In this task I am going to explain the Biblical and Church teachings, which Christians might use to support the concept of Just War. The theologian St. Thomas Aquinas who was alive in the 13th Century developed just War Theory.

Religious Education Coursework - Task 1

In this task I am going to explain the Biblical and Church teachings, which Christians might use to support the concept of Just War. The theologian St. Thomas Aquinas who was alive in the 13th Century developed just War Theory. He said that in order for a war to be Just it must fulfil all of the following criteria:

War must always be a last resort.
War can only be declared by a legitimate authority (Monarch, Government).
War can only be fought for good and to overcome evil.
Civilians are not a permissible target of war.
The aim must be to re-establish peace.
The country waging war must have a reasonable chance of winning.
Countries must use a just amount of force and ensure the honourable behaviour of their troops.

The evidence, which shows how the Bible supports Just War Theory, is in the Old and New Testament. “The kind of fasting I want is this: remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free,” (Isaiah 58:6). This quote relates with No.3 War can only be fought for good and to overcome evil. The quote talks about removing injustice, which could be interpreted as removing evil. “If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute with him while there is time, before you get to court,” (Matthew 5:25). This quote agrees with No.1 War must always be a last resort. This quote says that you should settle a dispute before you have to go to court. It portrays ‘going to court’ as being a last resort. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of God,” (Matthew 5:44). This quote refers to No.5 The aim must be to re-establish peace. In this quote the Bible says that peacemakers shall be called Sons of God. By re-establishing peace you are a peacemaker, which means you shall be called ‘Sons of God’. “Live in peace with one another,” (Mark 9:50). This quote also refers to No.5 The aim must be to re-establish peace. In this quote the Bible says that we should live in peace, so fighting to re-establish peace is a good thing in the view of the Bible. “ If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody,” (Romans 12:17-19). This quote relates to No.1 War must always be a last resort and No. 5 The aim must be to re-establish peace. In this quote the Bible says that you must do everything on your part to live in peace with everybody, so fighting to re-establish peace is a good thing, but war should be a last resort, as you should do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. “Everyone must obey the state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered,” (Romans 13:1-3). This quote agrees with No.2 War can only be declared by a legitimate authority (Monarch, Government). In this quote the Bible says that God chooses who is going to have authority and no authority exists without his permission, so if an authority declares war, then it is a war with God’s permission. “Keep on loving one another as Christians brothers. Remember those who are suffering as though you were suffering as they are,” (Hebrews 13:1-3). This quote relates to No.4 Civilians are not a permissible target of war. In this quote the Bible says that as Christians, we should love one another and not make innocent civilians suffer, consequently it agrees that civilians should not be a permissible target of war.

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The evidence, which shows how Church teachings supports Just War Theory, is in documents written by the modern Church. “Any act of war aimed at the destruction of entire cities… is a crime against God and man himself,” (Gaudium et Spes 79-82). This quote relates to No.4 Civilians are not a permissible target of war. In this quote the Church teachings say that the destruction of civilian cities is a crime against God; therefore it agrees that civilians shouldn’t be a permissible target of war. “All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war. However as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self defence, once all peace efforts have failed,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2308). This quote agrees with No.1 War must always be a last resort. In this quote the Church teachings say that we should work to avoid war, consequently portraying war as a last resort. “Those who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty honourably, they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2310). This quote agrees with No.7 Countries must use a just amount of force and ensure the honourable behaviour of their troops. In this quote the Church teachings say that if the troops carry out their duty honourably, then they are contributing to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace; therefore the Church teachings agree with honourable behaviour of troops. “We earnestly beg of all Christians that ‘speaking the truth in love’ they unite with truly peaceful men to implore and establish peace,” (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the world today). This quote relates to No.5 The aim must be to re-establish peace. In this quote the Church teachings say that Christians should unite to establish peace; consequently the Church teachings agree with re-establishing peace. “We conclude that the conditions which a state must meet before it is ethically entitles to go to war could not be met by a nuclear power contemplating war against a nuclear power,” (The Church and the Bomb). This quote agrees with No.6 The country waging war must have a reasonable chance of winning. In this quote the Church teachings say that war against a nuclear power is not ethical; therefore the Church teachings agree that a country waging war must have a reasonable chance of winning.

From the evidence I have gathered I have come to the conclusion that the Bible and the Church teachings in general support the Just War Theory. I say in general because there are some quote that support Pacifism, for example the Bible says, “You shall not murder,” (Exodus 20-13). This quote is totally against war because war involves killing the enemy. Also, in the Church teachings it says, “Today the scale and horror of modern warfare, whether nuclear or not, makes it totally unacceptable as a means of settling differences between nations,” (Pope John Paul II). This quote is totally against war because it says that war is unacceptable in the view of Pope John Paul II. I have looked at the Bible and the Church teachings and in my opinion I think the Bible and Church teachings support Just War Theory more then they support Pacifism.