Abstract

This research has 3 objectives, namely :-

1.         To analyse The Concept of Just War in the context of Christian Ethics.

2.         To analyse The Concept of Just War in the context of Theravad Buddhist Ethics

3.         To synthesize The Concept of Just War based on Religion Ethics

    For objective one, it is found that in the Bible all instructions can be strict, advisory, or contradictory. As for “killing”, it is deemed to be absolute forbidden ethically. However, in certain cases of killing, like the killing to defend innocent people, different interpretations are allowed. The judgment of right or wrong on this subject must follow the Graded Absolutism ethical principle which holds that

1.         There is good or evil which is an absolute morality.

2.         Since there is evil in this world, sometimes we have to do the lesser evil to avoid greater sin.

3.         God allows many levels of goodness, therefore when using The Concept of Just War to explain absolute morality, it is found that to conduct Just War is to preserve society’s goodness and justice is to prevent more damage such as in the case of the loss of lives of innocent people or the loss of sovereignty etc.

          Result for the second objective finds that Theravad Buddhism does not support war, because the religion is separated from the state. However, it does not refuse the concept of Just War either. If judge straight forwardly according to Buddhist Ethics, it is found that war is wrong, because there is killing involved which is against Panatibat, the first rule of the Five Precept, right action or Kusolgammabot concerning the topic of not harming the physical body of other, and the Noble Eight fold Path in Samma Gammata. In any case it can be explained in another way that it is righteous to go to war from the viewpoint of intention and from the necessity of duty. The intention involved must not be evil and is done motivated by duty bound and not by personal anger.

    For objective three, if synthesized from Just War Theory on the principles of religion ethics it can be concluded that there are 7 principles, as the following.

1.         One party cannot start war in spite of receiving information that it will be attacked. It can only do so only if the aggression is really obvious.

2.         If ordered by the superior to do any action which are against the rules of war based on Religion Ethics, the follower must perform duty according to the respect for ethical principles more than the commanding order.

3.         One Party must have pure the intention to defend itself and avoid chasing after the enemy or for  victory.

4.         If there will be killing in war it must be to kill because of duty. To kill because of personal intension is forbidden.

5.         One Party can only defend itself and to chase out the enemies. It cannot seize property, sovereignty or populations of the other side for one’s own gain.

6.         War duty is to be performed by the military and not by the general public, because the general public must not go to war for personal vengeances.

7.         There must be announcement for the levels of wars including all measures involved  for everybody concerned.

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