Introduction
Religion has for many years thought to be one of the main causes of wars in the world today. There are various religions in the world, which normally drive people into war. Due to the diverse philosophic dimensions, many religions get into war based on differences in their religious backgrounds.
In the past, people killed each other because of spiritual differences among other arenas of differing. Actually, civilization has helped a lot in solving the problems that lead people into war. Although war is a natural thing, which occurs in the presence of humanity, the maintenance of ethical and moral values is of great significance. This is because they help in preventing the loss of life as well as maintaining peace in the universe. This paper will therefore explore the religious values that are evident in war and peace.
The religious values in War and Peace
There are three religious views about war known to date. The first ideology is the pacifist view, which states that any form of violence, which might cause physical harm to a fellow human being, is unethical and inhuman. Secondly, there is the just war belief. The argument under just war states that the pursuance of wars occurs with the highest interest of justice.
In addition, this view also stresses on war fought according to just rules. Thirdly, there is also a belief in just war. The principle behind this view follows that the Supreme Being is responsible for commanding his people to fight the holy war. The problem with this view is that all those people who do not follow religion are enemies (Dicken 121).
There are many religions around the world, which hold diverse views on the issues of war. Islam being the largest religion on earth has many ideas concerning war. In the first place, Islam means having to submit an individual’s will to the Supreme Being (Allah). Islam’s views of war get support through the struggle and fight under the will of God.
In fact, Islam is the only religion, which comes up with the ideas about the Holy War. Therefore, the duty of the Muslims is to fight under the will of God. The Muslims believe that anybody breaking the will of God deserves severe punishment. They do also believe that anybody who dies in war shall enter the kingdom of God without any passage (Hertog 56).
Despite the fact that Muslims fight for the Holy war, according to the commandments of Allah their God, it is unethical to kill a fellow human being especially in the event that one is proclaiming to follow God’s word. Emphasis of moral values is thus essential in order to ensure that no killing occurs because of war.
At the same time, non-violent behavior should be overemphasized to stop people from killing each other. Moral behavior entails the engagement of non-violence and preserving religious morals in the society. Religious laws deserve corrections in a manner that just war does not prevail under any form of seeking justice. Conflicts, which lead into war, deserve instant halting to ensure that there is no war, which has happened under any case.
The second largest religion, Christianity has three different positions in regard to war. They include war, which is just, view of pacifism and crusade war. To begin with, the Pacifism view holds that any form of crisis or a disagreement requires diplomatic solutions with the best peaceful manner possible.
This idea also supports the fact that human rights should always prevail and relative actions used to stop the occurrences of war. This is because pacifists do not condone any form of violence carried out. In fact, absolute pacifists believe that killing is morally wrong and at the final analysis both the parties would have to lose (Dicken 127).
There is also the second position of the Christians who believe that war is not governed by ethics but by laws. For example, there is also inclusion of a just war. This kind of war can only happen in the event of self-defense and external aggression. However, this is also limited to killing of innocent lives.
The Bible states that people should love their enemies meaning that even when they are defending themselves, they should also avoid hurting their enemies in any sense. The pacifists on the other hand do not support just war. They believe that any shedding of the blood in the name of seeking justice is immoral by itself and wars should be avoided under any cost (Horowitz 127).
Humanism is a pragmatic philosophy developed just in the recent times. In postmodern society, there are many beliefs, which support the act of humanism. In this sense, there is nothing recognized as killing of a person even in war. The humanists believe that people should not enter into war under any cost.
The fundamental rule of this view is that people should treat others according to the best moral and ethical way possible. That is why the basis of humanitarian principles is on the respect for others; trust in others, resource sharing, and cooperation with each other. This enhances humanity and peace in a society, which is prone to conflicts (Hertog 34).
The basis of many of the religious values is on advocacy for non-violent behavior. Non-violence is a moral philosophy, which helps two conflicting parties to achieve peace after a resolution. Religious values call for respect and cooperation as a community, which shall live together, even after the end of the world.
In fact, many religions such as Christianity call for resistance, which is passive. This entails forgiving those who have forsaken them. Therefore, the avoidance of violence is deserved under any cost because it leads to physical harm. Honest dealings are the best way to predict that a society will be morally right and that no war shall be in existence. Under any cost, peaceful dealings enhance Christian values and humanity leading to good coexistence (Hertog 45).
Conclusion
In conclusion, religious values ought to be enhanced in order to stop and eradicate instances of war. Conflicts in religions should also be avoided because they lead to crisis, which often involve use of violence and physical harm to other people. One of the religious views, which prevail when it comes to the philosophy of war, is pacifism.
Pacifists base their arguments on the fact that war is inhuman, and conflicts should be resolved in a peaceful manner. On the other hand, humanitarian principles are based on this view and they entail respect of others and cooperation as one society. Actually, many religious beliefs are based on use of non-violence when dealing with human conflicts. This is because the idea of war is not governed by ethical and moral standards in the society.
Works Cited
Dicken, Thomas M. Dialogues on Values and Centers of Value: Old Friends, New Thoughts. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2001. Print.
Hertog, Katrien. The Complex Reality of Religious Peace building: Conceptual Contributions and Critical Analysis. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, 2010. Print.
Horowitz, Irving L. The Idea of War and Peace: The Experience of Western Civilization. New Brunswick: Transaction, 2007. Print.