Christian Attitudes to Holy War

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Created by
Sophie

Cards (3)

  • Christian Attitudes to Holy War
    Most Christians today totally reject the idea of Holy War, but in the Old Testament, there are numerous accounts of battles in which the ancient Israelites clearly believed that God was on their side. When the Israelites reached the Promised Land, God commanded them to make war on the people who lived there: “In the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them.” (Deuteronomy)
  • A Holy War generally has three key features:
    1. It is fought to achieve a religious goal (eg. to spread the faith or to reclaim lands which were once Christian)
    2. It must be authorised by a religious leader (eg. the Pope)
    3. There is the promise of a spiritual reward for those who take part (eg. they will go to heaven)
  • Non-Religious attitudes to holy war
    Non-religious people would generally reject the idea of a holy war since they reject belief in God. Nonreligious people would object to any attempt to forcibly convert people to a religion.