Christians and War

1
Christians and War

• Just War

2
Tasks

• Define the term a just war
• In pairs students brain storm reasons that they
  think could justify fighting a war
• Take feed back
• Students to note St. Augustine St. Thomas
  Aqunias criteria for a just war
• Students to analyse if W.W. 2 is a just war
• Why do some Christians believe it is possible to
  fight in a just war?
• Answer example exam questions

3
Resources

• Power point
• Course worksheet
• W. W. 2 a just war sheet

4
What is a Just War?

• A just war is a war fought for the right reasons
  and in the right way
• Sometimes Christians believe that the best way to
  work for peace is to be prepared to fight a just
  war

5
St. Augustine St. Thomas Aquinas Criteria for
a Just War

• The cause of the war is just
• Eg. It is fought in defence or to remove a
  great injustice
• War is declared by a legal authority
• Eg. A government or the UN

• It is being fought to restore peace
• War only declared as a last resort when talks
  have failed
• There is a good chance of success ( it is wrong
  to let people die for a lost cause )

6
St. Augustine St. Thomas Aquinas Criteria for
a Just War

• The methods used to fight avoid killing innocent
  civilians
• Eg. should not bomb hospitals, housing
• This means the war is fought with discrimination

• The methods used must be in proportion to the
  cause
• Eg. It would be wrong to destroy a country with
  nuclear weapons if it invaded a small island
• This means the war is fought with proportionality

7
Why do Christians Believe in Just Wars?

• St. Paul said in the New Testament (Bible)
• that Christians have to obey the orders of the
  government including fighting in a war
• Jesus met many Roman soldiers but he never
  condemned them and in fact praised a Roman
  centurions faith

8
Why do Christians Believe in Just Wars?

• When Jesus was asked about paying taxes he said,
  Give to Caesar what is due to Caesar which
  must mean fighting in a war if ordered to by the
  government
• Everyone agrees that a police force is needed to
  protect innocent people from criminals, in the
  same way an army ready to fight just wars is
  needed to protect innocent countries from
  criminal ones

9
Typical Exam Questions

• A. Define just war (2)
• A. Define disarmament (2)
• A. Define pacifism (2)
• A. Define W M Ds (2)
• A. Define nuclear weapons (2)
• A. Give an example of a biological weapon (2)

10
Typical Exam Questions

• B. Outline the criteria for a just war (6)
• B. Outline the attitude of Christians who support
  just wars (6)
• B. Outline the attitude of Christians who believe
  it is wrong to fight in wars (6)
• C. Explain the Christian attitudes to war (8)

11
Evaluation Question

• No religious person should fight in a war.
• Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion
  showing you have considered another point of
  view. You should refer to at least one religion.

• Remember -
• To give two strong reasons that support
• ( agree with ) the statement and two strong
  reasons that disagree with the statement. Give a
  personal conclusion and include two new reasons
  to support your opinion

12
Evaluation Question

• You should always love your enemies.
• Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion
  showing you have considered another point of
  view. You should refer to al least one religion.

• Remember -
• To give two strong reasons that support
• ( agree with ) the statement and two strong
  reasons that disagree with the statement. Give a
  personal conclusion and include two new reasons
  to support your opinion