The Horrors We Bless: Rethinking the Just-War Legacy

by Daniel C. Maguire

Is war inevitable? Is it so woven into the fabric of our beingthat it always was and always will be? "Early Christians,"says Maguire, "were unanimous in opposing this view." Theydidn't see war as normal but an outrage and even a sacrilege.Maguire argues that later Christians succumbed to thesupposed "normalcy" of war and developed what later becameknown as the "just-war theory," which was actually devised asa deterrent to the rush to war.

Genres: Theology, War, Politics

89 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2007

Reviews

[Byron Allanvre · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and very concise exploration of the idea of just wars and how horrendously unjust they often are. though this is a great dissection of why war is almost always morally illegitimate, the author tries to offer law-based solutions, which cannot work, because laws are swiftly disregarded when war breaks out. Regardless, it's a great and quick read that I'd like to see in public inner-city high schools across the states, where predatory army recruiters lurk to get kids to sign up for the military in order to have a chance at a life outside of poverty.

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Angry rather than impassioned. Has several historical inaccuracies. He was obsessed with Bush and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when he was writing it.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very eye opening experience that changed my view of war. This book really pushed more and more against war. It also showed me how much America is in love with war and violence. America needs to move the millions upon millions of dollars it spends on defense, to something more profitable such as: education, health reform, international aid and relief. It not only made me rethink the just-war theory, but war in general. The world isn't meant for war, but peace. We will never get peace through the means of power, how can an evil such as world, bring about such a good thing like world peace? What this world needs is a savior.