Holy War and Pacifism

At opposite ends of the spectrum of religious responses to conflict are holy war and pacifism. A holy war is a war fought for religious reasons, believed to be sanctioned by God. Pacifism is the belief that all violence and war are wrong. This lesson explores both concepts and their place in Christianity and Islam.

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Holy War

A holy war is a war fought for a religious cause or commanded by God/Allah. It is the most extreme religious justification for violence.

Christian Holy War: The Crusades

The most significant example of Christian holy war was the Crusades (1095-1291):

• Pope Urban II called for a crusade in 1095 to recapture the Holy Land (Jerusalem) from Muslim control
• Crusaders believed they were fighting on God's behalf and that their sins would be forgiven
• The Crusades involved extreme violence on both sides
• Today, most Christians reject the concept of holy war

Key Features of Holy War