What is your definition of a Holy war?

Answer 1

a holy war? any war where its followers base thier killing on their god/gods. simple....

Answer 2

Define Holy War

Answer 3

I define "Holy War" as a war fought with the backing of the Religious Authority, attempting to bring about a "Holy" or "Religious" outcome.

Al-Quaida has launched a "Holy War" on the West - that is, the Sheik Osama Bin-Laden has published a "Fatwa," a religious document calling all "brothers" to fight the "infidels."

I also consider the Crusades fought by Catholic Countries during the Middle Ages to be "Holy Wars," as the Pope condoned and encouraged these wars.

These are separate and distinct from normal "political wars," where the objective is conquest of a people's political system or territory. A "Holy War" is fought for the purpose of converting or destroying "unbelievers."

Answer 4

Well, I suppose when the muslim extremists get done with Africa, and set their sites on the rest of the world, us defending ourselves would be construed as a holy war, as we'd be defending ourselves from evil. In a way, that would make WWII a holy war too, defending Europe from the evil of Nazi Germany.

Answer 5

I would use that term to describe a military offensive whose purpose is purely to force other people to adhere to your religious beliefs, such as the Crusades. This differs from a 'just war' (see reference), for example defending yourself against the unprovoked attacks of another, like fighting Hitler's aggression. I also consider it different from the numerous examples in the Old Testament of the Bible, where God commands Israel to attack and destroy certain specific peoples as a judgment by God for their wickedness. Before fighting in what you think is that kind of war, you had better be absolutely positively sure the order is coming from God.

Answer 6

Your beautiful.