Theology
A Basic Guide to the Just War Tradition Christian Foundations and Practices Eric Patterson
This brief introduction surveys Christian thinking on an array of topics related to security and peace from a just war perspec- tive. Drawing primarily on Scripture and theology, Eric Patterson explores the moral dimensions of order, justice, and peace in light of key Christian doctrines such as love of neighbor, stewardship, vocation, and sphere sovereignty. He also examines the perennial questions of civil disobedience, terrorism, revolution, and holy war (including a discussion of Israel’s removal of the Canaanites and the Crusades) and interacts with theological thinkers throughout Chris- tian history. The volume concludes with a treatment of punishment and restitution, considering how these can help move a society toward conciliation. “As a thirty-seven-year veteran of the armed forces, I found Dr. Patterson’s book to be a stimulating read that both reinforced and challenged my thinking about my experience in armed conflict and the Jesus follower's role in terms of vocation and calling.” —ADMIRAL VERN CLARK, Former Chief of Naval Operations, US Navy (retired) “The fifteen hundred years of Christian ‘just war’ reasoning com - prise the most sophisticated tradition we have of thinking about the conditions of the morally justified use of force. Patterson, an authority both in theory and in practice, has provided a guide that is as comprehensive in scope as it is exemplary in clarity.” —NIGEL BIGGAR, University of Oxford (emeritus) “Patterson has written a marvelously clear book on just war. This is no dry treatise; it is loaded with examples from The Hunger Games to Harry Potter , from The Lord of the Rings to Narnia —not to mention Augustine, Tertullian, and Origen. A must-read for church leaders.” —CAPTAIN DAVID C. IGLESIAS, JAGC, US Navy (retired); Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics, and Economics, Wheaton College “It is impossible to overstate the need for this volume. Patterson’s book is thoughtfully written without being overly technical, well illustrated, and accessible to a wide range of readers.” —J. DARYL CHARLES, author and just war scholar “Patterson’s outstanding book is an accessible and clear defense of just war theory. I highly recommend this wise, practical, and much-needed guide.” —PAUL COPAN, Palm Beach Atlantic University; editor, War, Peace, and Violence: Four Christian Views “This deeply reflective book should be required reading to ensure that lawful decision-making is also ethical decision-making for the common good.” —ROSEMARY DURWARD, coeditor, Religion, Conflict, and Military Intervention
OCTOBER 2023 • 176 pp. • paper • $22.99 • 9781540965479
Eric Patterson (PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara) is president of the Religious Freedom Institute and scholar-at-large and former dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University. He previously served in the US military and at the US State Department. He has authored and edited numerous books on the ethics of war, including Just American Wars: Ethical Dilemmas in US Military History and Just War and Christian Traditions .
11
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease