To what extent was the violence in Western society the MAIN reason for the deve1opment of the idea of Holy War?
Kurt Shead
MTG: C
To what extent was the violence in Western society the MAIN reason for the deve1opment of the idea of Holy War?
Violence in Western society was definitely a prominent factor in the culmination of the concept of Holy War. However, it is subjective to say that it was the most prominent. The growing influence and power of the Catholic Church was possibly the most pivotal factor in its development, as—over time—it was able to channel and unify the belligerents of Western Europe against a common, somewhat faceless, enemy.
The role of the Church in the development of Holy War stretches far back before the ninth century, particularly in the writings of the celebrated scholar St. Augustine of Hippo (d. 430). Augustine’s writings—which set out to articulate and understand when Christians were allowed to resort to acts of violence—came at a time when “Christian morality and doctrine were refined according to the needs and mental attitudes of the time,” particularly considering the “vacuum created by the disappearance of Roman imperial authority.” His attempt to reconcile the violence seen in everyday life with the customary pacifism of Christianity is referred to as the concept of the “just war,” which argues that violence can be morally justified under very specific conditions. Delving into the notion of what constituted a “just war” itself, Augustine focused on the notion of charity, stating “the holy war seeks to bring back lapsed or heretical brethren into the fold of the Church, to save their souls if not their bodies.” Augustine’s definition of “just war” would set a theological standard for defining European holy wars throughout the Crusade era.
