The Morality of Self-Defense and Military Action: The Judeo-Christian Tradition
Shedding new light on a controversial and intriguing issue, this book will reshape the debate on how the Judeo-Christian tradition views the morality of personal and national self-defense.

Are self-defense, national warfare, and revolts against tyranny holy duties—or violations of God's will? Pacifists insist these actions are the latter, forbidden by Judeo-Christian morality. This book maintains that the pacifists are wrong. To make his case, the author analyzes the full sweep of Judeo-Christian history from earliest times to the present, combining history, scriptural analysis, and philosophy to describe the changes and continuity of Jewish and Christian doctrine about the use of lethal force. He reveals the shifting patterns of thought in both religions and presents the strongest arguments on both sides of the issue.

The book begins with the ancient Hebrews and Genesis and covers Jewish history through the Holocaust and beyond. The analysis then shifts to the story of Christianity from its origins, through the Middle Ages and the Reformation, up the present day. Based on this scrutiny, the author concludes that—contrary to popular belief—the legitimacy of self-defense is strongly supported by Judeo-Christian scripture and commentary, by philosophical analysis, and by the respect for human dignity and human rights on which both Judaism and Christianity are based.
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The Morality of Self-Defense and Military Action: The Judeo-Christian Tradition
Shedding new light on a controversial and intriguing issue, this book will reshape the debate on how the Judeo-Christian tradition views the morality of personal and national self-defense.

Are self-defense, national warfare, and revolts against tyranny holy duties—or violations of God's will? Pacifists insist these actions are the latter, forbidden by Judeo-Christian morality. This book maintains that the pacifists are wrong. To make his case, the author analyzes the full sweep of Judeo-Christian history from earliest times to the present, combining history, scriptural analysis, and philosophy to describe the changes and continuity of Jewish and Christian doctrine about the use of lethal force. He reveals the shifting patterns of thought in both religions and presents the strongest arguments on both sides of the issue.

The book begins with the ancient Hebrews and Genesis and covers Jewish history through the Holocaust and beyond. The analysis then shifts to the story of Christianity from its origins, through the Middle Ages and the Reformation, up the present day. Based on this scrutiny, the author concludes that—contrary to popular belief—the legitimacy of self-defense is strongly supported by Judeo-Christian scripture and commentary, by philosophical analysis, and by the respect for human dignity and human rights on which both Judaism and Christianity are based.
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The Morality of Self-Defense and Military Action: The Judeo-Christian Tradition

The Morality of Self-Defense and Military Action: The Judeo-Christian Tradition

by David B. Kopel
The Morality of Self-Defense and Military Action: The Judeo-Christian Tradition

The Morality of Self-Defense and Military Action: The Judeo-Christian Tradition

by David B. Kopel

eBook

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Overview

Shedding new light on a controversial and intriguing issue, this book will reshape the debate on how the Judeo-Christian tradition views the morality of personal and national self-defense.

Are self-defense, national warfare, and revolts against tyranny holy duties—or violations of God's will? Pacifists insist these actions are the latter, forbidden by Judeo-Christian morality. This book maintains that the pacifists are wrong. To make his case, the author analyzes the full sweep of Judeo-Christian history from earliest times to the present, combining history, scriptural analysis, and philosophy to describe the changes and continuity of Jewish and Christian doctrine about the use of lethal force. He reveals the shifting patterns of thought in both religions and presents the strongest arguments on both sides of the issue.

The book begins with the ancient Hebrews and Genesis and covers Jewish history through the Holocaust and beyond. The analysis then shifts to the story of Christianity from its origins, through the Middle Ages and the Reformation, up the present day. Based on this scrutiny, the author concludes that—contrary to popular belief—the legitimacy of self-defense is strongly supported by Judeo-Christian scripture and commentary, by philosophical analysis, and by the respect for human dignity and human rights on which both Judaism and Christianity are based.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9798216119258
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: 02/16/2017
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 496
File size: 2 MB
Age Range: 7 - 17 Years

About the Author

David B. Kopel, JD, is adjunct professor of advanced constitutional law at Denver University, Sturm College of Law.
David B. Kopel, JD, is adjunct professor of advanced constitutional law at Denver University, Sturm College of Law.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
PART 1: THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE JEWS
1.The Torah
2.The Rise and Fall of the Hebrew Republic and Monarchy
3.Israel Returns
4. Psalms, Prophets, and the Problem of Violence in the Hebrew Bible
5.Diaspora to Holocaust to Israel
PART 2: THE NEW TESTAMENT TO THE PRESENT
6.The New Testament
7.From the Early Apostles to the Fall of Rome
8.The Middle Ages
9.Reformation
10.Revolutions
11.The American Revolution
12.Modern Christianity
13.Quakers: Respect for Conscience
14.Modern Pacifism
Conclusion: Defending Creation
Index
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