PEACE
Discussion Questions
1. What is peace, when do you feel the most peaceful?
2. Are we living in a peaceful world?
​
3. Is the world getting more or less peaceful?
​
The Global peace index 2021/22- Measured in 3 ways
-
Level of societal safety and security
-
The extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict
-
Degree of militarization
-
Process by which a society organises itself for military conflict and violence. Process of becoming ready for conflict/war.
-
​
The global peace index deteriorated by 0.3%
-
We are globally at the lowest level of peace in 15 years- according to this report because of…
-
Post covid, economic uncertainty
-
Ukraine conflict
-
​
4. What factors would you use to determine the peacefulness of a society?
​
5. Does the overall change surprise you? Why/Why not?
War is defined as an active conflict that has claimed more than 1,000 lives. Of the past 3,400 years, humans have been entirely at peace for 268 of them, or just 8 percent of recorded history.
6. Are we, as a species, naturally disposed to war?
​
7. Do you think of Europe as a peaceful place?
Consider
-
Mariupol,
-
Northern Ireland,
-
7.7 bombings in london
-
Paris gunning and bombs 2015
-
(Middle) Catalonia fighting for independence
-
Bosnia
-
Albania
​​
8. Do you think it’s realistic to hope for peace even just across Europe?
Compared with other parts of the world, Europe still has relatively low levels of war and violent crime. However, this does not necessarily mean that peace is present.
​
-In a list of the countries with the highest rates of depression, Europe makes up 7 of the top 10.
​
-In a list of the countries with the highest rates of alcoholism, Europe makes up 8 of the top 10.
​
Low levels of war does not equal Peace
​
"Peace is not the mere absence of war. It is a positive condition of justice. It is the sister of charity and mercy. It is the offspring of honesty and truth. It is the triumph of principle."
Dorothy Thompson, Lincoln Evening Journal, 30/11/1945
“I come not to bring this old peace which is merely the absence of tension; I come to bring a positive peace which is the presence of justice and the Kingdom of God. Peace is not merely the absence of something, but it’s the presence of something.”
Martin Luther King Jr
9. What additional things do you think we need for peace?
Who or what do you think is needed for peace?
10. To what extent do you agree with these statements?
- Religion causes wars,
- Religion brings peace.
​
Which do you agree the most with?​
God created a perfect world, and Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with Him and with each other. God forbid them from eating from one fruit tree but they were tempted by a snake and ate it anyway. As a result, God cursed the world he had made and they were banished from the garden, marking the beginning of humanity's separation from God, and the introduction of sin into the world.
​
What relationships have been broken as a result of their actions?
-
With God
-
With each other
-
With ourselves
-
With Nature
11. What do you think about this idea?
​
12. How could these relationships be mended?
​
13. Jesus is described as a Prince of Peace but would you describe Jesus as a peaceful person?
​
14. Do you see Jesus healing any of these 4 broken relationships? How?
​
15. Do you think he modelled peace well?
​
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Mahatma Gandhi
​
16. How well do you think Christians have followed Jesus‘ example and teachings?
​
17. To what extent do you see Christians in your country or around the world following Jesus’s example?
