Revision for 'Nature and Value of Human Life' Topic- Value of Human Life

Imago Dei: 

The teaching of humans being in the image of God (seen in Genesis 1:26-8 'then God said "let us make humans in our image") is the basis on Christian thought on the value of human life. This teaching has been vital in christian approaches to issues such as abortion and Euthanasia but also approaches about war and the taking of human life in war. Leading to Pacifism and the Just War theory.

Pacifism:

-This belief is rooted in Western Christianity and particularly in the early church with Xians seeing Jesus to teach that bearing arms is prohibited an example seen by peoples refusal to fight for the Roman Army.

-This belief looks to the gospels which record how Jesus which record how Jesus called his followers not too use violence but to use sacrificial love. ("Blessed are the peacemakers" Matthew 5:9) -These themes are rooted in Jewish Prophetic tradition and followers see his ministry and sacrificial death as continuation of this tradition.

-Pacifism became minority view under Emperor Constantine's rule and christian thought on war was changed.

-HOWEVER: There are still influential peace churches which continue this early tradition. Examples of this are: - Quakers, Mennonites, Bruderhof Brethren and the Amish.  

Quakers: 

• Founded at time of Civil War (1642) 
• Violence= More violence
• Separation between 'church' and 'world' 

Most of these Peace Churches were not against use of military as they believed the state must defend itself and is a necessary vehicle for social order but that they themselves would not join in. They will have followed St. Paul's for Romans 13 "Let everyone be subject to governing authorities...these exist as they have been instituted by God." 

Peace Churches for example Quakers did not believe in 'doing nothing' but importance of taking non violent action. Examples of this is:

• Martin Luther King Jr. who used forceful language, peaceful protests and strikes for racial equality in the USA-  It could be argued he had been heavily influenced by Ghandi who advocated Ahimsa or 'Zest for Truth'

However this apparent minority view also became a part of many christian denominations. Both Catholic and Protestant parties supported this idea and its approach to the subject of war. 

A Catholic example is Thomas Merton (A Catholic monk) who renounced violence as a way to peace. 

"It is my intention to make my entire life a rejection of, a protest against the crimes and injustices of war" 

Becauase of this Catholic pacifism in now more common and supported by the Vatican. 

A mainstream Protestant view on this is shown my Walter Wink. Who criticizes Augustines use of violence to defend the innocent and the whole Just War theory. 

Just War Theory: 

Thought the early church taught that use of violence was wrong it also taught that the state/government was responsible for maintaining order SO when the Roman Empire became Christian the church had to reconcile response to self sacrifice, the value of human life on one hand but also Gods justification of death for protecting innocents. 

Therefore The A Team, Ambrose, Augustine and later Thomas Aquinas put forward principles to why war may be justified in Gods eyes. These were divided into Jus ad Bellum (Principles for going to war) and Jus in Berro (Principles for the conduct of War)  

 

Jus ad Bellum consisted of:

• Just Cause (protection of innocent)
• Just authority ( gov or ruler) 
• Right intention (protection of innocent life)
• Last resort (all else has failed)
• Proportionality (good results beat bad ones)
• Probability of Success

Jus in Berro consisted of: 

• proportionality (good larger than harm) 
• discrimination ( only against those who threaten innocent life) 

• Jus Post Bello was later introduced which was Just Principles for after war.