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Random Dialog
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Why do American Christians love war?
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[Note: I have also posted this topic on another DAB forum. I thought that by posting it on this board, there will be those who see it who wouldn't have seen it otherwise. Please excuse the double-posting.]
Please forgive the title of this topic. I don't think most American Christians love war, yet I would have a hard time calling them "anti-war." It seems strange to me that followers of the Prince of Peace are not known for actively opposing American foreign interventions.
So, I guess this leads me to three questions at the moment.
1. Am I wrong to think that most American Christians are apathetic or even supportive of most current American wars, and, if not, why are they?
2. Am I wrong to think that Christians should be anti-war (or at least adhere to the doctrine that violence can only legitimately be used in self-defense)?
3. Why is it the case that American Christians often actively support war-mongering politicians?
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Tate 10/29/2012 00:02 |
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slaveofjesus923
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11/01/2012 21:49 |
We should definitely love our "enemies" if we want to call ourselves Christians.. but just to play devils advocate and stir the waters "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword"... Matthew 10
Or how about this angle..... tally the human loss/destruction from Libya... an act of war most definitely but one where several nations brought military force (or American war as you put in #1... until American assets were heavily employed it was basically a stalemate) to assist a people severely outgunned by a madman. Now look at Syria... the world is standing by and specifically NOT going to war and see if the human loss/destruction is greater than that of a shortened Libya conflict... and still growing daily.
Finally just to get your shackles up.... I have found simplifying the issue that we as Christians should always be "anti-war" is the type of argument that had the Christian Church supporting, tolerating, or calling for a peaceful (anti-war) solution to Nazi Germany rampage through Europe in WWII. I wonder how many lives would have been saved (likely millions) from the gas chambers and horrors of war had all the Christian in the world (including Italy) immediately demanded their countries go to war as soon as Germany invaded its first neighbors.
Just something to think about.
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Tate
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11/02/2012 00:51 |
SlaveofJesus, thank you so much for responding. I really appreciate it.
In regards to the scripture in Matthew 10, I would say let Jesus decide when He wants to bear the sword. Contrary to Hegel, I don't think the State is the march of God upon Earth.
As far as Libya goes, I don't believe it was a humanitarian operation (if so, the US would be caught in a glaring double-standard in the Mideast and Muslim worlds). If the US and other Western powers wanted to be hailed as genuine liberators, they could intervene in Bahrain and Yemen also, but they don't possess the same oil resources as Libya does. And I wouldn't go so far as to say that the conflict in Libya is over. Back in 2005, Gadhafi was considered an ally by the US President because he participated in nuclear disarmament and imprisoned agents of al-Qaida. After Gadhafi was overthrown, many of those agents were released and now Libya has militias that roam the streets. On September 11th, the US Ambassador to Libya was assassinated, most likely by agents of al-Qaida. I'm not sure we can tally the destruction/loss of life just yet.
As for Syria, the West has not been sitting on the sidelines. US intelligence has provided rebels with assault rifles, anti-tank rocket launchers, and other ammunition (which is an act of war). But I must ask: which side would you advocate taking? Interestingly, most Syrian Christians support Asad as they believe he helps keep order in such a way to keep them safe, or at least safer than likely alternatives. Indeed, after the US created a power vacuum in Iraq, many Iraqi Christians fled to Syria to escape persecution. As well, many of the rebels are actually members of al-Qaida. It seems difficult to discern who the “good guys” are in this conflict.
In regards to WWII, or any humanitarian crisis, I would have to ask: is there any conflict in the world in which the US shouldn't be involved? There was far more blood on Stalin's hands than Hitler's. Did anyone propose going to war against Russia rather than Germany? The motivation for entry into the war was not to reduce the loss of human life. We must remember that those in control of the state apparatus are simply self-interested individuals, just as is everyone else (but have the greater likelihood of being those who want power. They are politicians, after all, and war is the health of the state).
But perhaps these situations are more ambiguous than others. There are, however, several recent and current instances of US intervention which clearly cause more loss of life (without making Americans, or anyone else, safer) than if they weren't taking place. I believe these would include the drone attacks in Pakistan, as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even if intervention in these other conflicts might be beneficial, I would think Christians should at least be against the unambiguous ones.
Admittedly, these situations are not simple and you have given me something to think about. But I would hope that Christians would be wary of the use of force, especially that on the scale of modern warfare.
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