70:, a Christian scholar, agreed with this accusation, but suggested that Christians serve their communities in different ways. The main reason for this was that Christianity was seen as a religion of love and peace; therefore war and killing was seen as being in opposition to a Christian life. However, other aspects of army life, such as arresting Christians and taking part in mandatory pagan practices and sacrifices, would also have been at odds with Christianity. Origen believed in the idea of a "just war", but also believed that Christians could not be part of military warfare.
209:. Calvin's beliefs included the Just War tradition and the idea that war was justified as a means of preserving the peace. Zwingli was originally a chaplain in the Swiss Mercenary Army and his experiences there led to him championing the case against mercenaries. However, he did support the use of the military in 'holy war' to forcibly convert others to his own denomination of Christianity and he died in battle.
243:, the Quakers' Yearly Meeting stated "We must continue to offer strenuous opposition to the establishment in any part of the British Empire of a system of compulsory military training.": however, after the war began, about 30% of members enlisted. There were several conscientious objects among the Quakers, including seven who died in England during the war. During the war a
77:
asked if it was possible for a
Christian to "ask a watchword from the emperor who has already received one from God", as well as noting that Jesus had taught that "he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword"; however he did believe that Christians should be loyal citizens and pray for their
1205:
450:
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of
Constantine, brought a halt to religious persecution of Christians and after some time, some Christians began to look at the military as a possible career. It has been suggested that this would later underpin the enforcement of uniform religious belief.
238:
were allowed to pay £10 (approximately £2300 in 2023) to nominate a substitute to take their place. A number of
Quakers objected to both these options and were imprisoned; this continued for several decades. In the lead-up to
137:
The
Orthodox Church took the view that it was better to change the soul of the enemy rather than to kill them; however, they also saw an obligation to defend against a threat, and as such saw war as a lesser, necessary evil.
305:
Many denominations will see the choice of carrying out military service as being a personal and individual one. Some churches will ask their members to review the state of their country before agreeing to join its military.
133:
took Romans 13:4 as a basis for each
Christian to decide for themselves if they wished to join an army. He also noted that "No war is undertaken by a good state except on behalf of good faith or for safety"
212:
From the start of the
Reformation some groups, particularly Anabaptists, took the position of pacificism and refused to be part of politics or the military; with followers being executed for this belief.
250:
In the US, out of 2,100 people who objected to joining the war due to religious reasons, 1890 of them agreed to take on non-combative work, mainly in factories and farms. Figures such as
673:
309:
In the last few decades, many
Christians have joined military forces in countries around the world. There are a number of support groups which publicly declare their work, including
357:
In 2022, 60.% of the UK Regular Forces stated that they had a
Christian background. However, earlier statistics suggested that less than 10% of these were practising Christians.
62:
In the first centuries after the time of Jesus, some soldiers decided to follow
Christianity, but few Christians decided to join the military voluntarily. In the second century,
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in 299. However, the Roman army continued to include many
Christians, and the presence of large numbers of Christians in his army may have been a factor in the conversion of
349:
Most American military members identify as Protestant and Non Denominational Christians. In 2009, the majority of overall US veterans and WWII US veterans were Protestants.
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Christians in the Netherlands whose consciences would not allow them to join the military were exempted from military service if they paid a sum of money to the king.
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was set up and by 1916, there was a British conscience clause which allowed conscientious objectors to argue for their non-conscription in front of a tribunal.
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But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
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minister to Christians serving in the military forces of many countries. Organisations such as the Armed Forces Christian Union (UK) and
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Over the next few centuries, Christians had less reservations about joining an army, especially for a 'holy war'. In particular, the
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The separation of church and state in the US means that legally Christianity does not have a special place in the military.
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181:, who offered religious rewards of forgiveness of sins and glory in heaven to those who joined the conflict. The armed
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In the late 20th century, several Christian denominations preached a complete ban on all combatant service, including
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Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt: Geschichte und Kultur Roms im Spiegel der neueren Forschung
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Center for the Study of Bible and Violence website, article by Brandon Hurlbert dated December 7, 2020
860:
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to Christianity, theologians began to look at war and the military in detail. In the fifth century,
24:
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Quaker Council for European Affairs, 2005 report on The Right To Conscientious Objection in Europe
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There is an ongoing public debate in Christianity about the place of Christians in the military.
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In England, the Militia Act was created in 1757. Militia members were selected by ballot, but
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Officers’ Christian Fellowship website, article by Lieutenant General William K. Harrison, Jr
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155:. His ideas, based on Christian mercy, influenced rulers and military for several centuries.
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accused Christians of shirking their civic duty by refusing to serve in the army;
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Johns Hopkins University, Renaissance Quarterly, Volume 58, Number 1, Spring 2005
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Red Letter Christians website, article by Craig M Watts dated November 6, 2011
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630:. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. pp. pt. II, sec. 2, q. 40, a. 1.
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How Religious Is Our Military? Why Faith Continues To Be A Force Multiplier
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In 2023, this discussion has come to the fore in both Ukraine and Russia.
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20:
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Military Times website, article by Karen Jowers dated September 8, 2023
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Religion Unplugged website, article by Felix Corey, dated May 10, 2023
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church in the 16th century, many of them followed theologians such as
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63:
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871:
89:. This stated that all free men in the empire were to be given full
715:
Encyclopedia.com website, Protestant Christianity Biographies page
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Smithsonian Magazine website, article by Dan Jones dated July 2018
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The Metropolitan Museum Of Art website, “The Crusades (1095-1291)”
291:
47:
780:
Liberty Magazine website, article by Charles Mills, May/June 2017
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Christians and the Roman Army from Marcus Aurelius to Constantine
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Forum 18 website, article by Victoria Arnold dated July 21, 2023
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St Johhn The Evangelist Orthodox Church website, Doctrine page,
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The presence of Christians on both sides led to the unofficial
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War Resistors International website, article on Juma Nazarov
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inspired other Christians to take part in anti-war efforts.
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Muslim Population in the Military Raises Difficult Issues
453:
The Rejection of Military Service by the Early Christians
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960:
Center On Conscience And War website, Greek Orthodox
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John Calvin and the Logic of Armed Resistance, Pt. 2
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Christians against military service in Roman legions
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Center On Conscience And War website, Presbyterians
872:Christadelphian Military Service Committee website
497:The Edinburgh Companion to Ancient Greece and Rome
753:The Pacifism of the Sixteenth Century Anabaptists
739:The Theology of the Reformers and the Anabaptists
691:The Pacifism of the Sixteenth Century Anabaptists
177:against the enemies of God and were supported by
173:were initiated as a necessary war to reclaim the
519:. Oxford University Press. pp. 20, 66, 71.
338:(US) are made up of Christians in the military.
1182:Gaylaw: Challenging the Apartheid of the Closet
1083:Teens Q&As, Christians and Military Service
641:Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Just War"
949:Center On Conscience And War website, Baptists
1208:UK armed forces biannual diversity statistics
1117:Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website
905:CNE News website, article dated June 29, 2022
798:'Our Quaker Dead’: A Forgotten Quaker History
545:, in Hildegard Temporini and Wolfgang Haase,
325:, which has several groups around the world.
8:
516:The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium
737:Third Millennium website, Dr Jack L Arnold
1185:. Harvard University Press. 30 June 2009.
1004:Military Ministries International website
769:Jama Network, article dated May 15, 2018
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1157:Dreazen, Yochi J. (November 9, 2009).
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612:The Orthodox Church’s Teachings on War
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421:Bible Gateway website, Matthew 8:5-13
7:
1236:"Memorials of Captain Hedley Vicars"
861:JW.org official website, FAQ section
513:Kaldellis, Anthony (November 2023).
432:
430:
428:
495:Richard Lim, "Late Antiquity," in
35:were Christians who were soldiers.
1106:US Air Force website, Careers page
971:Orthodox Church Of America website
824:"Ben Salmon and the Army of Peace"
485:Bible Gateway, Matthew 26 verse 52
377:Christian soldier (disambiguation)
14:
1015:Defence Christian Network website
586:"Cicero's Philosophy of Just War"
315:Military Ministries International
822:Dear, John (February 23, 2010).
751:JStor website, Harold S Bender,
689:JStor website, Harold S Bender,
392:New Testament military metaphors
193:When large groups of Christians
93:. This, combined with the later
85:was issued by the Roman emperor
23:since after the death of Jesus,
185:was a set up during this time.
121:Christianity and the "Just War"
336:Officers' Christian Fellowship
107:purge Christians from the army
1:
1081:Focus On The Family website,
993:UK Charity Commission website
582:City of God, 22.6, quoted in
473:Christians and the Roman Army
323:Military Christian Fellowship
311:Armed Forces' Christian Union
796:Liverpool University Press,
674:Political Theology website,
569:Bible Gateway, Romans 13:4,
183:Order of the Knights Templar
551:, Walter de Gruyter, 1979,
471:Ancient Rome Live website,
353:Religion in the UK military
342:Religion in The US military
290:such as Mennonites and the
265:, commemorated in the film
145:set out the criteria for a
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829:National Catholic Reporter
501:Edinburgh University Press
245:No-Conscription Fellowship
220:
162:
38:Other Christians, such as
372:Christianity and violence
319:Defence Christian Network
19:have been present in the
1169:– via www.wsj.com.
1140:"First Liberty website,
105:, attempts were made to
1206:UK government website,
800:, dated January 6, 2019
217:Conscientious objectors
83:Constitutio Antoniniana
44:conscientious objectors
1159:"Wall Street Journal,
726:Reformed Forum website
276:Seventh-day Adventists
223:Conscientious objector
1048:MCF Singapore website
1026:MCF Australia website
850:Adventists in Uniform
678:, dated July 20, 2014
141:In the 13th century,
73:In the third century
46:, believing that the
40:Maximilian of Tebessa
811:Imperial War Museums
584:Lockwood, Thornton.
125:After Constantine's
1167:Wall Street Journal
437:Imperium Romanium,
280:Jehovah's Witnesses
25:Marinus of Caesarea
1251:Military personnel
332:Military chaplains
101:Under the Emperor
58:Early Christianity
52:Christian pacifism
29:Julius the Veteran
624:Aquinas, Thomas.
526:978-0-19-754935-3
455:by Edward A. Ryan
91:Roman citizenship
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755:, page 122
693:, page 121
590:PhilArchive
288:Anabaptists
268:Joyeux Noël
263:World War I
203:John Calvin
1037:MCF Canada
408:References
252:Ben Salmon
127:conversion
103:Diocletian
95:conversion
75:Tertullian
50:supported
17:Christians
382:Janissary
229:Mennonite
175:Holy Land
87:Caracalla
78:emperor.
1245:Category
361:See also
227:In 1575
171:Crusades
159:Holy war
147:just war
21:military
595:28 July
236:Quakers
207:Zwingli
149:in the
42:, were
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555:
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68:Origen
64:Celsus
292:Amish
48:Bible
1187:ISBN
837:2023
597:2023
553:ISBN
521:ISBN
321:and
282:and
205:and
197:the
261:of
241:WWI
113:to
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786:^
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461:^
427:^
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271:.
117:.
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27:,
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1144:"
839:.
599:.
529:.
499:(
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