Christianity & Just War (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note

Christian teachings and responses to Just War theory

What is a Just War?

• 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 on the rules for a legitimate war

• These guidelines are used to influence the decision to go to war and also how it is fought, therefore making the war just or fair

• The message is clear: sometimes if you do not fight, you allow a greater evil to happen than a war would cause, so you have to fight

Christianity and Just War

• St Augustine, in the 4th century, was the first to try to write a set of rules regarding this, and 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 that it is right for leaders to use violence to ensure peace

Christian responses to Just War Theory

• Many Christians, particularly in Catholic and Protestant traditions, accept Just War Theory as a legitimate way for determining when war is morally justified

  • They see it as a way to ensure that wars, when they do occur, are fought in a way that minimises harm and upholds justice

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church outlines the principles of just war, emphasising that war should be a last resort, must have a just cause, and must aim at restoring peace

  • The Church supports the moral justification for defending the innocent and maintaining peace in extreme situations

• Many Protestant denominations, including Anglicans, Lutherans, and Methodists, have historically supported the principles of Just War Theory, seeing it as consistent with Christian teachings on justice and peace

• Some Christian denominations, most notably the Quakers (Religious Society of Friends), Mennonites, and other Anabaptist groups, reject the concept of Just War Theory altogether, advocating instead for pacifism

  • These Christians believe that war, in any form, is incompatible with the teachings of Jesus, particularly his command to love enemies and forgive those who wrong us

• While many Christians support Just War Theory, there are debates on the application of these principles, especially in modern warfare

  • Issues like nuclear weapons, unmanned drones, and modern warfare challenge traditional interpretations of the theory, raising questions about the ability to limit harm in conflict

• Many Christians argue that contemporary warfare, with its widespread destruction and the potential harm to civilians, makes it increasingly difficult to justify war under the just war criteria

  • They may advocate for more emphasis on diplomacy and non-violent solutions

• Christian teachings on Just War Theory reflect a balance between the need for peace and the recognition that sometimes war may be necessary to protect the innocent or restore justice

• While many Christians accept Just War Theory as a framework for determining the morality of war, others, particularly pacifist groups, reject all forms of violence

The conditions of a Just war

What are the Just War conditions?

• For Christians to accept that a war is just, there are certain conditions that 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 is attacked, it is considered morally right to defend oneself

    • 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 (e.g. a recognised government or ruler) has the right to declare war

    • This principle relates to the belief that authority is established by God, as expressed in the Bible, particularly in Romans 13:1-7, which teaches that government authorities are agents of God for maintaining peace and justice

• The intention behind the war must be just, aiming at securing a just peace rather than seeking revenge, personal gain, or power

  • 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 holds that the violence used in war should be proportional to the injury suffered

  • This means that the harm caused by the war should not exceed the benefits of the action

  • 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

  • The intentional targeting of civilians is strictly prohibited

  • 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

• Further adaptations have been made to the Just War Theory up until the present day

  • There are now internationally agreed conventions on the conduct of war which must be obeyed

    • The Geneva Convention, accepted by the UK in 1957, lays down the rules that must be adhered to during war

    • The United Nations, founded in 1945, encourages countries to resolve disputes peacefully

Divergent Christian opinions about Just War

Divergent Christian opinions on just war

• Many Christians believe that although fighting a just war is acceptable, it is much better if there is no war

  • However, sometimes war may be necessary and right, even though it may not be good

  • In the case of a country that has been invaded by an occupying force, war may be the only way to restore justice

  • Pope Benedict XVI said that defending oneself and others is a duty

  • When a war is fought to protect people, it could be seen as reflecting Jesus' teaching

• Some Christians believe that righteous anger is sometimes justified

  • When Jesus was angry about the presence of money lenders in the temple, he is said to have

• Righteous anger is about using one's anger in a way that is thoughtful and controlled to bring about justice or to protect the weak

• Some Christians disagree with the theory of a just war because it defends the concept of war in certain circumstances, and this could lead to a general acceptance of war

  • In the New Testament, Jesus gives a different message through his teaching and example

  • Although not all Christians are pacifists, all Christians want peace

    • The idea in the Bible is that peace with God will lead to peace with other human beings

    • Peace means much more than simply not being at war

    • At the heart of the Christian message is the belief that the life and death of Jesus gives people peace with God and peace within themselves

• Jesus replaced the Jewish principle of ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ with a higher standard, that violence should never be returned

  • In fact, his followers should go one step further and return violence with love (Matthew 5:38-46)

• In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus commanded his disciples not to fight when he was arrested. Jesus said:

• However, some Christians are pacifists and believe that war is never justified

• Many Protestant denominations adopt a similar stance to the Just War Theory, while some groups, like the Quakers, reject all forms of violence and war, advocating for pacifism

• Some Christian groups, like the Mennonites, Quakers, and other peace churches, believe that Christians should always avoid war and violence, regardless of the circumstances, and instead aim for non-violence and reconciliation as the true Christian path

Christianity and ethical theories surrounding Just War

Situation ethics and just war

• Situation ethics, developed by Joseph Fletcher in the 1960s, emphasises that moral decisions should be made based on the situation rather than rigid rules

• The key principle is that ‘the most loving thing to do’ is the right course of action in any given context

  • This ethic is grounded in Christian agape love, which is selfless, unconditional love for others

• When applied to Just War Theory, situation ethics can offer a flexible approach where decisions would be based upon each individual situation

• Situation ethics would argue that there is no absolute rule that a war is always wrong or always right

  • The ethics of war depends on the specific circumstances 

    • For example, if a country is facing an unjust aggressor, then fighting back could be seen as the most loving act, as it aims to protect innocent lives and restore justice

  • The decision to go to war, would be guided by whether the actions promote the greatest love and well-being for the most people involved

    • For instance, a war could be justified if it prevents greater harm or suffering, even if violence is involved, as long as the intent is to protect human dignity and lead to peace in the long run

  • Situation ethics might focus on the proportionality of war and question whether the harm caused by war is less than the harm that would result from doing nothing

    • If the war can stop greater suffering, such as genocide or oppression, and the violence used is proportionate to the cause, then it might be justified

  • Unlike traditional Just War Theory, which includes specific criteria ( just cause, legitimate authority), situation ethics focuses on the particularity of the situation

    • There are no rigid rules, and the decision may vary depending on the context

    • A war could be considered just if it leads to a loving, peaceful outcome, even if it doesn't meet traditional just war criteria

  • Situation ethics would also weigh the outcome of the war against the means used

    • If the war achieves peace and restores justice (through a loving, just motive), it could be considered acceptable, even if some unethical actions occur in the process

    • The key is that love is the primary consideration in determining the morality of any action, including war

  • In summary, situation ethics doesn't offer a simple answer to just war theory but evaluates the context, motivations, and outcomes of war in terms of whether they align with the most loving, compassionate solution