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Ethics is the study of why people make choices and how they justify what is the right and wrong. Christians and Muslims base the way of their living and of making decisions from their sacred stories and texts. Christians refer from the Church and the Bible. The teachings and actions of Jesus are the starting point for their ethical thought. On the other hand, Muslims refer their words and actions according to the Qu’ran, Sunna, Hadith and Shari’a. They also have the Jesus figure in the person of Muhammed who is viewed as their behavioural role model. These sacred stories and texts, beliefs and teaching authorities influenced the ethics of Muslims, and Christians in their everyday life. The way Christians and Muslims react with violence, war and peace is also based from their ethical teachings. The ethical teachings about peace, war and violence caused uncertainties. The passages from the Bible and Qurán have different meanings and interpretations. The verse Exodus 21:23-25 from the Old Testament Bible states, "But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise” This verse allows Christians to commit violence for vengeance. On the other hand, the passage, Matthew 5.38-48 from the New Testament says, …(Jesus) he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' …But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also…Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. This passage implies that Christians must not tolerate violence. Jesus also deterred the passages from the Old Testament, which encourage vengeance. Jesus doesn’t want violent behaviour in defence of justice. Jesus tells Christians to love to forgive, even towards enemies. Christians base their ethics in violence to the latter passage, as Jesus is the role model of the Christians’ ethics.
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