Can a Christian justify the use of Nuclear Weapons?

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John Burns 10H

Can a Christian justify the use of Nuclear Weapons?

When answering the title of this essay, you have to first look at why countries retain and develop nuclear weapons.

 The first reason and most obvious of all is to use the nuclear device to destroy an enemy. A good Christian however can never justify this, because no matter how accurate your weapons are you will undoubtedly kill innocent civilians. If you look at the Ten Commandments laid down by God you will see that God was opposed to war, violence and any form of mistreatment. We are told, “To love thy neighbour” and “To treat our enemies, as we would want to be treated.” If you were to look at these commandments you would see that nuclear warfare could never be justified and if you do provoke a nuclear war you should be punished.

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That brings me into the second reason of why countries retain nuclear weapons and that is as a threat. It is a way of protecting your country, but you will protect yourself and retaliate if provoked. Any Christian would feel that this was unjust, after all God did say in the Ten Commandments, “Forgive your enemy”. Retaliating in any way, shape or form would be breaking the Ten Commandments and therefore you could not call yourself a good Christian.  

That leads me onto the third reason of why countries retain nuclear bombs that is to use it ...

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