religion, peace and conflict

• three kinds of war (good)

  • obligatory : fighting ordered by or for god
  • defensive (inc. pre-emptive) : defending yourself or another country
  • optional : fighting for a good cause as a last resort
• just war criteria

  • just cause
  • correct authority
  • last resort
  • chance of success
  • proportional fighting
  • civilian safety
  • no mistreatment of PoWs (jewish link - sanctity of life)
• fighting (quotes)

  • whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed
  • when you approach a town to attack, you shall first offer terms of peace [...] if it does not accept these terms, but would join battle to you, you shall lay siege to it
• treatment of others (enemy)

  if your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink
• an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
• a time for peace, a time for war
• pacifism

  • blessed are the peacemakers, for they are called the sons of god (bible)
  • turn the other cheek (jesus)
  • peace, peace you shall pursue (torah)
• do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good
• protest

  we must always take sides. neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim