Christian pacifism goes beyond opposing war. It represents more than being philosophically opposed to violence; it focuses on peacekeeping. Christian pacifism is spiritually founded in the scripture and the life of Jesus Christ, and his teachings of brotherly love and nonviolent coexistence. Jesus' words; "If someone slaps your cheek, offer him another, if someone demand your coat, offer him your shirt also", reflect the ideology behind Christian pacifism. Today, however, Christian pacifism goes beyond anti- violence and anti-war, it focuses on peacekeeping and peace bringing. In doing so, it speaks of fairness, care for one another, love, telling the truth, patience, reconciliation, equality, forgiveness; all that contributes to the peaceful
…show more content…
It is perhaps because, during the time of St. August, St. Francis of Assisi, or Thomas Aquinas, there was no threat to the environment, such as biological, nuclear, chemical warfare, that exist today, in the era of a total war, Even though the teachings enclosed in encyclicals, and Papal messages to the world call for the protection and care of nature, pointing to our common responsibility for all God's creatures, protection of Earth's resources, that should be used wisely, guaranteeing access to all, instead of serving as a private enterprise benefitting a few, I feel the just war theory does not adequately address the issue of environment. It does speak amongst other, of the protection of public goods necessary for human survival such as water supplies, electricity grids, hospitals, churches, etc. in the armed conflict, as well as the criteria that must be met when waging a just war, "just ad bellum," criteria for behavior during the war- "just in bello", as well as criteria for peace restoration and maintenance after the war- "just post bellum." The just war theory list damage to the environment as a possible cause for waging just war against the perpetrator. It also speaks about the responsibility toward the environment after the war. According to the "just post bellum," the victors in war must ensure that whatever condition served as the cause of the war must be rectified. If the pollution of water caused the war, the victor must remove the source of pollution. Also, the reconciliation and the restoration of peace criteria might require that the guilty parties in a war, admit how their disregard for the environment contributed to the conflict, or how their tactics during the war were needlessly harmful to the
It is perhaps because, during the time of St. August, St. Francis of Assisi, or Thomas Aquinas, there was no threat to the environment, such as biological, nuclear, chemical warfare, that exist today, in the era of a total war, Even though the teachings enclosed in encyclicals, and Papal messages to the world call for the protection and care of nature, pointing to our common responsibility for all God's creatures, protection of Earth's resources, that should be used wisely, guaranteeing access to all, instead of serving as a private enterprise benefitting a few, I feel the just war theory does not adequately address the issue of environment. It does speak amongst other, of the protection of public goods necessary for human survival such as water supplies, electricity grids, hospitals, churches, etc. in the armed conflict, as well as the criteria that must be met when waging a just war, "just ad bellum," criteria for behavior during the war- "just in bello", as well as criteria for peace restoration and maintenance after the war- "just post bellum." The just war theory list damage to the environment as a possible cause for waging just war against the perpetrator. It also speaks about the responsibility toward the environment after the war. According to the "just post bellum," the victors in war must ensure that whatever condition served as the cause of the war must be rectified. If the pollution of water caused the war, the victor must remove the source of pollution. Also, the reconciliation and the restoration of peace criteria might require that the guilty parties in a war, admit how their disregard for the environment contributed to the conflict, or how their tactics during the war were needlessly harmful to the