Religion, War, and Ethics
A Sourcebook of Textual Traditions

Religion, War, and Ethics is a collection of primary sources from the world's major religions on the ethics of war. Each chapter brings together annotated texts – scriptural, theological, ethical, and legal – from a variety of historical periods that reflect each tradition's response to perennial questions about the nature of war: When, if ever, is recourse to arms morally justifiable? What moral constraints should apply to military conduct? Can a lasting earthly peace be achieved? Are there sacred reasons for waging war, and special rewards for those who do the fighting? The religions covered include Sunni and Shiite Islam; Judaism; Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant Christianity; Theravada Buddhism; East Asian religious traditions (Confucianism, Shinto, Japanese and Korean Buddhism); Hinduism; and Sikhism. Each section is compiled by a specialist, recognized within his or her respective religious tradition, who has also written a commentary on the historical and textual context of the passages selected.

Reviews & endorsements

"The breadth of textual sources alone is impressive - a majority of each chapter contains primary and secondary source material that lays the foundation for modern understandings. However, it is also the scope and depth of the resources that makes this collection of great import."
Christian M. Cintron, Religious Studies Review

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Product details

• Date Published: June 2014
• format: Paperback
• isbn: 9780521738279
• length: 753 pages

• dimensions: 252 x 178 x 45 mm
• weight: 1.57kg
• availability: In stock