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A Basic Guide to the Just War Tradition: Christian Foundations and Practices

Publisher:
, 2023
ISBN: 9781540965479
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Overview

This brief introduction surveys Christian thinking on an array of topics related to security and peace from a just war perspective. Drawing primarily on Scripture and theology, Eric Patterson explores the moral dimensions of order, justice, and peace in light of key Christian doctrines such as love of neighbor, stewardship, vocation, and sphere sovereignty. He also examines the perennial questions of civil disobedience, terrorism, revolution, and holy war (including a discussion of Israel’s removal of the Canaanites and the Crusades) and interacts with theological thinkers throughout Christian history. The volume concludes with a treatment of punishment and restitution, considering how these can help move a society toward conciliation.

While ideal as a textbook for courses on Christian ethics, theology and politics, and church and society, this book will also appeal to pastors and lay readers questioning the morality of war and Christians’ involvement in force. Christians who serve in government, law enforcement, and the military will also find helpful guidance for thinking theologically about their vocations.

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  • Covers a wealth of information in a short space, introducing numerous issues of theological and civic interest
  • Interacts with theological thinkers throughout Christian history
  • Surveys Christian thinking on an array of topics related to security and peace from a just war perspective
  • 1. Just War Statecraft: The Quest for Peace
  • 2. Theological Foundations of Just War Statecraft: Governance, Calling, and Stewardship
  • 3. Historical Overview of the Christian Just War Tradition: Pursuing Peace and the Problem with Pacifism
  • 4. Morality and Contemporary Warfare: Distinguishing Moral Resistance from Violent Rebellion
  • 5. The Motivations and Characteristics of Just Warriors: The Role of Love, Anger, and Virtue
  • 6. Ending Wars Well: Order, Justice, and Conciliation
As a thirty-seven-year veteran of the armed forces, I found Dr. Patterson’s book to be a stimulating read that both reinforced and challenged my thinking about my experience in armed conflict and the Jesus follower’s role in terms of vocation and calling. I believe his powerful words provide a great roadmap to guide us through the challenging environment we find ourselves in today, and I heartily recommend it to every ‘follower’ from senior pastor to young person serving at home or abroad.

—Admiral Vern Clark, Former Chief of Naval Operations, US Navy

Eric Patterson is among the leading authorities on the just war tradition in the English-speaking world. Far too many experts can’t write in an accessible manner, but I’m pleased to report that Eric is not among them. This short, readable, and even entertaining book provides an excellent overview of the just war tradition and will help Christians think in morally serious ways about why, when, and how lethal force should be used in international affairs.

—Mark David Hall, professor, Robertson School of Government, Regent University; coeditor, America and the Just War Tradition

Eric Patterson’s outstanding book is an accessible and clear defense of just war theory. He shows how it is robustly Christian, ethically compelling, and philosophically and historically defensible. I highly recommend this wise, practical, and much-needed guide.

—Paul Copan, Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University; editor, War, Peace, and Violence: Four Christian Views

Eric Patterson is associate professor of American Studies and American Literature at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

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  1. Genghis

    Genghis

    5/3/2024

    In light of the controversy around the Israeli-Gaza War, and the current student protests on universities against it, this book is a timely read for those troubled by War and want to consider what should be a Christian's response to it from a biblical perspective. Eric Patterson, Ph.D. is Executive Vice President of the Religious Freedom Institute in Washington D.C. He is also the scholar-at-large and the former dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University. His research and teaching focus on religion and politics, ethics and international affairs, and just-war theory in the context of contemporary conflict. Patterson previously taught at Georgetown University and has extensive government experience, including service as a White House Fellow and special assistant to the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, two stints in the State Department’s Bureau of Political and Military Affairs, and ongoing service as an officer and commander in the Air National Guard. Patterson has spoken to many government audiences such as the French Department of Defense, U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis), the Armed Forces Chaplains Center, National Defense University, the Pentagon, the Naval Postgraduate School, the Foreign Service Institute, and other government venues. He is the author or editor of fourteen books, including Just War and Christian Traditions (with J. Daryl Charles, forthcoming 2020), Ending Wars Well: Just War Thinking and Post-Conflict, and Ethics Beyond War’s End (Georgetown University Press, 2012.) He has also edited two volumes on Christian realism and has been published in numerous journals including Survival, International Studies Perspectives, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, International Politics, Journal of Diplomacy and International Affairs, and Journal of Political Science, among others. The book provides a survey of the issues surrounding the topic of War, the theological development in response to these issues over nearly two thousand years and the practice of Just War thinking in including its application in the Crusades, American War of Independence, civil disobedience in Nazi Germany, USA in the 60s, Jihad in Afghanistan and the Middle East, the ELN in Colombia. For many Christians they will feel conflicted over scriptures such as to love one's enemies and to turn the other cheek, against a commonsense requirement for self-defense. Patterson resolves this elegantly through his explanation of Romans 12 and 13. Based on Romans 13 one can see that Israel must protect its vulnerable, punish wrongdoing and deter further wrongdoing. This book also covers the need to show restraint in the conduct of war and the thinking behind this is well laid out. In particular, the particular factors that a commander in the field must take into account define whether international law is breached. Clearly, it is impossible for an external observer to decide guilt or innocence without a detailed investigation of those specific factors and circumstances. All in all the book is effective as an introduction to the subject, and gives the reader a good platform to consider contemporary conflicts such as the current Israeli-Gaza War and is highly recommended.
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