Abstract
Love and Faith at War describes the manner in which a Marine Platoon Commander relied on his faith commitments to restrain the manner in which his subordinates employed lethal violence during the November 2004 assault on Fallujah by American and Allied forces. This extended case study exemplifies how reliance on faith commitments can shape the manner in which an officer who serves in a professional military in a modern liberal democracy discharges public responsibilities. It also serves as a concrete basis for reflecting on the proper role on religious convictions in the public life of liberal polities. I argue that there is no principled objection to an officer’s making professional military decisions on the basis of religious reasons … even decisions for which that officer can discern no sufficient secular reason.
Presenters
Christopher EberleProfessor of Philosophy, United States Naval Academy, Maryland, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2023 Special Focus—Religion in the Public Sphere: From the Ancient Years to the Post-Modern Era
KEYWORDS
Religion In Politics, Just War Theory, Public Reason
