Just War

Objectives:
Grade 4: To know what the consequences of war can be; To know the
meaning of a ‘just’ war
Grade 6: To understand Aquinas’ conditions for a Just War
Grade 8: To evaluate whether a war can ever be just, and the
effectiveness of Aquinas’ theory
 Is war ‘just’? Can war be ‘justified’?

What do we mean by the word

‘just’?
 Just
If something is just it is morally right and fair.

Keyword
Just War
A war that is fought for the right reasons
and in the right way.
 What is right in war?
• Look at the options on your sheet. Working as
a group, decide which are acceptable and
which are unacceptable things to do in a war
by putting a tick or a cross next to each.
• You must all try to agree and you must be
prepared to justify your answers.
 JUST WAR THEORY

 St. Thomas Aquinas

developed the theory

 He lived in the 13th

Century

St. Aquinas built on

ideas from St. Augustine
(354 – 430)
 St. Thomas Aquinas’
criteria for Just War Theory
 1. It must have a good
s
chance of being uccessful
and bringing about peace

The war should not

be started if there
is no chance of
winning or
achieving the aims
 2. The force used must be in
proportion
(it should not kill too many people, especially
if they are not involved in the fighting)

e.g. If the enemy

invaded an
uninhabited
island, nuking one
of their cities
would not be in
proportion
3. The intention should be
should be to fight evil
(right intentions for going to war)

e.g. To get land,

money or
resources would
be a BAD intention
4. There must be a just
reason for going to war
e.g. An
unprovoked
attack!
5. The war must be declared
by the proper authority e.g.
government of a country

Picture shows
USA declaring war
on Nazi Germany
in WWII
 6. It should be the last
resort
(everything else should have been tried first)

Things like talks

and sanctions
should have been
tried
e.g. through the
UN
Just remember, SPIRAL…
1. Reasonable chance of Success
2. Force used should be Proportionate

3. The Intention should be fighting evil

4. Fought for a just Reason

5. Started by the proper Authority

6. It should be the Last resort

 Putting it into practice…
Look at the case study on WW2.
Was WW2 a Just War? Discuss this in pairs
and create an argument in your book using
examples from the information about this
conflict.

I believe that World War 2 was/was not a Just War. My reasons for
this are…
1.
2.
3.
Just remember, SPIRAL… TASKS:
1. Copy down the conditions for a
1. Reasonable chance of Success Just War using SPIRAL.
2. Pick one of the tasks below:
2. Force used should be Proportionate
• Grade 4: Explain in your own
The Intention should be fighting evil
3.
words what a ‘just’ war is, and
what you think a just, or fair war,
Fought for a just Reason
4.
would look like.
• Grade 6: Explain what Thomas
5. Started by the proper Authority Aquinas believed about Just War
by relating each of the conditions
6. It should be the Last resort to a real life example of war.
• Grade 8: How effective is
• Objectives:
• Grade 4: To know what the
Aquinas’ theory? For each of the
consequences of war can be; To know conditions, explain a potential
the meaning of a ‘just’ war problem with it, e.g. some might
• Grade 6: To understand Aquinas’ say it isn’t possible to make sure
conditions for a Just War that force is proportionate and
• Grade 8: to evaluate whether a war can doesn’t affect innocent people.
ever be just, and the effectiveness of
Aquinas’ theory
 Just War and Holy War

Starter: Quick revision of the Just War

theory – can you remember all six points?
R - Reason (a good one!)
A - Authority (starting the war)
S - Success (must be a good chance)
P - Proportionate (force)
I - Intention (for a good a outcome)
L - Last resort (everything else tried)
Problems with the Just War theory
Match up the conditions of the Just War
theory with the problems below.
It is almost impossible to keep all There are normally lots of intentions when
innocent people safe when war starts. declaring war, not all of them will be good!

1. Fought for a just Reason
Started by the proper Authority
2.
3. Reasonable chance of Success
It is difficult to check that everything has been
tried before war is declared.
In many cases, it is hard to predict the chances
of winning a war.

4. Force used should be Proportionate What about if the authority that starts the war
is corrupt?
5. The Intention should be fighting evil

It should be the Last resort

Nations may disagree about what a ‘just’
6.
reason is.
Can war ever be justified?

YES NO
What has Christianity taught about
war?

Three major opinions

HOLY WAR
JUST WAR

What do Christians believe about war?

NO WAR
Does God ever support war?
HOLY WAR
 The Old Testament
• Battles
• Wars
• Violence
• Revenge
• Death
• Destruction
• Anger
• Bloodthirsty
 Arguments in favour of Holy War
• In the Old Testament, God commands his people to
fight (Judges and Deuteronomy)
• Destroy foreign tribes in order to gain the Promised
Land
• The Prophet Joel – “Beat your ploughshares into
swords”
• The Book of Samuel – “Attack the Amalekites and
destroy everything they have”
• Holy War – war fought on behalf of God
• The Crusades are the most famous example
• The Popes offered rewards in paradise for those who
died fighting
“She asks you to rescue her. All men going there
who die, whether on the journey or while
fighting the pagans will immediately be forgiven
their sins… rescue the Holy Land from that
dreadful race”
The Old Testament is not all
supportive of war…

The Prophet Micah looks

forward to a time of peace
 Task

Fill in your sheet fully for each quote.

You will pass the information round
every few minutes.
 Exodus 17:16
Saying, “A hand upon the
throne of the Lord! The
Lord will have war with
Amalek from generation to
generation.”
 Numbers 31:3
So Moses spoke to the
people, saying, “Arm men
from among you for the war,
that they may go against
Midian to execute the Lord's
vengeance on Midian.
 Joel 3:10
Hammer your plowshares
into swords and your
pruning hooks into spears.
Train even your weaklings
to be warriors.
 1 Samuel 15:2
“This is what the LORD Almighty
says… go, attack the Amalekites and
totally destroy everything that
belongs to them.
 Prophet Micah
looks forward to a time of peace.

“Nation will not take up sword against

nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Every man will sit under his own vine and
under his own fig tree, and no-one will
make them afraid”
 d) Explain why a Christian may say that
going to war is right. (6 marks)
Reason
“A Christian may say that war can be justified because...” (Just War theory)
Explanation
(explain what this theory is, giving some examples of the conditions)
Evidence
(use an example from a real war – we studied one!)

Reason
“A Christian may also agree with war if…” (Holy war)
Explanation
(explain what a holy war is – use a quote or two from the Bible for an A grade!)
Evidence
(If you haven’t used a quote above, add one here. If you have, explain your point with an
example of a holy war)
d) Explain why a Christian may say that
war can be justified. (6 marks)

Reason Bullet point your

Explanation plan for this
Evidence answer. For 6
Reason marks you need all
Explanation points fully
Evidence explained.