Trust me. I desperately want to live in a world where I could be a pacifist. I want to live in a place where violence is not the answer to problems, a world where people don't have to protect themselves and others from the terrors around them. I am not saying that I think violence and war should be our first option, or even our second, but sometimes I think that the only way things can be fixed is through just war.
In saying that I believe in just war theory, I am still unsettled because I know that the Bible calls me, as a Christian to turn to other check, to live a life dedicated to peace. I desperately want to be that person who can do that. I admire the monumental victories of Martin Luther Kind and Ghandi. I believe that their non-violent movements were such beautiful examples of how our world can solve problems with peace. However, I do believe that there are instances where just-war is justified.
In our readings tonight I found some peace in the words of Daniel Bell. One of the most beautiful lines, I believe in this piece was, "Just as we are concerned with justice and loving other, as we raise our families, interact with friends, encounter strangers, serve the poor and needy, work and worship, so too are we concerned to love and seek justice and peace for our distant neighbors." This solidified my belief that our first call in life is to live, love, and to work for peace. Then when every other option of love and diplomacy fail we can fight a war that is not centered around victory but, "A peace that is truly just not merely self serving."
Abby, I think we are in the same position. I have learned throughout my entire life that we are to love our neighbors and turn the other check. Christians are called to be peacemakers, but personally, I really struggle with total pacifism. I assume the intent of this class was to shake our beliefs and make us question what we really believe, and during the first half of this semester, I can already tell that my opinions are changing.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree...I just hate it that not everyone in our world has come to the same conclusion. I think everyone has the capacity to not act out in violence, but because of greed and many other terrible sins, our word acts out in anger every day! My blog post the other day was completely exploratory and I really don't know if I believe any of it. I do know that if we love in our own capacity, that hopefully it will rub off!
ReplyDeleteAbby-
ReplyDeleteI feel the exact same way! I too struggle with the just war theory and pacifism. When Dr. LaLondes asked me which category I would fall under I honestly had no idea... and still don't. Listening to the discussions in class and reading the blogs has helped me come to a better understanding of both, but it is still a complicated struggle.
I struggle with the thought of killing another human being. Despite what anyone has been told, or taught, or shown, if you were put in a situation were you had to kill somebody, even if for a "just war", would you be able to do it? And if you could, would you feel bad? And if you couldn't, why not?
ReplyDeleteWe are all human beings. This is why causing others harm makes us feel bad, because we have a conscious. Why we try our damnedest not to hurts others. Because it is not natural. Because war, I believe, is not natural.
I agree with everything that you said Abby and feel the exact same way.
ReplyDeleteI love your last few lines.
Looking at what Sydney said, I couldn't kill another person no matter what they did. However, I still feel like to help people who are experiencing injustice sometimes just war is required. It is a lot harder to choose one side than I thought it would be.