Do you believe war is ever justified?

Question

When or why not?

(and what is your faith?)

Answer 1

I would say only when attacked or there is imminent danger, which as I said before we invaded Iraq, excludes that atrocity.

Turning the other cheek seems more directed a tthe individual rather than governments. As for governments, the Bible says Christians are to pay taxes to the government and obey civil authority where it doesn't violate God's law. In the US, civil authority doesn't require that we support war or the president. We have free speech.

Proverbs talks about the Lord hating hands that shed innocent blood. Jesus didn't condemn soldiers and centurions who came to him. His apostles carried small knives, as evidenced when Jesus was arrested an one cut off the guard's ear. Different people interpret it different ways. I think we are to obey civil authority where it doesn't violate God's law. I think it's ok to be a police officer and possibly even the army, but as with everything, if you see wrongdoing within the ranks, it needs to be reported, corrected, etc so that you are not using civil authority to go against God's law.

There is an issue with being in the army in that you know you will kill innocents in war, the war may not be for legitimate reasons and because the army is under the president's command, you may not get a truthful explanation of why you are instructed to kill.

Answer 2

Well, as an AMerican, I'm glad for the Revolutionary War. I think the Civil War was necessary to keep our country together. Since I lost much of my family that lived in Lithuania and Poland, during the Holocaust, I feel that (WW2) was a necessary and justifiable war. That said, I don't think it's for those of us who come after to determine which wars are justified. It's for the people of a nation who are suffering some degree of opression to determine whether a war is necessary or not. My grandparents lived in Saigon for the latter part of the 50's and 60's. WHen the U.S. pulled out of Vietnam, many of their friends were killed by the North Vietnamese. I had a friend in high school (1975) who barely escaped the country with hers and her father's life. War is justified, oftentimes, regardless of what "after" generations decide. I think that what could use some improvement is "how" those wars are fought... or the strategies used in accomplishing a mission... and even there, who am I, besides just another armchair politician, to determine how a war should be fought.

Answer 3

Yes.

It is often called the final stage of diplomacy. I would hope that it's tempered with morality as well. Most of the time it is just when it's in defense of your country and its principles. Today it can be broadened to principles of the UN. Also to prevent genocide and other significant atrocities.

Examples of justified wars: WWII (from the Allies perspective), first Gulf War (invasion of another country can't be tolerated), Iraq War if it was an extension of the Gulf War (Saddam should have been taken out then; there was ample justification), Korean War.

I'm Agnostic.

Answer 4

As a Christian I most definitely believe in righteous war.

Destroying Nazism that killed millions of Jews, Pols, Russians, etc., was the right and decent thing to do.

The Christian scriptures most definitely give precedent for a "holy war" or a war that God both allows, and sometimes commands.

Blessedly, in the church age, war has taken a lesser role to grace and faith, but that doesn't mean it isn't ever justified.

Ath

Answer 5

I believe there are only three situations where one person is justified in killing another:

* Self-Defense --if someone is trying to kill you, you have every right to defend yourself, even if it requires killing your attacker.

* Defending the Defenseless --its the responsibility of everyone to defend those who can't defend themselves. If you saw an adult trying to kill a small child, it would be your responsibility to intervene. You would be justified in killing the attacker, if it was required to save the victim.

* War --war is a special case. It involves an army of people trying to kill another army of people. The people involved are expected to follow the orders of their leaders whether or not they agree with them. Still, the reason for declaring the war should fall into one or both of the first two categories: Self-Defense or Defending the Defenseless.

If your country was being invaded by a ruthless army, your country's army would be justified in killing the invaders.

If another country was being attacked and could not defend itself, it would be justifiable for another country to send its army to drive-out or kill the attackers.

Answer 6

Never! Some fights are justified but involving whole countries is ludicrous. If countries want to have wars let the leaders do the fighting, it is easy to send other people to their death, but if you had to do it you would be less likely to do it! War is a crime, and all warmongers should be jailed and executed! Not necessarily in that order though! My only faith is in myself!

Answer 7

War only brings about more war. War is the cause of so many conflicts, innocents dying, etc. How can that be justified as anything good?

Answer 8

True civilization will unfurl its banner in the midmost heart of the world whenever a certain number of its distinguished and high-minded sovereigns -- the shining exemplars of devotion and determination -- shall, for the good and happiness of all mankind, arise, with firm resolve and clear vision, to establish the Cause of Universal Peace. They must make the Cause of Peace the object of general consultation, and seek by every means in their power to establish a Union of the nations of the world. They must conclude a binding treaty and establish a covenant, the provisions of which shall be sound, inviolable and definite. They must proclaim it to all the world and obtain for it the sanction of all the human race. This supreme and noble undertaking -- the real source of the peace and well-being of all the world -- should be regarded as sacred by all that dwell on earth. All the forces of humanity must be mobilized to ensure the stability and permanence of this Most Great Covenant. In this all-embracing Pact the limits and frontiers of each and every nation should be clearly fixed, the principles underlying the relations of governments towards one another definitely laid down, and all international agreements and obligations ascertained. In like manner, the size of the armaments of every government should be strictly limited, for if the preparations for war and the military forces of any nation should be allowed to increase, they will arouse the suspicion of others. The fundamental principle underlying this solemn Pact should be so fixed that if any government later violate any one of its provisions, all the governments on earth should arise to reduce it to utter submission, nay the human race as a whole should resolve, with every power at its disposal, to destroy that government. Should this greatest of all remedies be applied to the sick body of the world, it will assuredly recover from its ills and will remain eternally safe and secure.[1]

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 64

Answer 9

NOUN: 1a. A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties. b. The period of such conflict. c. The techniques and procedures of war; military science.
Additional references: Columbia Encyclopedia

By definition war is not a moral concept, war simply is
my faith is strong

Answer 10

Yes. For instance, declaring war on Germany in 1939 was justified. They were being aggressive, invading other countries, and war was necessary to prevent it from continuing unchecked.