Just Cause: A war must have a reasnable cause, this cause could be self-defence or reclaiming lost territory, a war that is started in order to claim another state’s territory or another states assets isnt ‘just’ and is therefore seen as wrong in a christians eyes.
Just Aim : A war must have a a specific and fair aim, once the aim has been completed the war must stop
Discrimination of non-participants: A war must be waged with the endangering of any civilians, if civilians are hurt or in danger then the war must take another course. Civilian loss of life is a major reason in why most christians believe war is wrong.
Proportionality : A state must not use excessive force against a state with less assets, for example don’t drop a nucleur bomb on someone who has a bow and arrow. This condition is trying to get across that states should be compasionate when fighting a war, they shouldt be trying to ‘extinct’ the fellow state.
These five conditions for war are rarely met in the modern day world, most wars that have happened or look likely to happen in the future are not ‘just’, they are mainly waged in order for states to expand there wealth or there territory, this does not comply with the five conditions, showing why most christians areagainst war under any circumstances.
In the 11th and 12th and 13th centuries, christian soldiers went on crusades to the middle-east, there aim was to reclaim the holy land ( this is modern day Isreal). Christians believed that God was on there side and they declared a ‘Holy War’ ( ‘Declare a Holy War. Call the trrops to arms’ Joel 3:9 ) Christians of this time believed there war was just as they had met the five conditions of a ‘just war’. These crusades caused problems between the christian and muslim communaties in that area for centuries to come. After the crusades reclaimed some land, Christian settlers began to flock to the ‘reclaimed’ holy land, causing rifts between the two communaties, christians today still believe that the Palestinian muslims are living on there holy land, and there is a type of war being waged in that region. The war however isnt between 2 states ( as Palestine isnt a state ), its mainly between the heavily armed and advanced Isreali (mainly christian) Soldeirs and tanks and the terrorists of Palestine. This has been proclaimed a holy-war by both sides, however if we look closely no side has a ‘just’ case for a war. Many civilians have died during this conflict, showing that discrimination isnt being shown, also propertionality has not been happening. This shows that the modern-day world and some modern-day states don’t have any regard for the five conditions of a ‘just’ war.
Some Christians, such as quakers, who began in the seventeenth century, after the English Civil War, believe war is wrong under any circumstances, ‘My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did belong to this world, my servants would fight’ this is a key quote in the quakers beleifs as it describes why they don’t fight in wars. In the first and second world war, some quakers refused to fight and became medics or volunteers instead. Christian pacifists believe that all war is wrong, and refuse to participate in any action that promotes conflict. You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven." This quote shows why some christians are against war, it says that we should love and pray for our enemies, just as god would.
Pacifist’s are a group of people , who are not only christian, who campaign against war and argue that diplomacy and dialouge is the right way to solve conflicts. They refuse to take part in any wars, and in some countries are imprisoned for this act. The pacifist movement has grown a lot since world war 2, this is mainly because of a new threat od deadly weopans for example nucleur or biological. Most Christians believe war is isnt the right way to solve conflicts, but not all are pacifists, showing that some Christians believe war can be justified and therefore war isnt always wrong.
A martyr is a term used to describe a person who is willing to die for there faith, a willingness to sacrafice your life is a key belief in several religons, such as Christianity and Islam. Most martyr’s believe that when they die they will be closer to there God, and there God will treat them will and take them to a better place. Also there are people in the world who preach the gospels of Jesus agaisnt there countries laws, this shows that some christians are prepared to be punished for spreading the word of God.
