Today we will• learn about Christian Just War theory

and how that relates to modern wars.

We will learn to;1. List at least 4 of

the conditions for a just war.

2. Explain what is meant by each.

3. Evaluate whether or not modern wars meet these conditions.

Starter

• In groups discuss what you think are good reasons to go to war.

• Create a mind map this can be extended throughout the lesson.

Good reasons to go to war

Christian Just War Thinkers

1. St Thomas Aquinas – 1225 - 74- Worried about unruly knights

2. Francisco Vitoria – 1483 – 1546- Worried about the conquest of New Spain

What is a Just War?To be a just war the war must meet

certain criteria;

1. The just war must have a cause or moral reason like defending a nation under attack or a war against terror.

What is a Just War?2. During a just war there must be as little violence used as possible. Any force that is more than the enemy has, is seen as immoral.

3. Just War can be fought if it is stop a Greater evil or tyrant. Some people would argue Hitler would have killed many more people if the Allies did not declare war.

What is a Just War?

What is a Just War?

4. A just war should be controlled by politicians and not by military in the war zone.

5. In a just war the military should avoid injuring innocent civilians.

What is a Just War?

What is a Just War?

6. Only military should be fighting during war.

Civilians should not get involved.

Copy into your jotter

Just War Theory

Legitimate authority

A just cause Promote good andavoid a greater evil

Leave the war zonea better place

United Nations

Stop a genocide

Rebuild infrastructure

Better government

See notes on lesson 2

A country’s leader- NOT private citizens

A last resort

Proportional

Think nuclearAvoid civilians

Legitimate Authority?

Just Cause?

Avert evil and injustice

Tim Collins Iraq clip

Just war views

Pacifist views

Every gun that is made, every

warship launched, every rocket fired,

signifies in the final sense a theft

from those who hunger and are not

fed, those who are cold and are not

clothed. 

Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

If we don't end war, war will end us. 

H. G. Wells

“We make war so that we may live in peace.” 

“Do not think that

I have come to

bring peace to the

earth. I have not

come to bring

peace, but a

sword.”

America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud. George W. Bush 

We, therefore, here in Britain stand shoulder to shoulder with our American friends in this hour of tragedy, and we, like them, will not rest until this evil is driven from our world. Tony Blaire

Never think that war, no matter how

necessary, nor how justified, is not a

crime. Ernest Hemingway

“There are many

causes I would die

for. There is not a

single cause I

would kill for”.

Is it ever alright to go to war?

In 2003 London saw some of the biggest protests in its history. These protests were to stop the war with Iraq. What did it achieve?

Task

Read and complete the question sheet then try the extension sheet.

Afghanistan war

CASE STUDY

The War on Terror is the campaign launched by the United States of America, when George Bush was the President, with thesupport of the United Kingdom and other countries. The campaign was launched inresponse to the September 11, 2001 attacksand the aim was to get rid of terrorism.

In the lead up to the September 11th bombings, Osama Bin Laden’s group al-Qaeda and the soldiers ruling over Afghnaistan, the Taliban, commited many terrorist crimes.

The aim of the Afghan war was to....

1. Defeat terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden and destroy their organisations

2. Identify, locate and destroy terrorists along with their organisations

3. Deny sponsorship, support and sanctuary to terrorists

4. Defend US citizens and interests at home and abroad.

On September 20, 2001, after the September 11

attacks, George W. Bush delivered an ultimatum to the Taliban government of Afghanistan to turn over Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda leaders operating in the country or face attack. They refused.

So, in October 2001, US forces (with UK and other allies) invaded Afghanistan to get rid of the Taliban regime. On October 7, 2001 the official invasion began with British and US forces conducting air strike campaigns.

• The Taliban were successfully thrown by the troops and President Karzai is now in charge.

• Hundreds of British and American soldiers and Afghan civillians have been killed.

Now it’s your job to decide if it is “just” or not!

Home work

Research the recent war with Iraq.

The protests against the war were some of the biggest in British history. Why were people protesting? Begin to form your own opinions about whether or not it met the Just War criteria.

Write 200 words or as many as you like.