Christian perspectives on war

• War is against Jesus' teaching

  • he taught that we should seek peace in every situation
• Catholic church opposes violence and calls for peace and reconciliation
• In recent times, Catholic church has often denounced war than justified it
• Catholic church supports Just War Theory but has often opposed the use of weapons of mass destruction
• The church does not argue that war is right but it sometimes argues that it is the best option
• Some catholics argue that the just war theory only suited an earlier kind of warfare, and that modern warfare is never justified morally
• Just War Theory in the CCC [Catechism of the Catholic Church]

  • the damage done by aggressor must be serious and long-lasting
  • several attempts must have been made to avoid conflict
  • damage done by weapons must not be greater evil than the evil being opposed
  • the decision that a war is necessary must come from proper authorities, such as the governments of countries
• the catholic church opposes WMDs as they are considered a crime against God to cause widespread suffering to non-combatants and wholesale destruction
• other forms of modern warfare can inflict damage on civilians and the environment. every effort should be made to find peaceful solutions
• authorities must provide security for their citizens and stresses that war can often create a refuge crisis with people exiled from their own country
• Some Christians believe that pacifism is the response that best reflects the teaching of Jesus
• Some Christians support situation ethics and may decide that going to war against evil is the most loving thing to do
• Most Christians are opposed to nuclear weapons and other WMDs

  • many say all nuclear powers disarming simultaneously is the safest option
• More Christians have turned to pacifism in the rise of WMDs
• Christian responses to war

  • supporters of situation ethics might decide war is the most loving option
  • clear opposition to nuclear weapons
  • pacifism e.g. the Quakers
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church sets out some Just War criteria:

  • Damage inflicted by the aggressor must be serious and long-lasting
  • Proportionality - damage done must not be greater than the evil opposed
  • War must be declared by proper authorities