This past Tuesday, students held a provocative forum at the Hut. The Hut was warm and cozy, the couches extremely inviting: an environment that welcomed questioning Christians and non-Christians alike. Kevin Matthews, chaplain of St. Mary’s House asked these questions: “Should Christians be pacifists? What does just war theory say and where did it come from? Can Christians declare a holy war?”
The United States’ involvement in World War II was discussed.
The group questioned the ethics of the church and compared them with those of the Bible in an attempt to define what a just war is.
The Episcopal church defines just war as, “a theory that some wars are just, or at least justifiable, and that justifiable wars merit full Christian support and participation.”
According to the Episcopal church, reason shows that war is evil, but also that sometimes self-defense is required.
Matthews presented the questions, asking for suggestions that affirmed or contradicted the idea that there could ever be a just war. Most of the students who participated were there to learn and present their points of view, while two students participated in these conversations as an alternative to conventional confirmation classes.
“We welcome our fellow students to join this conversation regardless of their faith,” said senior Peter Gott. “Our goal does not include converting students to any faith; rather it is to gain awareness of the theories and ideology of the church. Keep in mind, for millennia the Catholic Church defined our culture, and in many ways our foundation was shaped by the ideas we are discussing. Defining just war and its inconsistencies are planting seeds of knowledge.”
Those who attended the meeting did not profess to have the answers. They said that some of the theories are sound and that they considered the Bible as a point of reference, and that other examples of war did not fit the definition of a just war.
When conversation turned to a world with nuclear warheads, the group wrestled with the idea that a just war could ever exist by their church’s doctrine.
“The Cold War may have been the only justified war,” said first-year Taylor Seitz.
Next week they plan to discuss the issue in more depth.
“I’m not sure that my peers at Guilford know what ‘just war’ means,” said Gott, “In fact, I’m just learning its definition and use, which is why we are all here participating in the ongoing discussion.”
Gott said that he would like to see more Guilford student involvement with these weekly conversations coordinated by St. Mary’s House Episcopal Campus Ministry, which serves Greensboro colleges.
The group welcomes people of every sexual orientation, gender and race, and encourages the participation of individuals of all political parties and positions in life.
These conversions take place every Tuesday night from 8 to 9 p.m. at the Hut. Everyone is welcome.