I posted this in Justinian's instead of Basil's so that debate on this issue can be had, if there are differing sides that is.
In my research into Orthodoxy the view I have commonly found expressed is the following:
My first question would be what does evil mean in the context of war? Of course offensive war purely for conquest and subjugation are evil but I do not see how defensive war can be evil in the same sense.
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." - Revelation 12:7-9
War is not simply an earthly phenomenon but a celestial one as well. Was Michael engaging in sin by warring with the armies of Satan?
"The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name." - Exodus 15:3
Something associated with God, I would think, should not be considered evil for God is not evil.
"Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:" - Psalm 144:1
The prophet king David also acknowledged God as his teacher in war, and throughout his life David is sanctioned and protected by God in war.
There are innumerable other passages from Scripture that could be mentioned and the history of the Church has some examples, a perfect example being Constantine:
"He said, moreover, that he doubted within himself what the import of this apparition could be. And while he continued to ponder and reason on its meaning, night suddenly came on; then in his sleep the Christ of God appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in the heavens, and commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies." - Eusebius on Constantine's vision
So Jesus Himself appeared to Constantine, told him to use the sign of the cross when fighting his enemies, and then aided him throughout his wars. It cannot be denied that Constantine's victory over his enemies through war brought immeasurable good to the world, so how can his wars have been evil?
My own belief on this matter is that war done in defense of the country, the innocent, in opposition to evil or by the will of God is not a sin like unto murder or other damnable sins like sodomy, adultery, etc. Rather it is classified as a "sin" in that it is not perfection and thus not to be desired, but is necessary in this world where evil exists and must be opposed.
Is my understanding in line with that of the Church or am I wrong?
In my research into Orthodoxy the view I have commonly found expressed is the following:
- War is inherently an evil.
- There are no just wars like in the Western Christian understanding.
- War must be allowed for as a necessary evil in this fallen world.
My first question would be what does evil mean in the context of war? Of course offensive war purely for conquest and subjugation are evil but I do not see how defensive war can be evil in the same sense.
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." - Revelation 12:7-9
War is not simply an earthly phenomenon but a celestial one as well. Was Michael engaging in sin by warring with the armies of Satan?
"The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name." - Exodus 15:3
Something associated with God, I would think, should not be considered evil for God is not evil.
"Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:" - Psalm 144:1
The prophet king David also acknowledged God as his teacher in war, and throughout his life David is sanctioned and protected by God in war.
There are innumerable other passages from Scripture that could be mentioned and the history of the Church has some examples, a perfect example being Constantine:
"He said, moreover, that he doubted within himself what the import of this apparition could be. And while he continued to ponder and reason on its meaning, night suddenly came on; then in his sleep the Christ of God appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in the heavens, and commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies." - Eusebius on Constantine's vision
So Jesus Himself appeared to Constantine, told him to use the sign of the cross when fighting his enemies, and then aided him throughout his wars. It cannot be denied that Constantine's victory over his enemies through war brought immeasurable good to the world, so how can his wars have been evil?
My own belief on this matter is that war done in defense of the country, the innocent, in opposition to evil or by the will of God is not a sin like unto murder or other damnable sins like sodomy, adultery, etc. Rather it is classified as a "sin" in that it is not perfection and thus not to be desired, but is necessary in this world where evil exists and must be opposed.
Is my understanding in line with that of the Church or am I wrong?