medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
What difference does it make that Just War theory at best justifies one side? If both sides are justified, why war? "Just war" is not a misnomer, despite the fact that very few wars were just, that is, very have satisfied the criteria fully. But the whole point of the theory is to set criteria which, if met, would justify war. That is no misnomer. Since the basic criterion for just cause is to defend the innocent, if one truly has an innocent people unjustly attacked, were capable of defending them, and chose not to defend them, this would be manifestly unjust.
Defending unjustly attacked innocent people is of course, not easy--prosecuting a war that has a just cause often ends up in injustice because the other criteria are not followed. However, to declare the very idea of a just war impossible would leave innocently and therefore unjustly attacked people utterly defenseless.
Bainton was a pacifist and his account must be read in that light. It has much valuable information in it, but his account of the early Christian centuries as completely pacifist has been creditably disputed. I have posted regarding other resources in the past on this list.
Dennis Martin
>>> [log in to unmask] 11/30/01 17:04 PM >>>
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Hi all.
This may be an oversimplification, but here goes.
In general, there have been three distinct Christian views concerning
participating in warfare:
a. Pacificism -- the complete refusal to take part in war.
b. The Just War Theory -- a huge misnomer if ever there was one!
The theory, in whatever form one wishes to accept it, does
not in fact justify a given war; at most it justifes the
participation of one side in a given war. (It is quite
possible for both sides in a war to participate unjustly
according to most forms of the theory.)
c. The Crusade -- generally a war where the organized church takes
a directing role in the conduct of the war.
Russell's book provides an excellent map through this often vexing
territory.
More specialized, as the title indicates is Joan Tooke's THE JUST WAR IN
AQUINAS AND GROTIUS. I found Tooke's discussion of Thomas on this subject
quite valuable.
For a readable introduction to this whole area, there is also Roland
Bainton's CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES TOWARD WAR AND PEACE.
I do hope this helps.
Regards to all!
Frank
Frank Morgret
15 Towering Hts -- #1206
St Catharines, Ontario
CANADA
L2T 3G7
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