What's up with the term "Theory" in Just War Theory

[Little_Boy_Lost]

Why is the term Theory applied? In science this term denotes a highly probable explanation or understanding but is not entirely proven. Such as Evolution is still a theory but is highly supported.

How does this apply to the church’s view on War? In reading orthodox sources it seems to suggest the fathers view always viewed war as an evil, but sometimes necessary to prevent greater evil. The idea of there ever being a “Just War” seems to contradict this interpretation. Is this the teaching of the Holy Fathers?

And what about the great campaigns where the icons of the theotokos would be carried along the columns of troops going deep into Sassanid or Saracen lands? How does this relate to the Church Father’s and the Church’s understanding of war?

 

[Nine_Two]

In political science, where the term comes from, theory as used to denote a model of how society works (compare with Marxist theory and Game theory).

 

[Wesley7]

The word ‘theory’ is a way to explain something.

Or is an explanation about something specific.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

In science the word ‘theory’ is normally applied to something that is widely accepted with considerable empiral data that supports it. This is as opposed to the term ‘hypothesis’ where an idea is in its infancy and lacks a considerable body of empiral data to support it.

However, other disciplines use the term ‘theory’ in a different way.

 

[sidbrown]

Why is the term Theory applied? In science this term denotes a highly probable explanation or understanding but is not entirely proven. Such as Evolution is still a theory but is highly supported.

How does this apply to the church’s view on War? In reading orthodox sources it seems to suggest the fathers view always viewed war as an evil, but sometimes necessary to prevent greater evil. The idea of there ever being a “Just War” seems to contradict this interpretation. Is this the teaching of the Holy Fathers?

And what about the great campaigns where the icons of the theotokos would be carried along the columns of troops going deep into Sassanid or Saracen lands? How does this relate to the Church Father’s and the Church’s understanding of war?

Do Eastern Catholics or Orthodox have a different view of a just war of defense, than do Roman Catholics? Suppose for example, that your country is invaded by a foreign force. Would you have the right to defend your country against an unlawful invader, or since all war is evil, would you have to turn the other cheek and let the invader take over?
One of the big questions concerns the use of the atomic bomb. Is it ever just or moral to use the atomic bomb against an enemy? So many innocent children will be killed as a result of dropping this bomb, that I personally do not see where its use could be justified.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Just War

• the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
• all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
• there must be serious prospects of success;
• the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

Considering this the use of a nuclear weapon isn’t permitted because usage of nuclear weapons would escalate to all out nuclear apocalypse definitely breaking point four in the process

To the OP: The Crusades were defensive wars.

 

[sidbrown]

To the OP: The Crusades were defensive wars.

Really?
So you say that the Fourth Crusade was a defensive war? What is your definition of a defensive war. It seems like when Roman Catholic Crusaders invade a country and rape and murder Greek nuns who have dedicated their lives to God, and when they trash Greek Churches and steal priceless and sacred artifacts from the Greek Churches, that this would not be called a defensive war by anyone in his right mind.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Really?
So you say that the Fourth Crusade was a defensive war? What is your definition of a defensive war. It seems like when Roman Catholic Crusaders invade a country and rape and murder Greek nuns who have dedicated their lives to God, and when they trash Greek Churches and steal priceless and sacred artifacts from the Greek Churches, that this would not be called a defensive war by anyone in his right mind.

That crusade went “rogue” you can read about it here