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War…What Is It Good For…Absolutely Anything?
The history of “just war” principles focused on two main facets:
- What are the criteria for determining whether it is right to go to war
- When you decide to go to war, how should it be conducted
Criteria For Determining That This Is a “Just War”
- There is a just cause
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- It is necessary to defend against threats to innocent life
- The community’s future is in danger
- Basic human rights are at stake
2. Competent authority is involved in making this decision
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- Those responsible for public order have declared war
- Political legitimacy has been satisfied
3. The intention is right
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- It is being engaged for self defense
- It is not to gain control over an otherwise unthreatening adversary
4. It is a last resort
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- Non-violent means within reasonable reach have been tried
5. There is relative justice in the behavior of the declaring state
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- Though no state may claim a monopoly on moral righteousness, there is a moral basis for declaring war
6. The response is proportional to the threat
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- The prospective costs will be balanced by the overall values being defended
7. There is reasonable hope for success
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- This is not reckless fighting in defense of a hopeless cause
Criteria For Keeping This War Just
- Discrimination is exercised
- There is no intentional attack on civilians (non-combatants)
- There is no purposeful intent to cause immoral effects
2. The principle of proportion is maintained
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- Foreseen yet unintended losses are balanced against the values being defended
About the Author Randall Johnson
A full-time pastor since 1979, Randall originally graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) in 1979 and from Reformed Theological Seminary (DMin) in 1998. He is married with four grown children and a pile of epic grandchildren.
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