Faith & War

[Rival]

What, in your religious opinion, is a justification for war? What does your religion say about it, has it any prescribed 'rules' so to speak for when you should go to war, who can be killed, keeping slaves, who is eligible to fight &c.? What is your opinion? Are you warlike or a pacifist?

This is in debates so feel free to tell other posters why their reasons suck and yours are obviously better.

 

[Regiomontanus]

What, in your religious opinion, is a justification for war? What does your religion say about it, has it any prescribed 'rules' so to speak for when you should go to war, who can be killed, keeping slaves, who is eligible to fight &c.? What is your opinion? Are you warlike or a pacifist?

This is in debates so feel free to tell other posters why their reasons suck and yours are obviously better.

Following Jesus means (to me), among other things, turning the other cheek. It means not responding to violence with violence. War is never justified IMHO.

 

[Spirit of Light]

What, in your religious opinion, is a justification for war? What does your religion say about it, has it any prescribed 'rules' so to speak for when you should go to war, who can be killed, keeping slaves, who is eligible to fight &c.? What is your opinion? Are you warlike or a pacifist?

This is in debates so feel free to tell other posters why their reasons suck and yours are obviously better.

110% pacifist and as buddhist i do support no war or attacks

 

[Revoltingest]

Self defense....although it's a preference not based upon religion.
Does this disqualify me?
Even if so, posters may tell me that my reasons suck.

 

[Rival]

Self defense....although it's a preference not based upon religion.
Does this disqualify me?
Even if so, posters may tell me that my reasons suck.

Your reasons suck since you say other posters can tell you they do but you only actually gave one reason.

 

[Eddi]

In my religious opinion:

If everyone on Earth decided on everything by sensibly asking, “what would Jesus do?” then I doubt there would be any more wars, indeed I believe there would be universal peace and also no need (or excuses) for any more war

But obviously this will never happen

 

[iam1me]

What, in your religious opinion, is a justification for war? What does your religion say about it, has it any prescribed 'rules' so to speak for when you should go to war, who can be killed, keeping slaves, who is eligible to fight &c.? What is your opinion? Are you warlike or a pacifist?

This is in debates so feel free to tell other posters why their reasons suck and yours are obviously better.

Christianity doesn't lay out rules for engagement. Indeed, Christianity isn't supposed to have a physical state (vs the state of Israel), and so its not really discussed at all in the NT. The OT obviously contains wars - some even commanded by God. Peace is ideal, all else equal. However, the ideal of peace shouldn't serve as a justification for abandoning what is right and good and just.

In general, the same morals we have at peace time should serve as the guide for when it is OK and justified to engage in war, and for how to engage in said war. If you are attacked, you have every right to defend yourself and strike back - for instance.

 

[RoaringSilence]

self defense once the war of words and reason fail. offensive defense if you know the other side's only tool is offense.

 

[leov]

What, in your religious opinion, is a justification for war? What does your religion say about it, has it any prescribed 'rules' so to speak for when you should go to war, who can be killed, keeping slaves, who is eligible to fight &c.? What is your opinion? Are you warlike or a pacifist?

This is in debates so feel free to tell other posters why their reasons suck and yours are obviously better.

I am a pacifist. Do everything possible to avoid war.

 

[Regiomontanus]

@iam1me "...you have every right to defend yourself and strike back..."


38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth'. 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.


Edit: I quoted that because you sell identify as a Christian. Obviously if someone does not care what Jesus taught then it is a moot point.

 

[Shadow Link]

"Victory is simply the creation of a better political reality." -Amihai Ayalon, Head Of Shin Bet, 1996-2000

 

[iam1me]

@iam1me "...you have every right to defend yourself and strike back..."


38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

The scriptures are multi-faceted. It is not contradictory to state that it is your right to defend yourself and strike back when attacked, as well as that it is better to turn the other cheek.

The scriptures also teach that it is ideal to remain single and to never touch a woman, but that it is also better to marry than to fall to sexual immorality.

There are high level ideals, and then there are less-ideal but still morally acceptable pragmatic alternatives. Sometimes the ideals are impossible to achieve precisely because of the sins of others. Peace, in particular, is a state that can only be achieved when all parties in question want it.

Would you use the same scripture reference if someone broke into your house and was trying to rape/kill your spouse? Or would you fight back? Would you kill them or let them kill?

 

[Twilight Hue]

What, in your religious opinion, is a justification for war? What does your religion say about it, has it any prescribed 'rules' so to speak for when you should go to war, who can be killed, keeping slaves, who is eligible to fight &c.? What is your opinion? Are you warlike or a pacifist?

This is in debates so feel free to tell other posters why their reasons suck and yours are obviously better.

Honestly the only justified reason for War is defense against an aggressor.

 

[Father Heathen]

War should be a last resort to defend the sovereignty of one's nation or that of allies'. I would say it could justifiably be used to take down oppressive tyrants as well but most of the freedom and democracy lovin' "good guy" nations happen to be buddies with a lot of these despotic regimes that it would only serve as some hypocritical pretext.

 

[iam1me]

Honestly the only justified reason for War is defense against an aggressor.

How about to defend others? Allies? Innocent victims being terrorized (like the victims of the holocaust)?

Or, again, what if your people are starving and the neighboring kingdoms have refused to trade or otherwise provide help when they are capable of doing so? Would you not go to war after exhausting your other options in order to acquire the resources for your people to survive?

I wouldn't be so hasty in saying that defense is the only justification for war.

 

[Regiomontanus]

The scriptures are multi-faceted. It is not contradictory to state that it is your right to defend yourself and strike back when attacked, as well as that it is better to turn the other cheek.

The scriptures also teach that it is ideal to remain single and to never touch a woman, but that it is also better to marry than to fall to sexual immorality.

There are high level ideals, and then there are less-ideal but still morally acceptable pragmatic alternatives. Sometimes the ideals are impossible to achieve precisely because of the sins of others.

Would you use the same scripture reference if someone broke into your house and was trying to rape/kill your spouse? Or would you fight back? Would you kill them or let them kill?

Jesus did not say "it is better to turn the other cheek". He said to do it.

As for that last scenario you asked about, I have no easy answer. I would likely be weak and beat the sh*t out of the intruder. I hope I am never tested like that.

 

[iam1me]

Jesus did not say "it is better to turn the other cheek". He said to do it.

As for that last scenario you asked about, I have no easy answer. I would likely be weak and beat the sh*t out of the intruder. I hope I am never tested like that.

It is a legitimate scenario that comes up in life. The ideal is not always achievable - we must be able to fall back to pragmatic alternatives when this happens. If you don't know what the moral answer is then you need to think and study the scriptures in greater detail, paying particular attention to what is ideal vs what is pragmatic and acceptable. After all, the whole point of morality is that it serves to guide our actions.

For me, the answer is obvious. I fight back. Ideally I'd be able to restrain the intruder and turn them into the police, but I'd have no moral qualms of killing said intruder if necessary in order to protect my loved ones. Rather - it is a moral imperative that you fight back, and a sin to sit back and watch.

 

[sun rise]

Self defense....although it's a preference not based upon religion.
Does this disqualify me?
Even if so, posters may tell me that my reasons suck.

Self defense is one of my justifications.

Another is by analogy. Let's say I'm walking down the street and see an elderly woman being attacked by a young male. I stop the attacker by force. This to me is justifiable violence. By analogy, if a small nation is attacked by a bigger one and asks for help, I could decide they were worthy of help and come to their defense.

The one going to war should do it with no selfish motive but solely to defend itself or another nations.

Of course, in real life, we live in shades of grey, so due care needs to be taken before making a decision to go to war.

https://www.ambppct.org/Book_Files/Discourses Vol I.pdf

 

[SalixIncendium]

What, in your religious opinion...

As opposed to what other kind of opinion? Moral? Ethical?

I would hope that, for most, if not everyone, these would be one and the same.

After all, if one's religion goes against one's moral or ethical compass, why would one follow it?

...is a justification for war? What does your religion say about it, has it any prescribed 'rules' so to speak for when you should go to war, who can be killed, keeping slaves, who is eligible to fight &c.? What is your opinion? Are you warlike or a pacifist?

This is in debates so feel free to tell other posters why their reasons suck and yours are obviously better.

War, for me, is never justified, yet in my experience, for many, outrage is reason enough for many.

Ego and judgment lead to war; I do my best to manage for former and eliminate the latter.

 

[SalixIncendium]

In my religious opinion:

If everyone on Earth decided on everything by sensibly asking, “what would Jesus do?” then I doubt there would be any more wars, indeed I believe there would be universal peace and also no need (or excuses) for any more war

But obviously this will never happen

Unfortunately, it's been my experience that many that ask (even wearing the bracelet as a reminder) wind up doing the exact opposite.