Church Fathers and Pacifism: Possible Solution(s)

[Isearch]

Honestly, I couldn’t find any Church father before the council of Nicea who promotes a primitive version of what many would later call “the just war doctrine”. The fact is, all the pre-Nicene Church fathers who wrote anything about wars or joining the military had nothing good to say about either of them. I am already thinking about a possible (or plausible, though unsure) solution to this. But, I want to ask: What are your thoughts about this apparent disconnect between the early Christians and most Christians today (yes even Roman Catholics)?

 

[Stephen_says]

Can you site some sources? I’m very interested in this topic and would like to read the Church Fathers you mentioned.

The only thing I can say is that the world was probably very different back then, and most wars were for expansion and imperialism. I think defense is always a just cause for war, but it probably wasn’t on the minds of anybody back then to go to war over humanitarian issues or things like that. It’s a case I think of a development of doctrine from one of “pacifism” to one of self-defense, and if self defense, then also the defense of others against an aggressor?

 

[Isearch]

Ohh yeah I almost forgot this…

 

[Isearch]

This 12th canon from the first council of Nicea seems to support that the Church was in the pacifist position:

1. Those who have been called by grace, have given evidence of first fervour and have cast off their [military] belts, and afterwards have run back like dogs to their own vomit, so that some have even paid money and recovered their military status by bribes — such persons shall spend ten years as prostrators after a period of three years as hearers. In every case, however, their disposition and the nature of their penitence should be examined. For those who through their fear and tears and perseverance and good works give evidence of their conversion by deeds and not by outward show, when they have completed their appointed term as hearers, may properly take part in the prayers, and the bishop is competent to decide even more favourably in their regard. But those who have taken the matter lightly, and have thought that the outward form of entering the church is all that is required for their conversion, must complete their term to the full.

 

[Bithynian]

pre-Nicene Church fathers who wrote anything about wars or joining the military had nothing good to say about either of them

I would surmise that a good deal of the ante-Nicene Fathers’ reticence was due to the Roman state being hostile to Christianity. In that respect, it’s unclear to me if Christians would have even be welcomed into the Roman military: ante-Nicene Christians were long accused by the Roman state of being seditious and disloyal. See for e.g. in the NT and the repeated characterisation of Christians as “aliens” (ξένοι xenoi) and “exiles” (πάροικοι paroikoi) (Eph 2:19; 1 Pet 2:11) whose “citizenship” (πολίτευμα politeuma) was in heaven (Phil 3:20).

 

[po18guy]

The 21st century template is a bad fit over preceding centuries. Powerless Christian minority versus powerful Christian majority are the differences - or used to be, as I see it.

 

[Isearch]

I have considered that explanation. But, I found it to be unconvincing because reasons given by the early church fathers and martyrs. Saint Martin of Tours had appeared to believe that waging war and being a Christian is
impossible:

In the meantime, as the barbarians were rushing within the two divisions of Gaul, Julian Cæsar, bringing an army together at the city of the Vaugiones, began to distribute a donative to the soldiers. As was the custom in such a case, they were called forward, one by one, until it came to the turn of Martin. Then, indeed, judging it a suitable opportunity for seeking his discharge — for he did not think it would be proper for him, if he were not to continue in the service, to receive a donative — he said to Cæsar, Hitherto I have served you as a soldier: allow me now to become a soldier to God: let the man who is to serve you receive your donative: I am the soldier of Christ: it is not lawful for me to fight.

To be fair, this was a special case when the invaders surrendered because of the saint’s miraculous prayers.

 

[Dan_Defender]

I think St Augustine said that rightly-constituted public authorities have the moral duty to pursue justice, even at risk to themselves and those for whom they are responsible, but I don’t have the exact quote.

 

[commenter]

The early Christians lived in the Empire, there were no conditions for just wars for them. Their empire army was for aggression.

It would be like Christians living in Germany several decades ago. They would if possible avoid serving in that Armed Forces during the war. But if those Christians happened to be living in another country that Hitler invaded, their position would be different.

I’m sure prior to the 4th century Christians, like others, thought the empire would always be there, so they didn’t come up with a hypothetical alternative.