Christians on both sides of war

[lucky4075]

What are the moral implications when Christians are fighting on both sides of a war? Like in WW1, WW2, or more lately when Britain and Argentina fought over the Falkland islands? Im not saying that the Church is wrong, Im just wondering what the reasoning is behind it. All Christians live in the higher kingdom of Heaven, so how can we fight each other here on earth just because were are from different countries?

 

[VonDerTann]

German soldiers in WWII wore belt buckles which were imprinted with the words, “Gott mit unser,” translated as “God (is) with us”.

No doubt many, if not most, genuinely believed that what they were doing was morally correct, or necessary, or whatever, at least at some point in the war.

Now, you ask:

“What are the moral implications when Christians are fighting on both sides of a war?”
–I believe the moral implications are very complex. Very few people asked or ordered to fight in a war have any real ability to easily say “no!” particularly when civil law – particularly legitimate civi law – may require it. Moreover, I would posit that more combatants - like the Germans in WWII - genuinely believe that they are the morally superior side, even if caused mainly by propaganda.

Critically, when you write, “Im not saying that the Church is wrong, Im just wondering what the reasoning is behind it.”
–Reasoning behind what? The “Church being wrong,” is apples and oranges to your question, which appears to be “how can Christians fight on opposing sides of the same war?” The response is “very easily, since all involved may be able to make compelling cases that they are morally right to do so.” Compelling arguments can likely be made that, for example, i) Argentina was trying to rightfully retake the falklands from the British; ii) the Confederate States were right to defend states’ rights in 1861; iii) etc., on and on. It seems that these arguments are more compelling if you are, respectively, Argentenian in 1982; a confederate in 1861, etc.

“All Christians live in the higher kingdom of Heaven, so how can we fight each other here on earth just because were are from different countries?”
-Because all of us are flawed, and leaders often start wars for unsound, or at least partially unsound reasons. Period.

 

[zicharon]

“Gott mit unser”

“uns,” actually. (“unser” = our)

PS: The governments in power are not necessarily “Christian,” OP. Only if you take “Christian” to mean “not explicitly of the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Shinto, etc. faith.” Modern day non-3rd world governments pride themselves on their “neutral” secular status.

 

[fred_conty]

German soldiers in WWII wore belt buckles which were imprinted with the words, “Gott mit unser,” translated as “God (is) with us”.

No doubt many, if not most, genuinely believed that what they were doing was morally correct, or necessary, or whatever, at least at some point in the war.

Now, you ask:

“What are the moral implications when Christians are fighting on both sides of a war?”
–I believe the moral implications are very complex. Very few people asked or ordered to fight in a war have any real ability to easily say “no!” particularly when civil law – particularly legitimate civi law – may require it. Moreover, I would posit that more combatants - like the Germans in WWII - genuinely believe that they are the morally superior side, even if caused mainly by propaganda.

Critically, when you write, “Im not saying that the Church is wrong, Im just wondering what the reasoning is behind it.”
–Reasoning behind what? The “Church being wrong,” is apples and oranges to your question, which appears to be “how can Christians fight on opposing sides of the same war?” The response is “very easily, since all involved may be able to make compelling cases that they are morally right to do so.” Compelling arguments can likely be made that, for example, i) Argentina was trying to rightfully retake the falklands from the British; ii) the Confederate States were right to defend states’ rights in 1861; iii) etc., on and on. It seems that these arguments are more compelling if you are, respectively, Argentenian in 1982; a confederate in 1861, etc.

“All Christians live in the higher kingdom of Heaven, so how can we fight each other here on earth just because were are from different countries?”
-Because all of us are flawed, and leaders often start wars for unsound, or at least partially unsound reasons. Period.

That was one of the best explainations I have heard. Very good.

Now comes the “however”.
I heard that catholic priests gave talks against hitler and his henchmen. And I have read
where many priests ended up in concentration camps just because of this. So why
didn’t they know they were wrong. The belt buckles were made by the nazi government
so it dosen’t seem that these could be counted as reflecting the true feeling of the soldier. These are catholics and lutherans.

The only answer I could come up with is that the government would do the unspeakables
to the family members if they didn’t cooperate. Is there anything else you might know of?

 

[thistle]

What are the moral implications when Christians are fighting on both sides of a war? Like in WW1, WW2, or more lately when Britain and Argentina fought over the Falkland islands? Im not saying that the Church is wrong, Im just wondering what the reasoning is behind it. All Christians live in the higher kingdom of Heaven, so how can we fight each other here on earth just because were are from different countries?

You are not saying the Church is wrong about what??

 

[twinc]

You are not saying the Church is wrong about what??

the choice was/is king and country or religion and is even more pertinent in this day and age of multi cultures/religions mixing and mingling - muslims,for example,it seems are allowed and if fact even encouraged,some say, to kill infidels but forbidden to kill fellow muslims - this could and should stop all wars if muslims were to confront muslims or christian confront christian if we accepted likewise - during the last war Catholics were in a predicament when opposed to Catholic Italy containing the Vatican - twinc

 

[ganonscrub]

God is used in war as an artificial motivator to boost morale and give soldiers a false sense of self-righteousness. How could Christian soldiers be barbarically fighting and killing other human beings and think they are doing God’s will when the 10 commandments command one not to kill?