Year 11 - Religious education
Weapons of mass destruction
Religion, peace and conflict
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils examine ideas of violence and how some religions justify war in terms of holy or just war. They will move on to examine specific ideas such as nuclear war and terrorism. Finally they will examine the role of religion in finding and making peace.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain what weapons of mass destruction are and describe their types, effects and issues surrounding them.
Key Notes
- Weapons of mass destruction include nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and cause widespread indiscriminate damage.
- Their use goes against the Geneva Conventions, which aim to protect civilians and limit suffering in war.
- They have been used in major conflicts, leading to international efforts to ban or restrict them.
- Some countries still hold chemical and biological weapons despite global bans.
- Key concerns include secrecy, terrorism, disposal challenges, long-term harm and unequal impact.
Vocabulary To Learn
- biological weapons: a weapon of mass destruction which uses living organisms like bacteria, viruses or toxins to infect and damage the body
- chemical weapons: a weapon of mass destruction which uses man-made toxic substances to harm the body through inhalation, skin contact or eye exposure
- nuclear weapons: a weapon of mass destruction which uses a nuclear reaction to cause widespread damage and loss of life
- weapons of mass destruction: weapons which cause widespread, indiscriminate damage (eg nuclear, chemical, biological)
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- All weapons of mass destruction are completely illegal under international law.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Weapons of mass destruction include nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and cause widespread indiscriminate damage. Their use goes against the Geneva Conventions, which aim to protect civilians and limit suffering in war.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'biological weapons'
a weapon of mass destruction which uses living organisms like bacteria, viruses or toxins to infect and damage the body.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: All weapons of mass destruction are completely illegal under international law. Correction: While chemical and biological weapons are fully banned, nuclear weapons are not completely illegal. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty aims to limit their spread and promote disarmament, but it does not ban their possession by certain countries.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Contrasting religious views about violence Study Guide
- Different religious views about pacifism Study Guide
- Different religious views about weapons of mass destruction Study Guide
- Nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence Study Guide
- Pacifism Study Guide
- Reasons for war Study Guide
- Religion and peace-making Study Guide
- Religion as a cause of war and Holy War Study Guide
- Religious responses to victims of war Study Guide
- Terrorism Study Guide
- The Just War theory Study Guide
- The meaning and significance of peace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation Study Guide
- The work of Christian Aid for victims of war Study Guide
- Violence, including violent protest Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Religious education guide library.