Does Religion Approve of War?

Abstract

War has been present in the history of humanity for many ages, that is the fact of settling disputes and accomplishing political aims by violence with thee use of military forces. It is something strange, and difficult to understand.

The relation between religion and war is particularly interesting, since religion of its own nature is put to safeguard human life („you shall not kill”). There is a mutual diffusion of opinions and evaluations between the religious and philosophical thought in considering the phenomenon of war. That is why the author has included the philosophical. Thought in order to make the religious standpoint more prominent against the philosophical background (Judaism, Islam, Christianity).

Three philosophical standpoints concerning war are most prominent:
− bellism i.e. approval of war as a natural state of affairs (Heraclitus, Empedocles, Hobbes, Hegel, Marx),
− pacifism i.e. unconditional elimination of war (Kant, Tolstoy),
− the conception of a „just war”.

Christianity has drawn on to the latter (Plato, Aristotle, Augustin) in which war is not something natural and unconditionally necessary, yet in some situations it is inevitable as a defence against greater evil. Numerous Christian thinkers have worked out the theories of a „just war” or rather a „justified war” waged by competent authorities, due to serious reasons, having in view the saving of a good.

The contemporary cultural and technical situation (sophisticated means to kill and their long-term consequences) as well as the deeepening awareness of man’s and humanity’s rights, to peaceful coexistence have brought about a new relation to war which is being described as „war against war”. More and more often has one talked not about „a right to war” but about „a duty to peace”. Churches, including the Catholic Church, join in the activities of the international institutions which aim at settling conflicts in a peaceful manner and at safeguarding peaceful coexistence, first of all by means of guaranteeing human rights by particular regimes and social systems.