A church teaching that seems like hypocricy-help me out

[Saint_Sebastian]

Uh, ever heard of the just war theory developed by the RCC?

Runner, From Pope Benedict XVI; Violence must never be a way to resolve difficulties. The problems is first and foremost human. I invite people to look at the face of the other and discover that he too has a soul, a story and a life. He is a person and God loves him just as He loves me".

And the Holy Father continued: “I would like to make similar considerations concerning man in his religious diversity. Violence towards Christians in certain countries has aroused the indignation of many people, also because it happened on the days most sacred to Christian tradition. It is important for both political and religious institutions not to renege … on their responsibilities. There can be no violence in the name of God, nor can we think to honour Him by offending the dignity and freedom of our fellow man”.

 

[Benadam]

Runner, From Pope Benedict XVI; Violence must never be a way to resolve difficulties. The problems is first and foremost human. I invite people to look at the face of the other and discover that he too has a soul, a story and a life. He is a person and God loves him just as He loves me".

And the Holy Father continued: “I would like to make similar considerations concerning man in his religious diversity. Violence towards Christians in certain countries has aroused the indignation of many people, also because it happened on the days most sacred to Christian tradition. It is important for both political and religious institutions not to renege … on their responsibilities. There can be no violence in the name of God, nor can we think to honour Him by offending the dignity and freedom of our fellow man”.

I think this teaching is about revenge or retribution or life leading to martyrdom which belong to God. I doubt the Holy Father’s teaching extends to acts that are necessary for human life to return to God. These may include acts necessary to preserve earthly existence which may be necessary to preserve earthly life which in turn may be necessary to return to God.:twocents:

 

[LilyM]

Perhaps (I’m inclined to think you are right), or perhaps it always produces evil consequences, but regardless of which it is, sometimes the choice to go to war is righteous and good.

Exactly - did not God Himself command the people of Israel to war against their enemies and His on various occasions in the Old Testament?

A martyr-like acceptance of violence done against one’s own person - in certain circumstances - is a good thing, but we are permitted (and sometimes obliged) to be vigilant in the defence of those for whom we are responsible, such as parents defending their children - as well as our countries.

 

[jpk1313]

Exactly - did not God Himself command the people of Israel to war against their enemies and His on various occasions in the Old Testament?

A martyr-like acceptance of violence done against one’s own person - in certain circumstances - is a good thing, but we are permitted (and sometimes obliged) to be vigilant in the defence of those for whom we are responsible, such as parents defending their children - as well as our countries.

I would argue that to use violence in defence of nation or family goes against the law of loveing your neighbor as yourself. If you love yourself enough to clean the leporus skin on your own feet you should do so for you neighbor when the oppertunity to do so comes around. Like wise if you love your self enough not to commit suicide then you should love your neighbor enough not to kill them even if it is at the cost of your own life. Christianity is a pacifist religion and the idea stories of God allowing people to go to war in the old testamnet was anwsered by Jesus when he was speaking of divorce how moses allowed it becuse of the hardness of peoples hearts. killing and divorse are very much alike. Marriage is union and divorce rips apart that union so to does the killing of a person for is not the body and soul infact married to one another existing in a state of union? The idea of just war has the stink of sycophantic nationalism on it. The church is just going along to get along and that is itself moraly wrong to not speak out and just let war mongering states do what ever they please. It is a left over from when church and state were the same thing and should be done away with completly.

 

[peary1]

Exactly - did not God Himself command the people of Israel to war against their enemies and His on various occasions in the Old Testament?

A martyr-like acceptance of violence done against one’s own person - in certain circumstances - is a good thing, but we are permitted (and sometimes obliged) to be vigilant in the defence of those for whom we are responsible, such as parents defending their children - as well as our countries.

The Jews always saw the hand of God in whatever transpired for or against them. Events were written down through the eyes of their religion and relationship to God. It does not mean that God commanded them to war against their enemies. It means that, for their survival, it was found expedient to eliminate those who would necessarily eliminate them. Years later, when sitting down writing the stories, the writers would interpret these events through their own religion.

I would have a hard time resigning to a martyr-like acceptance of violence done against me. I know the early Christians went to their deaths by the tens of thousands, and Faith martyrs number in the tens of millions throughout the world. But we need to, as you say, defend the innocent and weak, our children, our families, and our country.

 

[Benadam]

The Jews always saw the hand of God in whatever transpired for or against them. Events were written down through the eyes of their religion and relationship to God. It does not mean that God commanded them to war against their enemies. It means that, for their survival, it was found expedient to eliminate those who would necessarily eliminate them. Years later, when sitting down writing the stories, the writers would interpret these events through their own religion.

I would have a hard time resigning to a martyr-like acceptance of violence done against me. I know the early Christians went to their deaths by the tens of thousands, and Faith martyrs number in the tens of millions throughout the world. But we need to, as you say, defend the innocent and weak, our children, our families, and our country.

We believe that the survival of the family line decended from Abraham and established Israel and the Jews as a nation was necessary in order for man to return to God. As Catholics we agree with the enterpretation of the authors.
Not all are prepared to walk the road to martyrdom. he rest of us have the right to defend our respective societies if they are threatened with death.imo