War In The Name Of God example essay topic

The issue of war itself has been debated, published and broadcast on prime time news, but the current national crisis' are multifaceted and have many dimensions that are neither explored at, nor adequately analyzed by the vast majority of those who support the political arena that wage them. Are the actions of our government ethically justifiable? Can it be said that we as a nation, have engaged in a 'just war'. The war in Iraq as well as The War on Terrorism, have undeniable religious undertones and subsequent implications. If we are to fight this war with any true intent of winning it, these issues can simply not be overlooked.

We owe it to ourselves, as well as each other, to understand what it is that we fight for and against, and to be clear in those convictions. The concept of violence in the name of religion, seems to be a difficult pill for most to swallow. Without a doubt, war in the name of God, is an incomprehensible contradiction of terms. Yet, this is exactly the motive backing those who oppose us today.

The horrific attacks on the World Trade towers and on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, leave little room for argument regarding the reason for action on the part of US military forces. Of course the concept of war is not a new one, nor are the ethical dilemmas that it brings. Our current situation is unique though, in the sense that it has raised some new concerns. Deep to the issues of political agenda and the facades that they create, are the ethical issues at the heart of religious philosophy, which may have provoked the attacks in the first place. There have been on rare occasions, excluding the christian crusades of course, in which religion has played such a centralized role in the conflicts of nations.

It may not be transparent upon first exam, but deeply embedded in the core of the beliefs held by those who oppose us, is an extremist's vein of religion. Religious ideology is typically not the salesman for violent behavior. Historically speaking, it has been abundantly clear that man is quite capable of inventing various ideologies to justify their injustices against mankind, without finding the need to do so in the name of God. However, when religion is an underlying factor, the conflict takes on a particularly violent tone.

Religion virtually demands that there be tremendously faithful and disciplined followers. This level of devotion to the cause, can give rise to a passionate and almost unstoppable warrior. The enemy is sought out and destroyed with intense fervor, for they are seen as a direct insult to God. The threat to their faith, their society, becomes the sole basis for their conquest to eliminate it.

Their unwavering devotion enables them to endure retaliation. In some cases this only serves to solidify their claims and sparks further grounds for hate red, creating an unbreakable cycle. Arguably, these issues apply directly to current matters of war. The unspeakable actions of those individuals that attack us on 9/11/2001, were indeed horrific and inexcusable.

It seems to me that we have a moral obligation to search for more than simple retribution. We should be actively searching to find the answers as to what may have lead us down this path. I am inclined to question instead, the theological basis of religion, and morality that is preached within scriptures. If God is a good God, and God is mercifull, compassionate and forgiving, then how can such a God also teach of and practically promote, religious intolerance and hate? Understanding this basic ethical conflict is crucial since it is an extreme faith that has caused this nation great peril. The religion community as a whole, are all nauseated by the actions of the few who have hidden behind the name of God to veil their evil.

Yet, it has been difficult for these same communities to separate themselves, their religion from the total condemnation of a Holy War. Scriptures do teach of such concepts, they are ingrained in the ideology itself and are difficult to abandon for those who follow the faiths. Hebrew scriptures are considered to be sacred by Muslims, Christians and Jew a alike, but it is within these scriptures that I find basis for moral arguments. The first, and probably most compelling commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' appears to have set a precedence. The value of the life of man in unequaled, it is priceless. Mankind was created in the image of God, therefore, it would seem safe to say, that to kill another man is offensive to God.

It would seem that strict adherence to the rule would be commanded, without exception. However, this is not he case. There are instances in scripture, in which serious offenses are punishable by death (Exodus 21-22), in obvious violation of the 'do not kill' rule. These punishment were reserved of course for only those who had committed crimes serious enough to warrant it, and guilt had to de undeniable. And so we begin the 'slippery slope', so to speak. According to this passage, there are exception to the previously defined value of life.

There are also passages that condone capital punishment for the abandonment of one's faith. P recieved temptation to illicit abandonment of faith, resulted in wars between Isralites and non- Isralites, and whole communities were slaughtered. The Islamic scriptures, not unlike those of the Hebrew Bible, contain conflicting passages both for and against the use of force. The q'ur an, repeatedly refers to peaceful preaching to speak the faith.

It too preaches of a passionate and merciful God. 'there should be no compulsion of religion (Qur " an 2: 256) it should be pursued free of coercion and forcefulness. This is the path taken by most Muslims. During the past few years, the term jihad has become virtually synonymous with the ideologies of total war held by the extremist, Osama bin Laden. The term actually means 'struggle', typically within one's self to confirm faith. His use of the term has been condemned by those who uphold the true ideology of the religion. These individuals see only what they choose to see.

They blindly ignore the passages which speak of peaceful, and focus instead on those passages that speak of offensive jihad against the Western world, mainly us. ' How many were the populations that we utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their place, other peoples. When they felt our punishment, they tried to flee from it... They say 'oh, woe to us! We are indeed the wrong doers'. And that cry of their ceased not until we made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched (Qur " an 21: 11-185) '.

Unfortunately, passages such as this, are used to breed terrorists today. We as nation lost much more than we thought we did on that september morning. We lost a kind of national innocence. We are no longer able to live in our cozy little corner of the world, sheltered and oblivious to the inhumanities felt be the rest of it. We did not see this coming because we refused to believe that it could happen to us. In our growing global village, it is crucial to know your neighbors.

Understand their way of life, and respect it. Have empathy for their suffering, whatever form it takes, and seek to abolish it as it were your own. Be thankful for creature comforts, but acknowledge their need for them as well. Exercise benevolence towards them and desire that they too flourish, for dependence upon one another, rather that the gaudy show of who dominates who, is the key to a peaceful.