Between Pacifism and Jihad – Just War and Christian Tradition

Pacifism, jihad and militarism--are these the only alternatives to global injustice? J. Daryl Charles considers the "just war" teaching of the church throughout history, comparing it with both pacifism and jihad/militarism and addressing the unique challenges of international injustice and global terrorism. J. Daryl Charles leads us to reconsider a Christian view of the use of force to maintain or reestablish justice. He shows how love for a neighbor can warrant the just use of force. Reviewing and updating the widely recognized but not necessarily well-understood just-war teaching of the church through the ages, Charles shows how it captures many of the concerns of the pacifist position while deliberately avoiding, on the other side, the excesses of jihad and militarism. Aware of our contemporary global situation, Charles addresses the unique challenges of dealing with international terrorism.