War and Just War theory (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Notes

War and Just War theory

Understanding war and its justification

War represents a serious state of armed conflict that occurs between different countries or groups of people. Within Christian thinking, the concept of a just war has developed - this refers to a war that Christians believe is fought for morally acceptable reasons and conducted in the right way.

The tension between war and Christian teachings about peace has led to complex discussions within Christianity about when, if ever, violence might be justified. This has resulted in the development of Just War theory, which provides a framework for evaluating whether a particular conflict meets certain moral criteria.

Why wars happen

Understanding the root causes of war helps us examine whether conflicts might meet the criteria for being considered 'just'. There are eight main reasons why wars typically occur:

Resource-based conflicts often stem from greed, where nations or groups seek to gain control over valuable resources, territory, or economic advantages. Self-defence represents another common cause, when a country or group responds to being attacked by others.

Retaliation drives conflicts where one side launches a counterattack or seeks revenge for previous wrongs. Wars may also arise from competition over economic and natural resources such as water, land, oil, or other valuable materials that are essential for survival or prosperity.

Fear can motivate preemptive action, where one side attacks first because they believe someone else is planning to attack them. National pride may lead to conflicts when groups fight to protect their cultural identity, values, or way of life.

Some wars are fought with the stated aim of fighting against injustice and aggression, attempting to stop wrongdoing or oppression. Finally, protecting people can justify conflict when it's seen as necessary to defend vulnerable populations from harm.

Biblical teachings on war and conflict

The Bible contains various passages that Christians interpret when considering issues of war and peace. One significant Old Testament passage provides important context for understanding Christian thinking about conflict:

However, other Christian teachings, particularly those found in the New Testament, emphasise ideas of peace. For example, Matthew 5:9 promotes peace-making, especially through following the example of Jesus Christ. This creates a tension within Christian thought between Old Testament concepts of proportional justice and New Testament teachings about forgiveness and peace.

At various points in biblical history, God is recorded as instructing the Jewish people to attack those who opposed them, which some Christians interpret as divine approval for certain conflicts under specific circumstances.

Just War theory criteria

The Just War theory provides a framework that largely Christian thinkers have developed to help those in authority decide whether a particular war can be considered morally justified. This theory doesn't encourage war but rather seeks to prevent unjustified conflicts by establishing clear moral boundaries.

Christian church positions

The Catholic Church has formally adopted the Just War theory, with the doctrine appearing in the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church. Many other Christian denominations have also accepted this framework as a way of thinking about when war might be morally justified.

There appears to be some biblical support for Just War thinking, and many Christians believe it is right for countries to maintain armed forces to protect their citizens. Sometimes violence is seen as necessary - for example, if a country is invaded, many Christians would argue that the people of that country should be allowed to defend themselves.

Different Christian viewpoints

Not all Christians agree about whether war can ever be justified. This represents one of the significant areas of disagreement within Christian thinking about ethical issues.

Some Christians fully accept Just War theory, believing that under certain carefully defined circumstances, war can be morally acceptable and even necessary to prevent greater evils or protect innocent people.

However, other Christians feel that both sides in any war typically claim their cause is just, making it difficult to apply Just War criteria objectively. These Christians often prefer to focus on biblical teachings relating to peace, forgiveness, and non-violence.

Some Christians embrace pacifist positions, arguing that Jesus's teachings about loving enemies and turning the other cheek mean that violence is never acceptable for his followers. They point to New Testament teachings that seem to reject retaliation and promote peaceful responses to conflict.

This diversity of opinion reflects the complexity of trying to apply ancient religious teachings to modern situations involving warfare, international relations, and the protection of human rights.