God and War

This book takes the perspective of the ’home front’ rather than the battlefield. Presenting accounts and analysis of the views of Anglican clerics on the issue of warfare and international conflict across the century, the contributors explore the church’s stance on the causes, morality and conduct of warfare; on pacifism, obliteration bombing, retribution, forgiveness and reconciliation; on the pastoral issues conflicts give rise to; on nuclear possession and deterrence. The authors discover how far the Church influenced both public appraisal of war, and even how far Church leaders could influence government policy.