Just War
When, if ever, may a Christian rightly take up the sword?
Just war names the criteria under which the use of armed force may be morally justified. The tradition was developed mainly in the Latin West, drawing on Augustine and Aquinas and elaborated by later thinkers. It remains contested and stands in tension with an early and continuing Christian witness to pacifism. Christians thus differ over whether force can ever be righteous or whether the gospel calls instead to nonviolence.
How it traveled
- The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and EusebiusCaesarea · 339applies
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379applies
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
Key passages(20)
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
City of God · Augustine of Hippo
City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Against Heresies: Book V · Irenaeus of Lyons
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
The Correction of the Donatists · Augustine of Hippo
The Letters · Basil of Caesarea
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Reply to Faustus the Manichæan · Augustine of Hippo
Reply to Faustus the Manichæan · Augustine of Hippo
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist · Augustine of Hippo