New
New
Year 11
AQA

Religious responses to victims of war

I can explain how Christians and others respond to people affected by war

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Religious responses to victims of war

I can explain how Christians and others respond to people affected by war

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. War harms many groups, including civilians, refugees, prisoners and traumatised soldiers.
  2. Christian teaching encourages practical compassion, based on love of neighbour and helping the vulnerable.
  3. Key Bible verses, like Matthew 25 and the parable of the Good Samaritan, inspire support for those in need.
  4. The Geneva Conventions and human rights laws aim to protect people during conflict.
  5. Many Christians and charities give aid, host refugees and campaign for justice and peace.

Keywords

  • Compassion - feeling deep concern for someone who is suffering and being moved to take action to help them

  • Refugee - someone who has been forced to flee their home country due to war, violence, persecution or disaster and seeks safety in another country

  • Victims of war - those who are harmed during a war, for example those killed, injured or left homeless

Common misconception

Victims of war are only civilians or refugees.

Victims can also include traumatised soldiers, prisoners, and even civilians from aggressor nations, showing the complexity of suffering in war.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Religious responses to victims of war, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use real life case studies to prompt discussion and personal engagement.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
What does peace-making most clearly involve?

Punishing enemies
Preparing for future wars
Correct answer: Working to restore peace and rebuild relationships after conflict

Q2.
What is a key belief of pacifists?

Violence is acceptable in self-defence.
Violence is fun.
Correct answer: All violence is wrong, no matter the situation.

Q3.
Jesus taught Christians to love their , supporting the idea of peace-making.

Correct Answer: enemies, Enemies

Q4.
Why might non-religious people support peace-making?

Correct answer: Because of shared human values like justice, empathy, and human rights
To win religious approval
To avoid military service

Q5.
Peace-makers include civilians, soldiers, and leaders.

Correct Answer: faith, Faith

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Which is an example of war harming civilians?

Correct answer: Bombing a residential area
Voting for a new leader
Increasing taxes

Q2.
Christian teaching encourages practical , based on love of neighbour.

Correct Answer: compassion, Compassion

Q3.
In Matthew 25, Jesus says helping others is like ...

fighting for justice
Correct answer: helping Jesus himself
earning salvation

Q4.
The Geneva aim to protect people during war.

Correct Answer: Conventions, conventions

Q5.
Which of these are all potential victims of war?

Soldiers on both sides only
Political leaders
Correct answer: Civilians, refugees, soldiers, prisoners, and aggressor citizens