The Just War Theory: A Path to Peace?

The author of the book began this chapter by talking about the natural human desire for
peace. It discussed wars in Christian perspective. Among the kinds of wars, which are generally
the offensive war, preventive war and defensive war, is another kind known as the just war.
The “just war” theory is an interesting perspective on wars. While it takes into account the
good intentions behind every war, it is undeniable that violence will always exist with it.
St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas contributed to the establishment of this theory. In
their analysis on human desire for peace, they have consequently theorized the possibility of
peace and justice in the occurrence of war. In order to consider a war just, these three
conditions must exist: When legitimate public authority calls it, when there exists a just cause,
and when there is a right intention. The author further discussed this topic based on the social
doctrines of the Church. The theory of Pope Pius XII is centered on three points: in general, war
is strongly condemned, a defensive war against an unjust aggressor is licit or moral, and the
atomic war is immoral. Meanwhile, Vatican II is opposed to deterrence, although it seems to
accept the stand of others who consider it an instrument to avoid war. Pope John Paul II spoke
more on peace than on war, on love of neighbor as the path to true peace – of a nonviolent
love of neighbor. He talks of peace and the pillars of peace, namely justice and forgiveness –
and prayer.
The terrorism attack of September 11, 2001 left a remarkable impression of war for the
author to especially discuss it in this chapter. Three days after the attack Catholic Bishops and
Muslim leaders issued a joint statement calling for peace and condemning acts of evil. At this
time, Pope John Paul II immediately released statements encouraging the people to promote
love and peace instead of wars and violence, and further cautions that criminal culpability is
always personal and should not be extended to a nation, ethnic group or religion.
The author finally concluded with his strong belief that the best way to fight the culture
of war is not by more wars but by cultures of peace. The Just War, a path to peace? The path to
genuine peace is the path of peaceful nonviolent love.
I agree with the author that the Just War theory possibly, at times, only justified the
existence of war. Another example is the emergence of the Holy War which was deemed just at
that time, but its consequences were inhumane and should never be justified. As a simpler
example, when Jesus condemned Peter when he cut off the ear of the soldier who tried to
arrest him, it is to be remembered that Peter had good intention to save the son of God but
even Christ himself never found it to be a justifying cause for his aggression. Similarly, the ends
do not justify the means, thus a war cannot be justified simply because the intention is good.