Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict overview - AQA GCSE Religious Studies A
An overview of Theme D, Religion, peace and conflict, for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering violence, terrorism, war, the just war, pacifism and weapons of mass destruction.
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Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict is one of the thematic studies examined on Paper 2 of AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062). It applies religious teachings to violence, war and the pursuit of peace.
What the theme covers
- Violence and terrorism: causes of conflict, attitudes to violence and violent protest, and the condemnation of terrorism.
- War and the just war: causes of war, the just war theory and its conditions, and holy war.
- Pacifism and peacemaking: teachings on peace, pacifism, reconciliation and helping victims of war.
- Weapons of mass destruction: nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, deterrence and religious attitudes.
How it is assessed
Theme D is one of the four themes on Paper 2. Questions follow the 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 mark pattern and require teachings from Christianity and usually Islam, with contrasting views in the evaluation question.
How to study it
Learn the just war conditions and the difference between just war, holy war and pacifism. Know teachings on peace ("blessed are the peacemakers") and on protecting the innocent, and prepare balanced arguments for the 12 mark questions on terrorism and nuclear weapons.
For the official specification
AQA publishes the full specification, past papers and mark schemes at aqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and AQA past papers.
Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) specification — AQA (2016)