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AQA GCSE Religious Studies – Reasons for War

This engaging and thought-provoking lesson supports the AQA GCSE Religious Studies specification and focuses on the key reasons why wars are fought, including greed, self-defence, and retaliation. Students will explore each reason in depth, examine Christian and Muslim teachings, and evaluate whether these reasons can ever justify warfare. The lesson is designed to promote ethical reflection, critical thinking, and religious literacy, while helping students build exam-ready skills in explanation and evaluation.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the main reasons why people fight in wars, including greed, self-defence, and retaliation
• Explain Christian and Islamic attitudes toward each reason, using scripture and religious teachings
• Evaluate whether any of these reasons can be morally or religiously justified in the context of war

What’s Included:

• Visually engaging PowerPoint presentation with key information, definitions, and discussion prompts
• A starter activity recaps prior knowledge from the scheme of work (SOW), helping students to connect new learning to what they already know.
• Throughout the lesson, **questioning activities **are used to promote discussion, check understanding, and encourage participation.
• Printable differentiated worksheet with comprehension, analysis, and reflection tasks
• Side by-side comparison of Christian and Islamic views on the reasons for war
• Case study prompts and discussion activities on historical or modern examples
• Students will complete an exam/ deliberate practice question to develop their assessment skills and apply their knowledge with scaffolding
• The lesson concludes with a final activity that allows students to consolidate their understanding and reflect on what they have learned.

Why Choose This Resource?
Fully aligned with AQA GCSE Religious Studies (Theme D: Religion, Peace and Conflict)
Encourages moral reasoning, empathy, and thoughtful evaluation
Uses real-world examples to bring religious teachings to life
Supports the development of high-level exam skills, including explanation and evaluation

Perfect for use as part of the Religion, Peace and Conflict topic or as a standalone lesson or for use in revision and thematic comparisons. Easily adaptable for all abilities and teaching environments.