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

by Eric Patterson

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.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Politics

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Ben Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was looking for an exposition of this topic more grounded in Scripture primarily. Patterson turns to Scripture throughout in this book, but leans heavily into historical Christian teaching/experiences as well as Christian authors like C.S. Lewis. As helpful as those insights are, I am concerned first and foremost with how I can approach war and conflict through the lens of God's Word.

That being said, the principles laid out here are helpful in building a theology of War and Statecraft. I find myself in a better spot than when I hadn't read this book---so that's something.

[Conner Hinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so accessible and helpful. Nothing in this book is incredibly groundbreaking, but that is not the author’s intent. Patterson provides a good introduction to the just war tradition. I liked the Star Wars, Marvel, and all the rest of the pop culture references.

[Conrade Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

In wars, there are generally no winners. All parties involved would have suffered losses regardless of the numbers. How can anyone quantify suffering? How do we measure the emotional trauma we bring back home after a war? How can we even justify the loss of a single human being? The costs of war go far more than mere soldiers and machinery. It involves many conflicts ranging from ethical dilemmas to mental distress. At a theological level, making justification for wars could be breaking the Sixth Commandment in some way. How then can we justify any war? CS Lewis believes that it is a Christian duty to fight evil. In order to preserve peace, order, and justice, states need to be vigilant against evil, for doing nothing is worse. According to author Eric Patterson, a just war is basically a means to achieving peace and justice. Ironically, just war is a quest for peace. Governments need to uphold their duty to protect and defend their people, and sometimes this means going to war. This book explains, describes, and defends the use of just war in the quest for peace and upholding justice.

Chapter One defines what just war is and what it is not. Going back to the roots of WWI and WWII, Patterson uncovers the deficiencies of a pacifist or non-aligned policy that emboldened countries like Germany to invade other territories. The just war foundational premise is: "legitimate political authorities have a responsibility to protect and defend those in their charge (just cause) and should do so with restraint in motivation and action (right intent)." Once the decision has been made, the next set of criteria is about "military necessity, proportionality, and discrimination." Just war advocates include people like Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Luther, and Wesley.

Chapter Two looks at the theological foundations of the Just War Statecraft. Using the story of Nehemiah, we learn of the use of courage, crisis, and prayer in the face of imminent danger. The three primary institutions for any form of organization revolve around family, church, and government. Patterson connects vocation, calling, stewardship, governance, and public service, to highlight the just causes of our stewarding responsibilities.

Chapter Three takes us through a historical overview of the Just War Tradition. He takes us back to the Roman era to look at how various parties achieve "order, justice, and peace." We learn from history about the war criteria, security dilemmas, the rise of pacifism in the early church, obeying the harsh authorities, etc. We get a glimpse of various struggles during the Middle Ages, Reformation, to the modern era. Patterson then summarizes the three criteria for Just War: "legitimate authority, just cause, and right intention."

Chapter Four probes the moral implications of contemporary warfare. The author helps us distinguish moral resistance from violent rebellion. Different situations require different approaches. Believers have committed acts from civil disobedience to aggressive warfare. We learn about the different approaches with regard to terrorism and holy war. The difference between extremists and just-war advocates is the purpose of it all: Peace settlement. The former sees peace in the form of total annihilation of the enemy while the latter believes in peaceful settlement. We learn from the various Old Testament books like Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges, about divine wars which we need to learn the contexts before any modern application.

Chapter Five covers the motivations and characteristics of just warriors. From the WWII hero Alvin York to Martin Luther King Jr, Pat Tillman to those who joined the military because of 9/11, Patterson gently shows us the need to cultivate the virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. Power needs to be used for good.

Finally, Chapter Six looks at ending wars well. Christians need to think biblically, especially in times of war.

My Thoughts
==============
This book is written to explain what Just War is, why it is necessary, and how we can cultivate Christian thinking if anyone needs to go to war. It can be seen as a necessary defense for taking up arms, albeit as a last resort. Using many examples from both the Bible and from history, Patterson makes a strong case to show us that Just War is inevitable in a world that is filled with evil and hatred, much of it beyond our control. We can preach all the faith, hope, and love, but that works only if the other party is on the same page. How can we talk peace to groups intent on total destruction? How can we talk sense when the perpetrators have lost all common rationality? The author makes strong arguments to show us that sometimes, the bigger responsibility is to do something instead of nothing. Edmund Burke once said that the greater evil in the light of many evils is to do nothing. For anyone who is still ambivalent about taking up arms against evil, this book might be the essential tool to tilt the balance toward just war.

Having said that, there is a role for non-violent protests in the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Desmond Doss (of Hacksaw Ridge), and the Christian teaching of turning the other cheek. The key is discernment like how CS Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and many others have advocated. This is a complicated world, and because it is such, we cannot rely on simplistic solutions. Just saying one is always "Just War" or absolutely "Pacifist" is already an oversimplification of a complex problem. Life can be simple but it is the presence of people that make it all so complicated. Reading this book might give us a sense that fighting is justified under certain circumstances. The big argument is about how one draws the line. What is fair to one might be grossly unfair to another. What is reasonable force might be construed as unreasonable violence. We need a community to discern together the best course of action. At this time, at least two major wars are occurring, one in Ukraine and the other in the Gaza strip in Israel. Everywhere you turn, there seems to be non-stop violence. Sometimes, there are parties hardened to believe that no peace can happen until the enemy is eradicated. Sadly, that is wishful thinking. Civil wars, internal conflicts, and crimes against one's own people continue to occur. How should we think biblically? This book shows us the way.

Finally, for whatever the causes, just or unjust, wars will continue to be fought way into the future. If we cannot prevent all wars, at least do all we can to minimize them. That is why our tasks as peacemakers must remain a top priority. Even if there is no true peace until Christ comes again, we can try our best to build bridges instead of walls, seek to understand rather than be understood, and to ask God to help make us a channel of His Peace.

I look forward to the coming of the Prince of Peace, but until then, there is much to do with regard to mediating, peace-making, and the practice of justice and love.

Eric Patterson (PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara)is president of the Religious Freedom Institute and scholar-at-large and former dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He previously served in the US military and at the US State Department. He has authored and edited numerous books on the ethics of war, including Just American Wars: Ethical Dilemmas in US Military History and Just War and Christian Traditions.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Danny Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

War is incredibly morally messy. Christians long for a day where there is no war, but in the world that we have, how can we wage war justly? This is the question that the "just war tradition" has attempted to answer for centuries, and Patterson does an incredible job distilling it into a concise and readable primer.

The first few chapters are fairly dry, but necessary. They set out both the need and the theological foundations for the Just War Theory. Drawing on C.S. Lewis's essay "Why I am not a Pacifist" Patterson makes a pointed case for the justification of war.

Patterson does a great job then taking these concepts and applying them to real life scenarios. My only critique is that he is often a little too neat when it comes to the actions of the U.S. military. I think it would help his credibility a lot if his tone moved from "the US was clearly justified in X" to "The US was likely justified in X." That aside, I think the real-world scenarios he puts forward, from WW2, to the American Revolution, to the Civil Rights Movement do a great job moving the book from academic to practical.

The chapter on ending wars well was especially useful. So often when we think of warfare, at least I forget about what countries can do not only to vindicate the rights of those who were wronged, but to also not punish those who lost so harshly that their collapse leads to more war. I can't help but think there is a corollary for our criminal justice system.

Overall, just an incredible primer that hits many necessary facets of the Just War Tradition. Wherever you land on the morality of certain actions in war, this book will help you think through the issues clearly, soberly, and wisely.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent content, poor organization. Patterson has his head screwed on straight when it comes to pursuing a frank and realistic approach to warmaking. He clearly understands the issues involved, both historically and in the present day. He would be someone well worth consulting when the considering the moral validity of various potential military actions.

Patterson might need some help in writing, though. The organization here is very hard to follow. He lays out principles of just war, but then does not pursue them systematically. Further, his examples are repetitive. I could have used more diversity and depth.

Perhaps this is the rare book that is too short. Or perhaps it was originally written as lectures or articles, not a coherent whole. Nevertheless, it is worth the time, as few subjects are more important and less understood.

[Kyle Brewer]

An accessible introduction to the just war tradition from a Christian framework. Although the arguments at times felt truncated I appreciated the breadth of the book, addressing all relevant actors from states to policymakers to citizens to warriors. The emphasis on neighbor-love as the proper spirit and end of just war was helpful.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent review of just war theory from a Christian perspective. I really loved the way he blended illustrations from world history with examples from popular culture and media. If you are asking questions about the issue of war and you're concerned about living out your faith at the same time, this is a pretty good read. This book was a short read.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5- excellent book.