Holy War, Just War explores the 'dark side' in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism by examining how the concept of ultimate value contributes to religious violence. The book states that religion has within its own conceptual tools the resources to understand its own dark side and that religious people must subject their religion to a moral vision of goodness and constrain those parts that make for violence and hatred.
Lloyd Steffen is professor of religion studies at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and author of Life/Choice: The Theory of Just Abortion, and Executing Justice: The Moral Meaning of the Death Penalty.
Part 1 Life-Affirming and Demonic Religion: The OptionChapter 2 The Power and Danger of ReligionChapter 3 Being Religious: The Life-Affirming OptionChapter 4 Being Religious: The Demonic OptionPart 5 Religion and the Restraint of ViolenceChapter 6 The Pacifist OptionChapter 7 The Case of Holy War8 The Case of Just WarChapter 9 Conclusion
This is urgently relevant, present-tense theology on the power of religion to inspire either slaughter or peace. Lloyd Steffen candidly subjects religion—and even God—to deft exploratory surgery.
