Originally posted by vistesd
Kudos, Hal, for setting this thread up in exactly the way you did the "Islam" thread! Recced for that.
I thought within this context (and maybe the other thread as well), it might be relevant to raise the idea of a “Just War Doctrine.” This article from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_War, states that St. Augustine may have been t ...[text shortened]... f violate the basic tenets of Christianity? I think not, but a pacifist Christian might differ.
This reminds of a friend of mine who lived in what was then called Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) during the border war with freedom fighters infiltrating down from Zambia. Strictly pacifistic in his Christianity, he was conscripted into the army. Fighting against the system, he used to get up to the funniest stuff, like walking onto parade with full-kit -- and a broomstick instead of his rifle. When he was forced to shoot at the range he was discovered to be a crack shot and drafted into the sniper corps. After basic training he still swore he'd never shoot at any living thing.
One day, on a reconnaissance mission overlooking a border village when some of these so-called freedom fighters entered it and proceeded to herd all the villagers together. If you've seen "Tears of the Sun", he says it was quite similar to that, when they started mutilating some of the helpless villagers -- cutting off their ears with scissors etc.
In horror, he called out to God to "do something!!". The only reply he got was what seemed like God asking him what that rifle in his hands was for. Needless to say, a couple minutes later there were 5 dead freedom fighters and the rest fleeing for their lives.