JUST WAR

Some people consider all wars wrong

Others believe there are certain situations when war is the right or just things to do.

Over the centuries Christianity has worked out the conditions for a Just war.

Different conditions have been set, to meet changing times.

Saint Augustine C4th

Saint Augustine set out two conditions for a just war.

1. There must be a just cause – e.g. self defence

2. a proper authority (e.g. government, not private citizen ) must start the war.

Thomas Aquinas

In the C13th Thomas Aquinas added a third condition.

3. The war must have a good intention, and fighting must stop when the war is achieved.

Francisco de Vittoria C16th

He added a 4th condition

4. The war must be waged in a just way, i.e. one can only sue the correct amount of violence in order to achieve the just aims.

The safety of innocent civilians must always be protected.

C19th – more conditions added.

5. There must be a reasonable chance of success. If you know you would lose, it would be wrong to send people into battle.

6. War must be a last resort. Before war is waged, all other forms of ending the conflict must be tried (including wide - ranging negotiations at every stage)

7. A war should only be waged if it is possible that all good achieved will outweigh the evil that is leading to the war.

Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism also contain the concept of a just war.