(Part 2 of 2)
In my first post on this topic (Nobel Theology – Pursuing Peace in a Time of War), I began to explore the religious underpinnings beneath President Obama’s “just war” theory. Now I’d like to dig a bit deeper to examine how the emerging “Obama Doctrine” supports continued military action in Afghanistan.
The Roots of Christian Realism
As mentioned previously, the Lutheran theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr is considered a “Christian realist” because he advocates a “just” use of violent force. The “realism” is derived from his premise that human evil exists, and that people and governments must understand and deal with this fact.
In this regard, Niebuhr agrees with a long line of Christian theologians, including St. Augustine and St. Paul, who see human nature as somehow “fallen” and corrupted. Fundamentally, instead of wanting to love and serve God and neighbor, we tend to prefer serving ourselves and using others. At its extreme, this theory replaces God with Self – we become the center of our own universe, and fall into the same trap as the Bible’s Lucifer (later known as Satan).
A Constitutional Connection
Long story short – Niebuhr’s understanding of human nature corresponds with James Madison, who helped draft the U.S. Constitution. Madison believed that, because every human being is primarily motivated by self-interest (rather than naturally putting the interests of others first, as St. Paul urges Christians to do), only competing self-interests can limit government’s power.
Competing self-interests tend to keep any particular person or organization from accumulating power – thus minimizing its ability to do harm or evil. If we view individuals as inherently selfish, then government (which exists to protect us from the selfish actions of others) must also be limited, to avoid wide-spread abuses.
Obama applies this concept to a larger stage – urging the United Nations to play an active role in keeping peace. This would create global checks-and-balances, similar to the core concepts beneath our democracy. Again, this framework is derived from the premise that humans being flawed and weak – susceptible to abuses of power and privilege.
Getting Real While Getting Beyond Evil
If human history proved this theory to be 100% accurate, we’d all have cause to be cynical. However, there are exceptions to this rule. It seems humanity has progressed in terms of how we treat each other, and allow our fellow humans to be treated.
Mr. Obama noted this. And to me, it’s what makes his speech inspiring. This is what moves the “Obama Doctrine” from simple Christian realism to a more enlightened realism. As he said, “…we do not have to think that human nature is perfect for us to still believe that the human condition can be perfected. We do not have to live in an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better place.”
War = Progress?
While we see in human history that war always causes suffering, and innocent people often die, ironically, war also has the capacity to advance human rights. The American Revolution gave birth to the separation of church and state as a “best practice” in governance. Before this, religious tolerance was almost non-existent. Only a century earlier, Oliver Cromwell ruled England as a virtual theocrat, and the Pope routinely interfered in affairs of state throughout Europe.
Leo Tolstoy seemed to recognize the function of war in advancing human progress. His magnum opus, “War and Peace,” outlines his philosophical understanding that fate or destiny always marches humanity forward – toward some greater end – even during or after times of war. In Tolstoy’s view, progress is both positive and inevitable.
I applaud President Obama’s search to use military might and power to defend what is right against evil. Because, while believe there will always be evil in the world, I also believe we have progressed – and will continue to progress – toward a better world for ourselves and others.
And, as a soldier who has seen up close the need for Afghans to find a better quality of life, I believe it is our moral responsibility to help them move toward this goal.
As our President aptly said in accepting the prize for advancing world peace, “Let us reach for the world that ought to be – that spark of the divine that still stirs within each of our souls.”
Amen
Jeff
(To discover what it’s like for U.S. troops who are helping Afghan people achieve peace for their country, I invite you to read my book, “AFGHAN JOURNAL: A Soldier’s Year in Afghanistan.” Learn more at the Afghan Journal website. Or order it at Amazon.com.)
