This GCSE RE Christianity quiz should be considered in conjunction with our parallel ones on Suffering and Social Justice. Our world is not only ‘troubled’ by the consequences of individual sin ~ be this single or multiple murder, or national or corporate (multinational?) malfeasance that oppresses, uproots or otherwise disempowers countless ‘little people’ and their often fragile finances or environments ~ but by the shameful scourges of ongoing wars in the name of territory, resources and even religion, where any eventual ‘victory’ can only bring with it regrettably disproportionate amounts of suffering and destruction.
This quiz considers how such states of affairs come about, and what a Christian response and viewpoint might be.
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Sometimes, and not without regrets and reservations, Christians have been involved in wars (including civil wars) as combatants ~ either for their country, as professional militia defending their national interests against (for instance) an atheist / communist enemy, else even engaged in battles against representatives of other faiths. In such a case the question immediately arises as to God hardly being able to endorse both sides at once. It certainly remains sadly true that nominal forces of Christianity have been guilty of various bloodshed down the ages, notably perhaps during the Crusades ~ well-intentioned, by the standards of their time, though these doubtless were.
After any war there may, and should, be peace ~ at least of a sort. The matter of genuinely fair justice for the ‘losers’ then arises, insofar as anyone on earth can fairly determine it, while the victors may themselves be bloodied and have skewed agendas of their own (as was the case with the Versailles Treaty at the end of World War 1, more or less a century ago).
Then again, not entirely dissimilar issues arise over transition from inequitable regimes where there has not technically been a war as such (e.g. Eastern Europe after the collapse of the international communist experiment, the dismantling of apartheid, or the aftermaths of outbreaks of ‘ethnic cleansing’ … the only kind of cleansing, one might wryly observe, that seems to require a bloodbath).
Let us venture into these deep dark waters …
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1.
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The 13th-century theologian and thinker, Thomas Aquinas, put forward a scheme of three standards by which the waging of war could still be justified as a 'just war'. As is our custom, we have smuggled in one false definition: which of the following wasn't Aquinas'? |
|
| [ ] |
A Just War may only be waged by, and on behalf of, a properly constituted and recognised authority such as a nation state (i.e. it cannot be started by a private army or mercenaries) |
| [ ] |
It must be fought only for a good and just purpose, rather for self-gain or as an exercise in control of others |
| [ ] |
Deliberate aggression against non-combatants (eg 'revenge' against innocent bystanders or hostages) has no place in the conduct of a Just War |
| [ ] |
It should be fought with the prime aim of achieving peace |
|
|
|
2.
|
As recently as 1992 the Catholic Church has formulated a powerful four-pronged definition of Just War, which has clearly moved on far from Aquinas' day in the light of developments in weapons and technology ~ not least in the 20th century, with the mechanisation of gunfire and the rapid development of '3-dimensional warfare' (land, sea [inc. submarines] and sky; or indeed the use of physical, biochemical and nuclear weapons).
Again, ONE of the stipulations below has been falsified: which one? |
|
| [ ] |
The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain |
| [ ] |
All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective |
| [ ] |
Deliberate aggression against non-combatants (eg 'revenge' against innocent bystanders or hostages) has no place in the conduct of a Just War, and every demonstrable effort must be made to avoid 'collateral damage' |
| [ ] |
The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated (the power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition) |
|
|
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3.
|
With the dubious benefit of 2,000-odd years of history, political and technical progress, Christians ~ as followers of the Prince of Peace ~ may well look, collectively, askance back over their shoulders at wars (and similar) waged in the name of their faith over that period. As recently as Victorian times (the later 19th century), the British 'establishment' in particular assumed a virtually divine right to colonise wherever they pleased, subduing 'natives', helping themselves to natural resources (minerals, rubber, tea / cocoa / coffee etc.) and obliging, rather than persuading, local populations to adopt Christianity.
All but ONE of these are genuine quotations representative of the mindset of such days; which ONE is NOT genuine? |
|
| [ ] |
'Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the Cross of Jesus going on before! ...
Like a mighty army moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading where the Saints have trod ... (Victorian hymn) |
| [ ] |
'It is our duty never to rest until God's work is accomplished around the world, in climes however hot or heathen' |
| [ ] |
'As o'er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent
Nor dies the strain of praise away.'
(Classic Victorian evening hymn: 'The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended ...') |
| [ ] |
Colonists, particularly around the time of the Scramble for Africa, would bring 'guns and God' ~ or at least, 'railways and religion' or 'Christ and cricket' |
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|
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4.
|
What is a Christian to do when their country is at war ~ possibly, though not necessarily, against an enemy who (if victorious) would also try to crush Christian observance, such as happened under Communist Russia and in her satellite states? If there is conscription and the individual is otherwise eligible, he or she would face religious qualms (as well as natural apprehension and distaste) if commanded to shoot or bomb an 'enemy' human being in contravention of the Ten Commandments.
Which of the following would NOT have been an option for a British Christian during either or both World Wars of the earlier 20th century? |
|
| [ ] |
To ask a priest (or elder, or denominational equivalent) to write a reference certifying the candidate's active faith, in order to excuse them from conscription |
| [ ] |
To volunteer to act as a non-combatant medical orderly, ambulance driver etc. |
| [ ] |
To go before a government tribunal for registration as a Conscientious Objector |
| [ ] |
To be in a 'reserved occupation' (e.g. coal-mining, shipbuilding) where established skills were of better use to the war effort at home |
|
|
|
5.
|
After a war &/or 'regime change' (a somewhat ghastly, but handy label for when a previous ruler is toppled from charge of a country), there are often simmering scores to be settled between various interest-groups. The following are mostly examples of Christian leader figures who urged for peaceful change, and tried their best to be ~ and encourage other key players to be ~ civil and forgiving of their erstwhile enemies once the power base had changed.
Which is the 'odd man out'? |
|
| [ ] |
Martin Luther King was a Baptist pastor who campaigned, fearlessly but fairly, for equal rights for Afro-Americans in the years after World War 2. His tactics were preferably a matter of 'civil disobedience' rather than direct or violent action |
| [ ] |
Mohandas 'Mahatma' Gandhi, not long earlier in broad historical terms, had campaigned for rights in India on behalf of women, lower castes and various other assumed 'minorities'. He was not beyond advocating civil disobedience, but never violence, and always strove to see the best in all people ~ including those whose views, background and assumptions differed markedly from his own |
| [ ] |
Lech Walesa, a staunch lifelong Catholic, formed and led the Solidarnosc shipyard union in Gdansk, Poland in the 15 years prior to the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. His initiatives on behalf of workers' rights and safety put him at longterm odds with the totalitarian secret police: Solidarnosc was outlawed and he spent time in jail. He became the first modern democratically-elected President of Poland and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He urged against public release of old secret police files, on the grounds that information in them would cause further anguish between Polish citizens |
| [ ] |
Nelson Mandela was a champion against Apartheid in South Africa, spending 27 years in Robben Island jail, but later became the first President of a fully democratic South Africa and worked tirelessly to bring about reconciliation between former sworn enemies on either side of the racial divide. A modest if charismatic man, he made no great parade (as such) of the Christian faith from which this determination for forgiveness had sprung |
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6.
|
While your author was studying for his Teaching Certificate at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (1982, also the time of the Falklands War), he signed an international petition urging the US Navy to change its decision on naming a new nuclear submarine 'Corpus Christi' ~ after the city on the Texas coast. On what particular grounds was this petition raised? |
|
| [ ] |
The US government had no business launching multi-million-dollar warships while some of its citizens were starving |
| [ ] |
It was offensive to associate the Latin phrase for 'Body of Christ' with a modern instrument of potential mass destruction |
| [ ] |
While the names of other major US cities were unobjectionable for previous submarines in the fleet, the name of Christ emblazoned on a warship was tantamount to blasphemy |
| [ ] |
The Catholic Church would be unable to 'bless her and all who sail in her' (as would normally be the case on first launch) |
|
|
|
7.
|
During World War 2, besides extensive combatant deaths, unprecedented numbers of civilians were killed, in many cases in air-raids (including by carpet-bombing on both 'sides' and from the German V1 and V2 flying-bombs); the Nazis also obliterated over 10 million Jews and others whom they regarded as subhuman (gay and disabled people, travellers/'gypsies' and various other now largely better-protected minority groups). After the War, those chiefly responsible were tried and executed despite their pleas that they had 'only been obeying orders'.
Wernher von Braun, meanwhile, the ballistics mastermind behind the rocket programmes, contrived to be captured by the Americans (near Oberammergau, as happens) and went on not only to be the guiding force behind the NASA space program, but to become a professing personal Christian who had discussions with the likes ~ if any! ~ of Billy Graham and Revd Dr Martin Luther King.
What might be a best Christian response to his particular 'trajectory'? |
|
| [ ] |
Von Braun was a talented and lucky man, and good luck to him |
| [ ] |
As, primarily, an executive technician in a 'command economy', von Braun was more concerned with feasibility, development and reliability of his early products ~ than with the moral side of what they were to be used for |
| [ ] |
Von Braun's 'trajectory' moved from the ghastly and destructive to ultimately more noble endeavours, which may be taken to suggest that God can always turn ill-gained talent to the greater good |
| [ ] |
However great his later work for broader human endeavour, he remains tainted by those earlier years and his so-called 'conversion' should be regarded warily as opportunist ~ if not downright fraudulent |
|
|
|
8.
|
Particularly during the aerial bombing campaigns of WW2 ~ though, sadly, also more recently with ISIS destroying 'pagan' artefacts in the Fertile Crescent ~ much wonderful heritage was destroyed alongside the annihilation of enemy industry and civilians. Shortly after WW2 the citizens of two European cities came together to bemoan the loss of their cathedrals and other mediaeval features, and to enter into partnership, not only to help restore one another's damage, but to put youth work and exchanges in place ~ so that never again could there be such catastrophic and wanton misunderstanding between peoples. Which were the two cities? |
|
| [ ] |
Dresden and Coventry |
| [ ] |
Birmingham and Cologne |
| [ ] |
Manchester and Hamburg |
| [ ] |
Berlin and Bristol |
|
|
|
9.
|
Here is a passage from the Old Testament, in which one of the Prophets describes a vision of eternal peace under God, to which surely many people could broadly wish humanity might aspire:
'Strong nations ... will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more ... Every man will sit under his own ... tree and no-one will make them afraid; All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.' (NIV translation, abridged)
Which prophet wrote these words? |
|
| [ ] |
Ezekiel |
| [ ] |
Haggai |
| [ ] |
Micah |
| [ ] |
Malachi |
|
|
|
10.
|
Over 100 years ago, the Easter Uprising in Dublin effectively kick-started the process of independence for the southern majority of the island of Ireland. The northern six counties have remained part of the (otherwise!) United Kingdom since shortly after the First World War.
Political arguments then raged as to whether those six counties should unite with Eire (the south) or remain linked with mainland Britain. In the 1970s and 80s 'the Troubles' ~ mainly fomented by the IRA (Irish Republican Army) with bombings and other attacks, including pub-bombings on the mainland, political assassinations, and the Grand Hotel timebomb at Brighton (during the mid-1980s annual conference of the then-governing Conservatives) ~ seemed both permanent and futile. Routine reports of atrocities tended to refer to the IRA and its sympathisers as 'Catholics' and loyalists as 'Protestants' which were, at best, clumsily simplistic sectarian labels.
British premier Tony Blair eventually convened talks in the spring of 1998 which established effective peace and ushered in power-sharing in Northern Ireland. To those of us who had long seen these people as sworn enemies, it was indeed remarkable to watch Martin McGuiness (of Sinn Fein, the political party associated with the IRA) and Dr Ian Paisley (of the Ulster Unionists) shaking hands and working together, even becoming known as the latter-day 'Chuckle Brothers'.
The political accord which brought about this remarkable change is usually known by the date on which its nub was agreed: which day was this? |
|
| [ ] |
Ash Wednesday |
| [ ] |
Maundy Thursday |
| [ ] |
Good Friday |
| [ ] |
Easter Monday |
|
|
|
1.
|
The 13th-century theologian and thinker, Thomas Aquinas, put forward a scheme of three standards by which the waging of war could still be justified as a 'just war'. As is our custom, we have smuggled in one false definition: which of the following wasn't Aquinas'? |
|
| [ ] |
A Just War may only be waged by, and on behalf of, a properly constituted and recognised authority such as a nation state (i.e. it cannot be started by a private army or mercenaries) |
| [ ] |
It must be fought only for a good and just purpose, rather for self-gain or as an exercise in control of others |
| [x] |
Deliberate aggression against non-combatants (eg 'revenge' against innocent bystanders or hostages) has no place in the conduct of a Just War |
| [ ] |
It should be fought with the prime aim of achieving peace |
|
|
|
2.
|
As recently as 1992 the Catholic Church has formulated a powerful four-pronged definition of Just War, which has clearly moved on far from Aquinas' day in the light of developments in weapons and technology ~ not least in the 20th century, with the mechanisation of gunfire and the rapid development of '3-dimensional warfare' (land, sea [inc. submarines] and sky; or indeed the use of physical, biochemical and nuclear weapons).
Again, ONE of the stipulations below has been falsified: which one? |
|
| [ ] |
The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain |
| [ ] |
All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective |
| [x] |
Deliberate aggression against non-combatants (eg 'revenge' against innocent bystanders or hostages) has no place in the conduct of a Just War, and every demonstrable effort must be made to avoid 'collateral damage' |
| [ ] |
The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated (the power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition) |
|
|
|
3.
|
With the dubious benefit of 2,000-odd years of history, political and technical progress, Christians ~ as followers of the Prince of Peace ~ may well look, collectively, askance back over their shoulders at wars (and similar) waged in the name of their faith over that period. As recently as Victorian times (the later 19th century), the British 'establishment' in particular assumed a virtually divine right to colonise wherever they pleased, subduing 'natives', helping themselves to natural resources (minerals, rubber, tea / cocoa / coffee etc.) and obliging, rather than persuading, local populations to adopt Christianity.
All but ONE of these are genuine quotations representative of the mindset of such days; which ONE is NOT genuine? |
|
| [ ] |
'Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the Cross of Jesus going on before! ...
Like a mighty army moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading where the Saints have trod ... (Victorian hymn) |
| [x] |
'It is our duty never to rest until God's work is accomplished around the world, in climes however hot or heathen' |
| [ ] |
'As o'er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent
Nor dies the strain of praise away.'
(Classic Victorian evening hymn: 'The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended ...') |
| [ ] |
Colonists, particularly around the time of the Scramble for Africa, would bring 'guns and God' ~ or at least, 'railways and religion' or 'Christ and cricket' |
|
|
|
4.
|
What is a Christian to do when their country is at war ~ possibly, though not necessarily, against an enemy who (if victorious) would also try to crush Christian observance, such as happened under Communist Russia and in her satellite states? If there is conscription and the individual is otherwise eligible, he or she would face religious qualms (as well as natural apprehension and distaste) if commanded to shoot or bomb an 'enemy' human being in contravention of the Ten Commandments.
Which of the following would NOT have been an option for a British Christian during either or both World Wars of the earlier 20th century? |
|
| [x] |
To ask a priest (or elder, or denominational equivalent) to write a reference certifying the candidate's active faith, in order to excuse them from conscription |
| [ ] |
To volunteer to act as a non-combatant medical orderly, ambulance driver etc. |
| [ ] |
To go before a government tribunal for registration as a Conscientious Objector |
| [ ] |
To be in a 'reserved occupation' (e.g. coal-mining, shipbuilding) where established skills were of better use to the war effort at home |
|
|
|
5.
|
After a war &/or 'regime change' (a somewhat ghastly, but handy label for when a previous ruler is toppled from charge of a country), there are often simmering scores to be settled between various interest-groups. The following are mostly examples of Christian leader figures who urged for peaceful change, and tried their best to be ~ and encourage other key players to be ~ civil and forgiving of their erstwhile enemies once the power base had changed.
Which is the 'odd man out'? |
|
| [ ] |
Martin Luther King was a Baptist pastor who campaigned, fearlessly but fairly, for equal rights for Afro-Americans in the years after World War 2. His tactics were preferably a matter of 'civil disobedience' rather than direct or violent action |
| [x] |
Mohandas 'Mahatma' Gandhi, not long earlier in broad historical terms, had campaigned for rights in India on behalf of women, lower castes and various other assumed 'minorities'. He was not beyond advocating civil disobedience, but never violence, and always strove to see the best in all people ~ including those whose views, background and assumptions differed markedly from his own |
| [ ] |
Lech Walesa, a staunch lifelong Catholic, formed and led the Solidarnosc shipyard union in Gdansk, Poland in the 15 years prior to the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. His initiatives on behalf of workers' rights and safety put him at longterm odds with the totalitarian secret police: Solidarnosc was outlawed and he spent time in jail. He became the first modern democratically-elected President of Poland and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He urged against public release of old secret police files, on the grounds that information in them would cause further anguish between Polish citizens |
| [ ] |
Nelson Mandela was a champion against Apartheid in South Africa, spending 27 years in Robben Island jail, but later became the first President of a fully democratic South Africa and worked tirelessly to bring about reconciliation between former sworn enemies on either side of the racial divide. A modest if charismatic man, he made no great parade (as such) of the Christian faith from which this determination for forgiveness had sprung |
|
|
|
6.
|
While your author was studying for his Teaching Certificate at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (1982, also the time of the Falklands War), he signed an international petition urging the US Navy to change its decision on naming a new nuclear submarine 'Corpus Christi' ~ after the city on the Texas coast. On what particular grounds was this petition raised? |
|
| [ ] |
The US government had no business launching multi-million-dollar warships while some of its citizens were starving |
| [x] |
It was offensive to associate the Latin phrase for 'Body of Christ' with a modern instrument of potential mass destruction |
| [ ] |
While the names of other major US cities were unobjectionable for previous submarines in the fleet, the name of Christ emblazoned on a warship was tantamount to blasphemy |
| [ ] |
The Catholic Church would be unable to 'bless her and all who sail in her' (as would normally be the case on first launch) |
|
|
|
7.
|
During World War 2, besides extensive combatant deaths, unprecedented numbers of civilians were killed, in many cases in air-raids (including by carpet-bombing on both 'sides' and from the German V1 and V2 flying-bombs); the Nazis also obliterated over 10 million Jews and others whom they regarded as subhuman (gay and disabled people, travellers/'gypsies' and various other now largely better-protected minority groups). After the War, those chiefly responsible were tried and executed despite their pleas that they had 'only been obeying orders'.
Wernher von Braun, meanwhile, the ballistics mastermind behind the rocket programmes, contrived to be captured by the Americans (near Oberammergau, as happens) and went on not only to be the guiding force behind the NASA space program, but to become a professing personal Christian who had discussions with the likes ~ if any! ~ of Billy Graham and Revd Dr Martin Luther King.
What might be a best Christian response to his particular 'trajectory'? |
|
| [ ] |
Von Braun was a talented and lucky man, and good luck to him |
| [ ] |
As, primarily, an executive technician in a 'command economy', von Braun was more concerned with feasibility, development and reliability of his early products ~ than with the moral side of what they were to be used for |
| [x] |
Von Braun's 'trajectory' moved from the ghastly and destructive to ultimately more noble endeavours, which may be taken to suggest that God can always turn ill-gained talent to the greater good |
| [ ] |
However great his later work for broader human endeavour, he remains tainted by those earlier years and his so-called 'conversion' should be regarded warily as opportunist ~ if not downright fraudulent |
|
|
|
8.
|
Particularly during the aerial bombing campaigns of WW2 ~ though, sadly, also more recently with ISIS destroying 'pagan' artefacts in the Fertile Crescent ~ much wonderful heritage was destroyed alongside the annihilation of enemy industry and civilians. Shortly after WW2 the citizens of two European cities came together to bemoan the loss of their cathedrals and other mediaeval features, and to enter into partnership, not only to help restore one another's damage, but to put youth work and exchanges in place ~ so that never again could there be such catastrophic and wanton misunderstanding between peoples. Which were the two cities? |
|
| [x] |
Dresden and Coventry |
| [ ] |
Birmingham and Cologne |
| [ ] |
Manchester and Hamburg |
| [ ] |
Berlin and Bristol |
|
|
|
9.
|
Here is a passage from the Old Testament, in which one of the Prophets describes a vision of eternal peace under God, to which surely many people could broadly wish humanity might aspire:
'Strong nations ... will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more ... Every man will sit under his own ... tree and no-one will make them afraid; All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.' (NIV translation, abridged)
Which prophet wrote these words? |
|
| [ ] |
Ezekiel |
| [ ] |
Haggai |
| [x] |
Micah |
| [ ] |
Malachi |
|
|
|
10.
|
Over 100 years ago, the Easter Uprising in Dublin effectively kick-started the process of independence for the southern majority of the island of Ireland. The northern six counties have remained part of the (otherwise!) United Kingdom since shortly after the First World War.
Political arguments then raged as to whether those six counties should unite with Eire (the south) or remain linked with mainland Britain. In the 1970s and 80s 'the Troubles' ~ mainly fomented by the IRA (Irish Republican Army) with bombings and other attacks, including pub-bombings on the mainland, political assassinations, and the Grand Hotel timebomb at Brighton (during the mid-1980s annual conference of the then-governing Conservatives) ~ seemed both permanent and futile. Routine reports of atrocities tended to refer to the IRA and its sympathisers as 'Catholics' and loyalists as 'Protestants' which were, at best, clumsily simplistic sectarian labels.
British premier Tony Blair eventually convened talks in the spring of 1998 which established effective peace and ushered in power-sharing in Northern Ireland. To those of us who had long seen these people as sworn enemies, it was indeed remarkable to watch Martin McGuiness (of Sinn Fein, the political party associated with the IRA) and Dr Ian Paisley (of the Ulster Unionists) shaking hands and working together, even becoming known as the latter-day 'Chuckle Brothers'.
The political accord which brought about this remarkable change is usually known by the date on which its nub was agreed: which day was this? |
|
| [ ] |
Ash Wednesday |
| [ ] |
Maundy Thursday |
| [x] |
Good Friday |
| [ ] |
Easter Monday |
|
|
