Societal War & Just War (AQA GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note

The just war theory

What is just war theory?

• Religions generally oppose war, but many believe fighting is justifiable if it is the only course of action that will prevent a real evil

• Within some religious traditions, there are guidelines for a legitimate war 

  • These guidelines are used to influence:

    • The decision to go to war

    • How the war is fought

• The justification is that sometimes, if you do not fight, you allow a greater evil than a war to take place, so you have to fight

Catholics and just war

• St Augustine (4th century) was the first person to try to write a set of rules regarding what a just war is

  • Eventually, the “Just War” rules were written in detail by St Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century

• Justification to support a just war can come from the Bible, which contains passages that suggest it is acceptable for leaders to use violence to ensure peace

• Catholics believe that:

  • Human life is sacred

  • Injustice and aggression should not be allowed to continue

  • Sometimes force is needed to stop greater evil

Conditions of a just war

• For Christians to accept that a war is just, certain conditions need to be met

• Christians believe that war can only be justified if it is fought for a just cause, such as:

  • Self-defence: If a country or people are attacked, it is considered morally right for the country’s people to defend themselves

  • Protection of the innocent: War may be justified if it is fought to protect those who are being harmed by others, such as in cases of genocide or human rights violations

  • Restoration of peace: If a nation is fighting to restore peace after it has been disrupted by aggression, injustice or disorder, the use of force may be justified 

• Christian teachings emphasise that only a legitimate authority (eg a recognised government or ruler) has the right to declare war

• This relates to the belief that authority is established by God, as expressed in the Bible, particularly in Romans 13:1–7

  • This teaches that government authorities are agents of God who maintain peace and justice

• Christian teachings emphasise that the goal of war should be the restoration of justice, peace and order, not the destruction or punishment of the enemy

• A key Christian teaching is that war should only be waged as a last resort

  • Before resorting to war, all peaceful alternatives, such as diplomacy, negotiation and reconciliation, should be exhausted

  • The idea is that war should be avoided if possible, and all efforts should be made to resolve conflicts peacefully

• Christian teaching states that the violence used in war should be proportional to the injury suffered

  • This means that the harm caused by the war should not be greater than the benefits

  • For example, using excessive force or committing atrocities would not be justified

• In a just war, soldiers are required to discriminate between soldiers and civilians

  • Targeting of civilians is not allowed

  • Christian teachings emphasise that innocent people must not be harmed, and only those directly involved in the conflict should be targeted

  • Deuteronomy 20:10–14: While this passage talks about ancient warfare, it implies the importance of distinguishing between those who fight and those who don't

• While just war theory allows for war under certain conditions, Christianity consistently emphasises peace and forgiveness

  • After conflict, Christians are called to forgive their enemies and seek reconciliation

Catechism of the Catholic Church 2309

What is the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2309?

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 2309 is the section that explains when the use of military force may be morally allowed

  • It teaches that war is only allowed when it is needed to protect people and restore justice in society

  • War is never seen as good within the Catholic Church, but it is tolerated to prevent greater harm

• The CCC 2309 gives four conditions that must all be met before war can be considered just

  • The threatened damage must be lasting, grave and certain

    • Meaning that war can only be used if society faces serious harm, such as invasion, genocide or oppression

  • All other means, such as negotiation, sanctions and diplomacy, must have failed

    • War must be the last resort

  • There must be a real chance of success

    • Sending people to die for no reason is unjust

  • The harm caused by war must not be worse than the harm it tries to stop

    • This is called proportionality

Catholicism and nuclear war

 What are weapons of mass destruction?

• Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) are weapons that can cause large-scale death, injury and destruction

• Unlike regular weapons, WMDs can harm or kill many people at once and have long-lasting effects on the environment

• They are typically divided into three main types

  • Nuclear weapons: These use nuclear reactions to create massive explosions, causing widespread damage, death and radiation that can last for years

    • Example: The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II

  • Chemical weapons: These release toxic chemicals that can cause severe illness, breathing problems, burns and even death

    • Examples: Mustard gas and nerve agents such as sarin

  • Biological weapons: These use harmful bacteria or viruses to spread disease, causing illness and death

    • Examples: Anthrax and the smallpox virus

• WMDs are extremely dangerous

  • Their use is banned under international law due to the massive harm they cause

What are Catholic attitudes towards nuclear weapons?

• The Catholic Church teaches that nuclear weapons are morally wrong, especially their use

• They believe that:

  • Human life is precious and sacred

  • Weapons that cause mass destruction are unjust

  • Peace must be based on justice, not fear

• Nuclear weapons kill innocent people because they cannot distinguish between soldiers and civilians

  • This breaks just war rules about protecting non-combatants

• Nuclear weapons also go against biblical teachings

  • “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31) 

  • “God created mankind in his own image” (Genesis 1:27) 

    • Meaning that people should avoid ending life

  • “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)

    • Meaning that peace rather than war should be sought

  • “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9)

    • Catholics believe Christians should actively work to create peace, and nuclear weapons do not create peace

  • “Those who live by the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52)

    • This teaching shows that violence leads to more violence

    • Catholics believe nuclear weapons would escalate conflict rather than resolve it and could lead to greater suffering

• Nuclear weapons are seen by Catholics as disproportionate because the damage caused is far greater than any good achieved

  • The long-term effects include radiation, birth defects and environmental destruction

• Many Catholics support nuclear disarmament and oppose WMDs

  • The Catholic Church supports international agreements to reduce or remove nuclear weapons

Catholic attitudes towards the consequences of war

What are Catholic attitudes towards the consequences of war?

• Catholics believe that war has serious moral, human and social consequences

  • This is why the Church teaches that war should always be avoided if possible and used only as a last resort

• Catholics are deeply concerned about the loss of human life caused by war

  • Many of those killed or injured are innocent civilians, including children

  • This goes against the belief in the sanctity of life, as all humans are created in the image of God

• War also causes long-term suffering, such as physical injuries, psychological trauma (eg PTSD), grief and family separation

  • Because of this, Catholics believe war often causes more harm than good

• Many consequences of war affect Catholic attitudes

  • The impact on civilians, who may be killed or injured

    • War destroys homes, schools and hospitals, which in turn affects people’s lives

    • War often leads to refugees and displacement, poverty and hunger and the breakdown of communities

  • Catholics may argue that money spent on weapons could instead be used to:

    • Help the poor

    • Improve health care

    • Promote development

  • War can encourage hatred and revenge

  • War may make forgiveness and reconciliation harder

    • Catholics believe these consequences prevent true peace, which should not be based on fear or violence

  • Catholics also believe that modern warfare can have environmental consequences

    • War can cause pollution, destruction of land and long-term damage to ecosystems

    • Catholics believe that humans have a duty of stewardship to care for God’s creation, so environmental destruction caused by war is morally wrong

Different perspectives on war

What are the different perspectives on war within Catholic Christianity?

• Catholic Christianity does not have one single view on war

• Some Catholics are pacifists and believe that all war and violence are wrong

  • Jesus taught love of enemies and non-violence

  • Jesus accepted suffering without fighting back

  • War causes suffering and leads to more violence

  • Pacifists believe Christians should respond with forgiveness and reconciliation

• The official Catholic teaching on war is just war theory

  • War may be allowed as a last resort

  • War must have a just cause, such as self-defence or protecting the innocent

  • War must be declared by a legitimate authority, all peaceful options must have been tried first, and the force used must be proportionate

  • Civilians (non-combatants) must not be targeted

  • Supporters believe this allows governments to defend society and prevent greater evil

• Many Catholics are increasingly critical of war today

  • Modern warfare causes mass civilian deaths

  • War leads to trauma, poverty and displacement

  • Some Catholics believe that just war theory is almost impossible to apply today

• Catholics disagree about war because they interpret Jesus’s teachings differently

  • Some prioritise peace and non-violence

  • Others prioritise justice and the protection of the innocent

Both perspectives aim to protect human dignity and promote peace