When is war justified

The just war theory dates back to Cicero and has been reiterated by the Catholic Church. Since the reason for going to war needs to be just, wars cannot be fought solely for recapturing things or punishing people. Innocent life must be in imminent danger and intervention must be to protect life. In 1993 the US Catholic Conference said: "Force may be used only to correct a grave, public evil, i.e., aggression or massive violation of the basic human rights of whole populations." (Source: Wikipedia)

This is similar to the Nephite justification for going to war described in Alma 43.  Their reason for going to war was solely defense.  In this case they were also defending the people of Ammon who, for religious reasons, would not take up arms. In addition to defense, they would also go to war to free themselves or others from bondage (a massive violation of human rights of whole populations).


45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.

46 And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.

47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.

Picture: Last Battle, http://plainbookofmormon.com/Alma.htm