Christianity and War by Laurence M. Vance

"Or, as the historian and economist, Murray Rothbard (1926–1995), said, in making his case that America has only had two just wars (1776 & 1861), 'A just war exists when a people tries to ward off the threat of coercive domination by another people, or to overthrow an already-existing domination. A war is unjust, on the other hand, when a people try to impose domination on another people, or try to retain an already existing coercive rule over them.'

"The fact that a government claims a war is just is irrelevant, for American history is replete with examples of American presidents who have exaggerated, misinformed, misrepresented, and lied to deceive the American people into supporting wars that they would not have supported if they had known the facts.

"Veritatis Amans, in his 1847 article 'Can War, Under Any Circumstances, Be Justified on the Principles of the Christian Religion?', wrote: 'But under what circumstances is war truly defensive? We reply, when its object is to repel an invasion; when there is no alternative but to submit to bondage and death, or to resist.'

"George Washington: 'The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible.' Thomas Jefferson: 'Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations – entangling alliances with none.' John Quincy Adams: 'America . . . goes not abroad seeking monsters to destroy.'

"So the War on Terrorism, like the War on Poverty and the War on Drugs, is in so many ways just a tragic joke. But why Christians support any of these bogus 'wars' is an even greater tragedy."

Christianity and War by Laurence M. Vance