Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
War & Peace
When is violence justified? Every major tradition grapples with the tension between the pursuit of peace and the realities of conflict. Just war theory, Islamic rules of engagement, and Buddhist non-violence each attempt to navigate the moral landscape of armed conflict.
Across the World's Religions
Christianity
- Practice
- Just War tradition; peacemaking as blessing
- Key Text
- Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18; Ecclesiastes 3:8
Islam
- Practice
- Jihad (struggle) — rules of engagement; peace as default
- Key Text
- Quran 2:190, 8:61, 22:39-40
Judaism
- Practice
- Milchemet mitzvah (obligatory war) vs rodef shalom (pursue peace)
- Key Text
- Deuteronomy 20:10; Psalm 34:14; Isaiah 2:4
Hinduism
- Practice
- Dharma yuddha (righteous war) — Arjuna's dilemma
- Key Text
- Bhagavad Gita 2:31-38; 11:32-34
Buddhism
- Practice
- Ahimsa (non-violence); war fundamentally incompatible with Dhamma
- Key Text
- Dhammapada 201; SN 3.15 (Sangama Sutta)