The Justification Of War Has Been An Ideal That Has Caused Much Debate

and controversy for humanity throughout all time. It has been studied and interpreted by many theologians, philosophers, and politicians. There have many manuscripts documenting the correct use of war and the proper means of exercising force. Within the western tradition two main principles, the Christian and Islamic, have appeared that attempt to explain just war in relation to maintaining a peaceful society. Both of these traditions have similar main premises of a constant battle between a split society, one of good and the other of evil. However, there are many differences within each of the two respective religions view on the ideas of the conception of a well ordered society, the religious and secular influences on each ideology, and the justification and authorization of war.

The Christian conception of a well-ordered, peaceful society, the City of God, was maintained and influenced by the ideal of just war. The City of God theory was created by St. Augustine of Hippo in the 4th century. His motivation for his writing was fueled by the decaying Roman Empire. St. Augustine felt that the collapse of the western empire to the invading barbarians resulted from the peaceful Christian ethic. “The charge was the traditional Christian pacifism had helped create untenable military circumstances for the western empire, the Church’s concern to prepare it’s members for the next life, had led to an ahistorical and socially irresponsible approach to the inescapable problems of individuals and societies in history (Tranquillitas Ordinis, Weigel).” Within his writings, he made a clear distinction between two cities, one that was based for Earthly living (City of Earth) and one that was based on love for God (City of God). He believed the City of Earth was capable of doing good, however was fundamentally evil because the only pure good is God. There is a direct correlation between the City of Earth and the Roman Empire. Augustine pointed out the many achievements of the Roman State, but felt it did not give God his due (Holy War Idea, Johnson). In order to correct this situation God created salvation for the inhabitants of the City of Earth through grace. By altering human motivations to become properly ordered through the love for God (Holy War Idea, Johnson). With this love for God, the City of God will become a reality. This entire society stemmed from individual motivation, and for love of neighbor. Augustine felt that a selfish motivation was a sign of a sinner. Only a good person would have right motivation, which is expressed as love towards God. To maintain this peaceful society it would have to have the following three characteristics: Justice, Order, and Peace. To uphold these ideals, there existed a positive attitude towards just war. Just war aided the transformation from the presently evil world to the benevolent City of God.

The Muslim concept of a well-ordered society, dar al-Islam, developed their ideals of jihad. Classical Islamic thought partitioned the world into two separate societies. The Dar al-Islam was considered the territory of peace, and the dar al-harb was literally the “territory of war”. The dar al-Islam is an area that promotes and signifies the supremacy of Muslims beliefs. The dar-al Islam is the area of peace and justice, it is considered to be the most secure place for all humans. The people of this territory need not be Muslims, they have to acknowledge the Muslim rule, and they need to be of a monotheistic religion. Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians were all allowed to live within the Dar al-Islam peacefully. The important aspect of non-Muslims living within the dar al-Islam is their behavior. Right action, not right thought was used to define which inhabitants can exist within the Dar al-Islam. By Contrast, the dar a-Harb was the state of unrest and war. It is characterized by strife and internal disorder (Islam and War, Kelsay). This disorder, if mobilized correctly could become a threat to the dar al-Islam. The peace of the world could only occur if it was all part of the dar al-Islam. These two areas were constantly in a state of war with each other. For Muslims to