... Because of this I intend to look at two of the world’s major religions, Christianity and Buddhism, and examine their basic beliefs and teachings on the subject of war and killing, and then look at the dogmas and doctrines that they have developed over their histories in relation to war.
CHRISTANITY
THE FOUR SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
Within Christianity at large, there are four recognizable schools of thought on the morality of warfare. At one extreme is the "Holy War" school. ... It also nearly gave us a nuclear war against "godless communism" under Reagan . ... They are the "Non-violent Resistance School" and the "Just War School. ...
JUST WAR
The dominant school of thought in the Christian world is the "Just War" school. It holds that war is morally permissible, but only under certain conditions. ... Augustine developed the "Just War" criteria, later refined by Thomas Aquinas. ...
For a war to be "just," all eight criteria must be satisfied. ... Even in a just cause, such intentions do not justify the violence of war.
Protection of human rights or defense against actual or threatened actions against human life, on the other hand, may justify war. ... It should go without saying that going to war to protect the financial interests of multinational corporations, or to maintain a national economic advantage, or to otherwise play global power politics can never be just. ...
(5) PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS
This criterion requires that there must be a sufficiently clear prospect of success to justify the human and other costs of engaging in war. ... But it is not noble to sacrifice the lives of others (including ones enemies) in a war one has little prospect of winning. ...
(6) PROPORTIONALITY OF GOALS
This criterion requires that the goals to be achieved (good to be secured or evil to be prevented) outweigh the costs of the war. ...
7) PROPORTIONALITY OF MEANS
This criterion requires that the bad effects of the military means used in conducting the war be outweighed by the evil prevented.
All the foregoing criteria have dealt with the decision to go to war. ... But it also has something to say about the morality of the way you conduct the war. It is not permissible to wage war with means which cause more damage than they prevent.
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