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Primitive Christianity Revived, Again

Was World War II a Good War?

One of the difficulties with maintaining a commitment to the Peace Testimony is the elevation of W.W. II to the status of a ‘Good War’. The idea is that W.W. II is an exception; other wars may be awful, unnecessary, or even evil, but W.W. II is considered to be an example of a necessary and even a virtuous war. The impact of this view is that the same kind of logic is carried over to contemporary conflicts so that the U.S. attack on Iraq under Bush II was done for righteous and ‘moral’ reasons. Similarly, Obama’s attack on Libya was done for ‘moral’ reasons. The line of argument is that we are always just about to enter into another situation similar to W.W. II, and we cannot sit on the sidelines. We must ‘do something’.

Unfortunately, many Quakers have accepted this kind of analysis. This has been going on for a long time: there are even examples, significant ones, of Quakers who supported the U.S. entering W.W. I. In hindsight this can only be seen as excruciatingly embarrassing. Just as embarrassing are those Quakers who have supported Obama’s military aggressions.

What if W.W. II was not a ‘Good War’? What if W.W. II is not an example of a ‘necessary war’? Recently I have seen two online posts raising this kind of question. The first was posted at ‘Thinking Pacifism’ and announces a new book by Ted Grimsrud, a Mennonite author and scholar. The book focuses on W.W. II, both its conduct and its legacy. You can find his announcement here:

http://thinkingpacifism.net/2014/12/03/a-new-book-on-world-war-iis-...

The second post is a recent thought piece published in The Guardian which you can find here:

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2014/dec/09/-sp-myth-of-the-good-wa...

Both of these posts raise questions and make observations that, I feel, are significant, particularly for those of us who regard the Peace Testimony as central to Quaker Faith and Practice. Perhaps you will also find them insightful.

Best wishes,

Jim

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Comment by Jim Wilson on 12th mo. 24, 2014 at 11:22am: Good Morning:

It is Christmas Eve. I work retail and have been very busy at the store; as is typical of this season. Today promises to be very busy as well. But I thought I would take a moment to make a comment or two:

Michael: I am enjoying reading your essay 'Christian Pacifism'. I think it speaks eloquently and to the point.

The basic division I am observing is between those that have the view that we must 'do something' and those who do not use that rhetoric. As Michael observes, praying and forms of service, such as assisting the wounded, are 'doing something'. When critics of pacifism argue that they have to do something, what they are saying is that 'we' have to do what they have decided is the correct course. Those who do not take this course are 'doing nothing'.

But I would like to add that 'doing nothing', in the sense of stepping aside and letting things take their course, is sometimes the wisest thing to do (if that makes sense). For example, when friends are getting divorced, my observation has been that it is the best course, usually, to not take sides, to let what is happening run its course. On a more political level, the U.S. would have been much better off if it had let W.W. I well enough alone; if it had let that European War simply run its course. Engaging in that conflict only exacerbated the bloodshed, extending the duration of the slaughter. In my opinion, there are many examples like this, where simply stepping aside, or 'doing nothing', is, in fact, the best option.

Underneath this discussion I observe two things: First, a lack of faith in the goodness of God. By lack of faith I mean a basic lack of trust. This is understandable; as someone who lacked trust in God for a long time, I understand why people feel that way. Nevertheless, I think it worthwhile to point out this view. The second thing is a kind of idolatry, where the state is raised above God and is put in the position of the ultimate. The demands of the state are taken as superseding those of religion, and specifically those of Christ. At times, the idolatry of the state merges State and Christ so that Christianity is transformed into a completely civil religion.

Laura: Like you, I am doubtful regarding Augustine and his Just War Theory. I have sometimes asked if the Just War Theory has ever been effectively used to deflect a nation away from war? There might be some examples, but I have not run across any. From my reading it appears that Just War Theory is always used in the service of conducting a war; that is to say Just War Theory is used as a prop for waging war rather than as a critique of same. I could be wrong about this; I would like to be wrong. But so far my studies lead me to that conclusion.

On this Christmas Eve I wish everyone at Quakerquaker peace and serenity in their walk with Christ.

Comment by Laura Scattergood on 12th mo. 24, 2014 at 11:43am: Thanks Jim for taking the time on a busy work day. Thank you for asking the painful question I must visit again and again and reminding us to reject the glib answers. I often wonder, when Rufus Jones and his companions went to confront Hitler, what was the plan they wanted to propose? Myself and others have posted the video the school kids made about that on this website, but I haven't yet found that answer. I have to say, that wasn't doing nothing. And really, every Fourth of July I remind people that I am a Loyalist to their bewilderment. Or perhaps I would have been called one in those days. Since my earliest days before I became a Quaker I was taught to worship the state, and to sing religious songs about the Revolutionary War against England. War has always been the default mode, was it even necessary to form this country and rebel against England anyway? And since then nothing but violence and bloodshed , rockets red glare, etc. Like Jim says, I need to remember my orientation is not the glory of the state.

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