Christians and war: a brief history of the church's teachings and practices

Abstract

Definitions and assumptions -- Hebrew Scriptures : God of war and God of peace -- New Testament : Jesus and loving the enemy -- Early church : divided evidence -- Constantinian shift : the justifiable war -- Middle Ages : from just war to crusade -- Reformation : magisterial reformers -- Radical reformation : from revolution to pacifism -- Enlightenment : humanism and peace -- Twentieth century I : age of realism -- Twentieth century II : nuclear pacifism -- Postmodernity : terror and the war on terror -- Policing, human security, and the responsibility to protect -- Conclusion : some theological considerations