War: What is a 'just cause'?

[Jazzy]

What is one reason to justify war?

 

[Josiah]

The traditional view is well expressed by the Catholic Church. It's the general view of Lutheranism, Anglicanism and Calvinism as well.

• The classic formulation of the Just War doctrine is set out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2309:
  • (2309) The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:
    • The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
    • All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
    • There must be serious prospects of success;
    • The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. (The power of modem means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition).
      
      These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine. The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.

• Importantly, the conditions are expressly limited to defensive action, after all other options have been exhausted. The Catechism explains that:
  • (2302 – 2303) By recalling the commandment, “You shall not kill,” our Lord asked for peace of heart and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral… If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a sin. The Lord says, ‘Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment…’ ‘But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.’
  • (2304 – 2305) Respect for and development of human life requires peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. Peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and the assiduous practice of fraternity. Peace is ‘the tranquillity of order.’ Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity… He has declared: “Blessed are the peacemakers.’
  • (2306) Those who renounce violence and bloodshed and, in order to safeguard human rights, make use of those means of defense available to the weakest, bear witness to evangelical charity, provided they do so without harming the rights and obligations of other men and societies…
  • (2307) …the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war.
  • (2308) All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war. However, “as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.

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[Lees]

What is one reason to justify war?

I believe this to be an unanswerable question. First of all, individuals don't determine when a nation goes to war. War is not personal, it is judicial.

And every nation at war will have a 'just' reason for them being at war. And the nation they are at war with, will disagree with their 'just' reason.

The Church certainly doesn't decide what is a just war. The Christian doesn't go to war, or refuse to go to war, at the behest of the Church. We go to war when our nation goes to war. Whether it's considered just or not by anyone.

Lees

 

[Stravinsk]

What is one reason to justify war?

Wars are almost always justified by propaganda, or a mixture of propaganda and truth. What I mean by this is that it usually takes an event to galvanize public opinion. Whether that event is true or not is actually secondary to the interpretation of the said event. For example, the USA got involved with WW1 on the sinking of the Lusitania. That sinking actually happened. The details of it were not disclosed, and they are important. As another example, the USA got involved in "Europe's War" (WW2) on the event of Pearl Harbor. This event also actually happened, but the context of it was not known to the public.

The evil minds that craft these scenarios depend on the masses forming opinions based on limited information and emotion as a primary driver of human action.

 

[Angel Michael]

Wars are almost always justified by propaganda, or a mixture of propaganda and truth. What I mean by this is that it usually takes an event to galvanize public opinion. Whether that event is true or not is actually secondary to the interpretation of the said event. For example, the USA got involved with WW1 on the sinking of the Lusitania. That sinking actually happened. The details of it were not disclosed, and they are important. As another example, the USA got involved in "Europe's War" (WW2) on the event of Pearl Harbor. This event also actually happened, but the context of it was not known to the public.

The evil minds that craft these scenarios depend on the masses forming opinions based on limited information and emotion as a primary driver of human action.

Let's not forget 9/11 scenario. To justify invasion on other countries while they seek oil and gold.