Christianity and War

Flashcards about Christianity and War

What was the Early Church's position on violence?

forbade it, even in self defence

What is the story of St. Stephen in Acts 7, and what does it demonstrate?

Stephen forgave his assailants even as he was being stoned to death.

How did Christianity change after Emperor Constantine converted?

became entangled with state politics, and warfare was increasingly justified.

What is a Holy War?

A war fought on behalf of God and supported by God.

What were the Crusades?

The Christian wars to recover Jerusalem from the Muslims in the Middle Ages.

What were the key points of Pope Urban's recruiting speech in 1095?

The idea that Jerusalem is held captive and needs to be rescued from a people who do not acknowledge God and the promise that those who die fighting will have their sins forgiven.

What were the long-term consequences of the Crusades?

They soured relations between Europe and the Middle East and did not achieve any military or strategic objective, and terrible atrocities were committed by both sides.

What was St. Augustine's view on war?

He believed the only just reason to go to war was the desire for peace.

What are Aquinas's original three principles of a just war?

There must be a just cause, the war must be started and controlled by a legitimate authority, and the war must be fought with the right intention to achieve peace.

What additional conditions were added to the Just War Theory by Catholic bishops in America?

last resort, reasonable likelihood of victory, innocent civilians are never permissible targets, proportionality in the way war is waged.

What does Jus ad Bellum refer to?

When it is right to go to war.

What does Jus in Bello refer to?

How war should be fought.

What does Jus post bellum refer to?

Justice after the war.

What is the main idea behind Jus post bellum?

Winning the peace afterwards is just as important as winning the war.