The teachings include the sixth commandment ‘You shall not kill’ this teaching is obvious what he is trying to get across, and is very anti-war. Pacifists may also back up their beliefs by saying that Jesus tells his disciples not to react to violence, even when the Romans were going to arrest Jesus. He uses the teaching ‘blessed are the peace makers’ which is teaching that the peacemakers (non-violent citizens, may also be active anti-violence believers) are blessed, meaning they are right.
Non pacifists would argue against this by using their own opinion as there are no actual quotations made for war as Christians are conscientious objectors, there are special committees set up such as ‘Quakers’ who are pacifists and conscientious objectors.
According to Thomas Aquinas’ theory, a war is a just war depending upon a number of factors. These factors include the idea that a war must not be started or controlled by an individual, the cause must be a just one, such as self defence, coming to the aid of a persecuted country or community, or the righting of a wrong, those attacked must be attacked because they deserve it. The war must be faught if good prevails evil, if all other attempts of solving the issue are exhausted and there must be proportionality in the way that the war is faught. Innocent civilians should not be hurt.
Many Christians believe in a just war. This is a war that Christians would consider morally right to fight. Many Christians may only believe in a war if it is a last resort, this backs up Thomas Aquinas’ theory of War being the last solution.
The Society of Friends (Quakers) is against war under any circumstances. They believe that Jesus taught Christians to:’ Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’.
However what Jesus is teaching is perhaps not easy to achieve. His words can easily be misinterpreted or ignored. Jesus himself did not actually preach against war.
A number of Christian beliefs can easily agree with Thomas Aquinas’s conditions, unless if that particular Christian had an absolute anti-war opinion. Christians who are completely anti-war may join in with anti-war protests to argue their beliefs with the prime-minister or whoever is in charge of a war.
A holy war can not ever be classed as a ‘just war’ as in a holy war both sides believe that God is on their side, even though this can never be proven. An example of a Holy War is the war faught between Israel and Palestine and who owns the Holy land. This war can never be a ‘just war’ as it would not comply with Thomas Aquinas’ conditions
i. ‘The war must be faught to promote good over evil, peace and justice must be resored afterwards’
ii. ‘The cause must bhe a just one, such as self defence, coming to the aid of a persecuted country or community, or the righting of a wrong. Those attacked must deserve it.
Both sides could not claim either of the above conditions.
