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Non-violence and Just war theory

Non-violence and Just war theory. Christian responses to Conflict. How should we react to the violence the world? Two responses on a social scale: Non-violence Just war tradition Both rooted in truth that force is not the best way to settle disputes. Non-violence.

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Non-violence and Just war theory

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  1. Non-violence andJust war theory

  2. Christian responses to Conflict • How should we react to the violence the world? • Two responses on a social scale: • Non-violence • Just war tradition • Both rooted in truth that force is not the best way to settle disputes

  3. Non-violence • Stems from Jesus’ teaching to turn the other cheek. • Most ancient tradition – main stance of the Church until the 4th century • Returned to forefront after the horrors of two world wars. • Witness to the fact that some things are even more important than life.

  4. Just War Theory • Recognition that at times force is a necessary evil to protect goodness. • Principles to enter a just war: • Just cause – protect life or basic rights. • Competent authority – recognized states. • Comparative justice – no side is completely right. • Right intention – goal is peace & reconciliation. • Last resort – other channels of peace were tried. • Probability of success – goal must be reasonable • Proportionality – good outcome hoped for outweighs suffering it will caused to achieve

  5. Principles to be followed during a war: • Proportionality • Response to aggression must not exceed original aggression. • Human and capital costs of war must be calculated • Discrimination • Acts of war are limited toward armed aggressors, and never toward innocent civilians or property.

  6. Violence in Society • Spiral of Violence – responding to injustice through retaliation • Culture of Death – embracing violence as a way of life. • Legalized killing – abortion, capital punishment • Media – movies, television, video games • Militarism – war and weapons as a way to solve conflict

  7. Peace and Justice • “Peace is not merely the absence of war; nor can it be reduced solely to the maintenance of a balance of power between enemies; nor is it brought about by dictatorship. Instead, it is rightly and appropriately called an enterprise of justice.” Gaudium et Spes 78 • “If you want peace, work for justice.” Pope Paul VI

  8. Peace • True peace comes through responding to violence and injustice with love and forgiveness, as exemplified by Christ on the Cross. • As individuals, peace begins in our hearts and with our personal efforts and radiates out from there. • As a society, we need to promote justice, demilitarization, diplomacy, & economic sanctions instead of war.

  9. Thomas Merton on Peace • “Christian nonviolence, therefore, is convinced that the manner in which the conflict for truth is waged will itself manifest or obscure the truth. To fight for truth by dishonest, violent, inhuman, or unreasonable means would simply betray the truth one is trying to vindicate. The absolute refusal of evil or suspect means is a necessary element in the witness of nonviolence.”

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