Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil.
The very complexity of the Christian tradition's teaching reminds us that there
are no easy or simple answers to the dilemma 'of security and peace. The
richly textured tradition of the Church quietly tells us that there is no simple
solution to the moral problem of war, and that an indignant self-righteousness
is a warning sign of errors. Moreover, the fact that the Christian Churches
have sustained a pluralistic dialogue on the ethics of war and peace reminds
us to acknowledge the validity of another's moral concerns -especially the
concerns of those with whom we disagree. We should search in others'
perspectives for possible hints and traces of truth that might be brought into
our own.
The temptation to make the Scripture into a simplistic recipe for solving the
problem of war and peace is not often encountered in the Church today. But
there are political currents in the Christian community - sometimes called the
religious Right and the religious Left - which sometimes try to fit the complex
teaching of the Scripture into pre-determined political categories. On the
religious Left, this often takes the form of attempts to make the New
Testament into an exclusively pacifist tract, a view that is in serious tension
with both some aspects of the eschatological teaching of Jesus and with the
teaching of Paul about the role of legitimate authority (Romans 13). On the
religious Right, one still finds elements of a crusading mentality that sees in
the Book of Revelation a blueprint for the conduct of war. Neither of these
oversimplifications is adequate to the richness of the Scriptures' teaching
about war and peace.
The justice of a cause and the feasibility of attaining one's goal are not, from a
Christian perspective, the only relevant issues to be addressed in forming
moral judgements about going to war in defence of values. Reconciliation
between the parties is the necessary third element.
In this research to find some indicators on peace and reconciliation we have
done a comparative literary study with exegetical theological investigation to
arrive at these theological conclusions. A survey in the semantic field was
examined as well as in a theologically ethical context. To follow is a summary
of this endeavour:
The Hebrew word for "peace" is "shalom". It is derived from the root word that
conveys the image of wholeness, unity, and harmony - something that is
complete and sound. Although "peace" is essentially a relational concept in
the Old Testament, it also conveys the idea of prosperity, health, and
fulfilment.