a wholesale invasion may not be a justifiable response to a border incursion. Proportionality – any response should be measured in response to the attack e.g.Reasonable prospect of success – War should not be fought for a hopeless cause with little or no chance of victory.Right intention – war must be fought on the basis of aims that are morally acceptable (which may or may not be the same as the just cause) rather than revenge or the desire to inflict harm.Note: this seems to rule out civil war (which supporters of Liberation Theology may feel is acceptable). Legitimate authority – this is usually interpreted to mean that a war can only be started by a lawful government or sovereign state (perhaps in modern times the United Nations).Just cause – the purpose of war is to put right a wrong that has been suffered and is frequently associated with acting in self-defence in response to an unprovoked military attack.Last resort – all non-violent options must have been tried before force can be justified.Principles of jus ad bellum (just recourse to war) The roots of this theory go back to Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine and Aquinas (who developed most of the major principles) though the theory has been commented on and developed by other Christian philosophers. He also told his disciples that he ‘…came not to bring peace but a sword’ (Matt 10v34). For example, in John’s gospel Jesus uses a whip to drive out the moneychangers and dealers in sacrificial animals from the sacred Temple in Jerusalem. In the struggle to establish that kingdom Christians may need to use force.Ĥ) There are some other New Testament passages about Jesus (apart from Luke 4v18) which could be used to support violence and which suggest that Jesus may not have been a pacifist after all. ‘If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also ‘ (Matthew 5:39) ‘Love your enemies ‘(Matthew 5:44) ’Blessed are the peacemakers ‘ (Matthew 5:9) ‘ all who live by the sword will die by the sword.’ (Matthew 26:52).īUT: 1) Christians who support Just War Theory argue that Jesus was referring to the behaviour of individuals not nations and that a different sort of morality is required for international conflict.Ģ) Christians who believe in Liberation Theology feel that Christians have a duty to fight against unjust governments and leaders and are inspired to do so by the teaching in Luke 4v18 to ‘…set free the oppressed’.ģ) Christians who support the idea of Christian Realism believe that Jesus was teaching about how people should ideally behave in the future when God’s kingdom has finally been established and violence will no longer be needed. Passages which suggest that Jesus was possibly a pacifist are :: In terms of Divine Command Ethics, the New Testament seems to favour Pacifism – the view that violence is always wrong. THESE NOTES ARE QUITE BASIC AND SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POST ON BRIAN OREND’S BOOK. With reference to the ideas of Augustine and Aquinas. The success of the Just War Theory as a theory and in practice, the practicality of pacifism in its different forms, perceived advantages of war such as technological development, relevance of religious contributions, success of named wars in achieving their goal. A) The contribution of at least one religion to issues of war and peace, including the teaching of sacred text(s), the Just War Theory, including principles jus ad bellum, jus in bello and jus post bellum, reasons for and influences on the development of the theory, examples of wars, including contemporary conflicts that may be evaluated against the theory, special issues arising from nuclear war.ī) Concepts of pacifism, including absolute, relative/selective and nuclear pacifism, the role of pacifist movements and pressure groups.
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