Ask the Religion Experts: Is killing to defend your country justified?

[rug]

November 6, 2011 11:05 AM

Question: Is killing to defend your country justified?

Rev. RAY INNEN PARCHELO is a novice Tendai priest and founder of the Red Maple Sangha, the first lay Buddhist community in Eastern Ontario.

Ah, if life were only that simple. The range of possibilities that fit this scenario could easily include: Canadian soldiers since the War of 1812, bombings by the Taliban in Afghanistan or the U.S. in Hiroshima, government-approved slaughters of animal populations, killing lab rats in search of a cure and much more. Justified? Justified where? In a court, in public opinion, by “history,” before God?

Even within our one faith, it would be hard to find a consistent behaviour. Buddhists have stood on both sides of many lines. Japanese Zen masters endorsed their military’s ambitions in South East Asia and Vietnamese Zen masters risked their own lives to prevent warring armies from meeting.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/canada-in-afghanistan/Religion+Experts+killing+defend+your+country+justified/5665694/story.html

Five more answers at the link.

[MADem]

1. Sounds like this guy's answer is "Eye of the beholder" at the end of the day. NT

[rug]

2. Yeah. Even the Baha'i guy folded in the end.

I'm tempted to join the Mennonites.

[ZombieHorde]

5. I think he says eye of the beholder, and then he seems to be personally against it.

I think the beginning part was him saying he can't speak for all Buddhists, which is obviously true.

[Jim__]

3. What constitutes defense of your country?

I take it as a given that a person has the right to kill in self-defense. Killing in defense of your country is an extension of that right - killing attacking soldiers. But what about bombing cities? Suppose there is compelling evidence that by bombing a city and killing innocent civilians you can reduce the net amount of killing in the war. Is this killing of innocents justified?

[rug]

4. That's exactly the question, Jim.

This article answers the question from six faiths. All of them say it's legitimate, albeit in different circumstances.