I apologize if this is a controversial topic, but I've been thinking a lot about it lately and I just want to hear everyone's opinion, and this is a great place to share.
I've been bored this week-- my husband is a surgical resident and has been gone for 8 days in a row--home around midnight and gone at 5-- so I've been spending my free time at nights surfing the old www (yes, I know, I should have been doing laundry or dishes or something else-- but mindless surfing is fun for me). Anyway, don't ask me how I got here, but I fell into reading some Catholic and Christian bloggers take on the war in Iraq. The consensus on this issue is anything but that-- there is no agreement whatsoever. Some people cite Joshua's "preemptive" strike at Jericho as justification for why we could be in Iraq (they were evil, being led by Satan) while other people cite Jesus's sermons (and strong example) about loving our enemies.
I was looking at a scripture in Exodus 21:12-14 which reads: "He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will apoint thee a place whither he shall flee. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take hime form mine altar, that he may die." While I was reading this I thought, basically "People that kill other people may deserve the death penalty, and sometimes if someone is "presumptuously" ready to kill, he too, will deserve to die." (that is, of course, a small paraphrase).
As members of the LDS church, I think we've got another 'handy' book (aka BOM) which may help elucidate God's feelings about war. I am thinking mainly of the the war chapters in Alma. I haven't yet delved into them looking for answers, but I am remembering the imperatives from God which basically said that if the Nephites were to defend themselves from robbers or Lamanites, they would be victorious, but if they were to "pre-emptively strike" God would not be with them. To me, in these circumstances, a 'pre-emptive strike' by the Nephites would have been the outward action of malicious intent and hatred-- thus the 'no support' dictum from God.
Anyway, I am going to go back and look at these scriptures and try to find some answers because on one hand, I really thought Saddam was so wicked and working towards goals of killing others for gain, while on the other-- I am not sure America was in imminent danger when we went into Iraq. Were we justified in our actions?
I would like to open this up to friendly and doctrinal discussion and hopefully we can learn something from each other. In the end, we might not figure out if war was justified or not, but at least we will learn something, I hope!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
To War or Not to War
Posted by Camilla at 9:52 PM
Labels: justification for war, reasons for war, war in Iraq
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4 comments:
While preparing for my lesson this week, I actually came across something along these lines Alma 43:45-47 and 49. Since you posted this interesting post, I've been thinking along the lines of righteous anger and fighting for those who can't fight for themselves but I think these scriptures say it best. Nothing puts a fire under someone then fighting for your family, your liberty and your faith.
I'd like to believe that that's what we're (as a Nation) fighting for. We're helping a country fight those who want to take them over and take away their freedoms.
But, I also agree with you that America may not have been in immediate danger but that's doesn't mean it didn't need to be done. Saddam was very wicked and was wiping out the kurds. Mass genocide and wiping out entire towns was just another day at the office for him*. We may not have gone in with the best information or been the best prepared for the insurgent fights that arose but, in my opinion, we did what needed to be done to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.
Jesus did speak about loving our enemies but he also taught us to bear one another's burdens as in Gal. 6:2 and to love and serve one another. We can love our enemies but at some point you have to draw the line and protect those they hurt.
In Mormon 2:19, he talks about feeling sorrow for the sins of his brethern. Maybe that's the key. Fight for justice and protect the weak but with sorrow in your heart for those who have fallen.
Sorry for such a long comment, you just got me thinking Camilla.
-ami-
I forgot to add my link for my asterisk.
* http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4875678.stm
Thank you so much for your comments!
I found a Wonderful site on Isaiah!
http://www.isaiahexplained.com/
The site has free lessons on every chapter.
Very well done and in the author’s own voice.
Every Isaiah Chapter has the Analytical Commentary of Isaiah. Enjoy this personable verse-by-verse commentary of Isaiah by well-known Hebrew scholar Avraham Gileadi.
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Temple President.
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