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JUST WAR THEORY. STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES. Strengths. Provides a clear framework for assessing legitimacy of warfare for Christians. It provides a practical compromise between OT militarism and NT pacifism. It seeks to limit and control , not support universally, the use of violence.
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JUST WAR THEORY STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Strengths • Provides a clear framework for assessing legitimacy of warfare for Christians. • It provides a practical compromise between OT militarism and NT pacifism. • It seeks to limit and control, not support universally, the use of violence. • It has remained flexible, incorporating new ideas such as US Bishop’s notion of comparative justice, over centuries. • It seeks to protect innocents not carrying weapons.
Weaknesses • It allows for conflict, harm and suffering. • It is an ethic largely based on a 2,500 year old book. • It contradicts Jesus’ pacifist stance – “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5). • Nuclear weapons and modern technology ask too much of the JWT. • Aquinas contradicts himself: one of his ‘primary precepts’ is to preserve life. • Does such a religious framework have a place in modern secular society? • Monarchy/democracy is on form of government: can’t other cultures promoting other forms of government be considered a just authority?
How have technological developments, particularly during the 20th century, challenged the Just War theory?
