Christians believe in a Just War but what is it?

Answer 1

The majority of Christianists believe in "Just War". The Just War Theory was asserted as authoritative Catholic Church teaching by the United States Catholic Bishops in their pastoral letter, The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response, issued in 1983. It is basically a belief that violence and warfare can be a morally justified means of solving human conflict. Contemporarily, some people believe that the Islamic precept of Jihad, is an expression of the "Just War" concept.

Answer 2

War by its very nature is a spectacle of violence, destruction, suffering, and death. War is filled with many horrors and is a great human tragedy. War tends to unleash the worst of human passions: hate, vengeance, wicked ambition, cruelty, base desires, and blood-lust. Erasmus was fond of the adage of Pindar: "Sweet is war to him who knows it not." Or as those who do know war testify: "War is hell." These things being true, how could a Christian ever be in favor of war? The undeniable fact of history is that war is a common condition in human affairs. From the earliest days of man's existence, he has been at war with his fellow man. How has the church responded to the fact of war? There have been two basic stands concerning war among Christians and their particular church denominations: pacifism and just war. Pacifists declare that all war is evil and contrary to the principles of Jesus and the New Testament. Hence, Christian participation in war is forbidden. Just war adherents believe that a war may be just if it meets certain criteria. If the war is just, then a Christian may participate in it. The purpose of this article is to summarize and defend the just war position.

Answer 3

The first problems is to assume that Christians in general are well versed in the definition of "Just War" and have a basis to believe in it (support) it. The term just war is generally applied to wars started or engaged in by "our side AKA the good guys" to make sure that "good" prevails over "evil" . To suggest that Christians support the concept of just wars is the same as suggesting that they support all wars that "we" start. This becomes difficult when two Christian groups wage war on each other.in general the stated purpose of a war is often more warm and noble than the monetary and political reasons that actually initiate it.

To suggest that Christians in general support wars indicates a denial of the existence of Christian pacifists.