers took part in subsequent years