Muslims, Christians and War 2

The jig is up, it’s now been said. Lee Camp has a courageous new book called Who Is My Enemy?: Questions American Christians Must Face about Islam–and Themselves, and it stakes some major claims, claims that we need to discuss. Claims that might make us uncomfortable.

One of Lee Camp’s big claims is that the Just War Theory that so many Christians adhere to is not much different — the formal logic is the same — than the same theory of war used by Muslims. At work in Camp’s book is a kind of Christian pacifism that is not passivity. It argues that Jesus was a pacifist and taught a way of peace that bans Christian participation in war, let alone design laws for how to conduct war.

Has just war ever been defended in your church? Why do most Christians believe in just war? Do they believe in it because their government uses it to justify its ways?

As Muhammad shifted when he gained access to imperial power, so Christianity shifted when it gained access to imperial power with Constantine. (And the Crusades, say the Frankish invasion at the end of the 11th Century, are nothing but expansion of space by violence.)

A few points and then the Just War Theory explained.

Augustine developed a reluctant theory of just war, a theory he borrowed from Roman and Greek traditions and which did not come from the Bible. But Augustine was a pacifist in personal relations. Self defense has no part in Christian discipleship. But many who appeal to Augustine for just war do not appeal to his theory of Christian discipleship.

So what is Just War Theory?

When to go to war (jus ad bellum): legitimate authority declares war; must be a just cause (self defense, defending 3d party, restoring order); right intention but objectively (restoring peace) and subjectively (out of love for oppressed and enemy).

How to go to war? It must be a last resort; must sue for peace; must be winnable; proportionality in damage and counter damage; respect treaties and law; only one side can be just.

What to do in war (jus in bello): immunity of the innocent; weapons must be used with discrimination toward combatants; methods must be necessary; the means respects human dignity (no torture, slander, rape, poisoning of wells etc).