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I will make reference to Christians and the Iraqi war, considering this is a hot topic currently and in the past few years. The evil Bush went to war in the name of the 'Christian God'. And for one prime reason- power for money & oil. He believes that this was just, and I'll explain how I think this was utterely wrong.
Despite the dominant view of war as something inherently ignoble and incompatible with Christian living, most Christians still approve of wars from time to time (such as Bush), deeming them “necessary evils.” This is a paradox.
Popular opinion on the matter tells us that resorting to force in certain situations is “necessary” to save the lives of victims of injustice (including ourselves). Yet such actions are also held to be “evil” because warlike acts are “inhuman” and do not follow the model of Christian living found in the life of Jesus nor do they model the morals of most non-religious people (such as myself).
I believe that warfare is viewed not as a possible positive good but as a necessary evil (unfortunately) that taints all who touch it. A particular war may be a “necessary evil”- either to protect some good or, best of all, to banish war altogether. But such a “necessary” war will not be a “just” war. When we say that we will allow an evil deed (such as fighting a war) in order to end a greater evil (such as the murderous policies of a government), the former is not transformed into an act of justice. It is certainly a permissible act, but it is not a just one. On this view, then, there can be no “just” wars.
The military does not want to remind people that military service can involve fighting, dying, and killing for one’s country. And therefore the prospect of a soldiers opportunity is downplayed. The Armed Forces are ashamed to admit that they are in the business of using lethal force. Which is rather sad.
I believe there are three requirements for a war to be just (which no major war that I'm aware of has ever fullfilled): right authority, just cause, and right intention. And in regards to the Iraqi war, the US and its allies certainly did not fullfill any of these requirements at all. A failure to engage in a just war is a failure of virtue, a failure to act well. Iraqis death toll estimates are about 100,000- 128,000 (that is probably an underestimate) and is increasing. That is a failure whatever your evil feebleminded reasons are Mr. George Bush.
Make Love not War.
"The summit is just a halfway point"
[ Edited by summit at
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