11.5.3 Nuclear War (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Consequences of Nuclear War

What is Nuclear War?

• A nuclear war is a war that involves nuclear weapons. These are weapons that work by creating a nuclear reaction which devastates huge areas and kills large numbers of people

• Since nuclear weapons were first used in 1945 by the U.S.A. on Japan, they continue to be developed

• It is estimated that in 2015, nine nations had around 15,700 nuclear weapons between them

• These bombs can be delivered from land sites or submarines rather than dropped from aircraft. Intercontinental ballistic missiles have a range of up to 10,000km

What are the consequences of Nuclear War?

• Nuclear weapons, along with chemical and biological weapons are known as weapons of mass destruction because the damage they can do is devastating  

• Nuclear weapons cause immediate destruction of all life and structures within their range. The radioactive ‘fallout’ has long-term effects

• Nuclear weapons were first developed during World War 2. In August 1945, America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan killing 84,000 people

  • Three days later they dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 people. After this, the Japanese surrendered bringing an end to the war

  • The hydrogen bomb is 1000 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan,

  • The neutron bomb can kill or disable people while leaving buildings intact

• The consequences of a nuclear war would be catastrophic for the area it was used on but also for the earth as a whole

  • The sheer number of people that would be killed, the destruction of towns, villages and countryside and the number of people whose lives would be changed forever

  • Nuclear war would force thousands of people to leave their homes and often their countries as well

    • The people would become refugees, people without a home

  • War and especially nuclear wars would destroy homes, crops, power supplies, industry, schools and hospitals

  • Nuclear weapons lead to radiation in the air, water and soil. It can have a disastrous effect on the environment

  • War can scar the people involved in many ways.

    • Soldiers who have witnessed terrible atrocities may suffer trauma as a result

    • Civilians whose daily lives have been shattered can suffer in a similar way

Nuclear War and the Sanctity of Life

• Nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction and therefore it is impossible to guarantee that innocent individuals will not be killed

• Most Christians are against weapons of mass destruction and would destroy these weapons so they can never be used

  • It is a fundamental Christian belief that as the creator, only God has the authority to end a life that he has created. This is known as the Sanctity of Life

  • One of the Ten Commandments states ‘You shall not murder’ (Exodus 20:13) Some Christians believe that the use of nuclear weapons which would kill huge numbers of innocent civilians can never be justified

  • The use of nuclear weapons does not fit with the Just War Theory because the force used is not proportional and innocent civilians are attacked

  • Jesus taught Christians to 'love their enemies' and so clearly the use of nuclear weapons is wrong

• Muslims would also be against weapons of mass destruction because of the Qur'an and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

  • Muslims believe that God created all life on earth and that Muslims have a duty and responsibility to care for them and to work for peace

  • Life is sacred, and using weapons which could kill millions of people and possibly destroy the earth goes against the teachings of Islam

  • The Qur'an says ‘Take not life that God has made sacred’ (6: 151) meaning that Muslims also believe in the Sanctity of Life and would therefore condemn life being taken by anyone

  • The Qur'an encourages Muslims to avoid destroying lives

• In conventional warfare, innocent civilians must be protected, but with nuclear weapons, this is not possible

• The use of nuclear weapons goes against the idea of proportionality and not attacking civilians found in the concept of Lesser Jihad

Attitudes to Nuclear War

Attitudes towards nuclear war

• Most religious and non-religious people are against the use of nuclear weapons, although some people believe that they can act as a deterrent to prevent war

• There are many arguments for and against countries having nuclear weapons