Attitudes of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Toward Nuclear Weapons

Abstract:

In reviewing Jewish, Christian, and Islamic perspectives on nuclear weapons we find that there is a broad consensus that the use of nuclear weapons would be morally wrong because of the harm to large numbers of non-combatants and the environment. However, a small minority believes that limited nuclear war might be acceptable as a final measure for national defense, and some in the faith community believe that nuclear war would be acceptable as an eschatological event prior to the final Day of Judgment and commencement of a messianic age. Among the three faiths there has been some acceptance of deployment of nuclear weapons as a measure of deterrence for self-defense in order to dissuade other nations from nuclear or conventional attack. However, a growing number reject nuclear deterrence because of the immorality of in effect holding civilian population hostage. Within the faith community there is widespread support for negotiation of arms control agreements and for unilateral actions to reduce nuclear arsenals.