Lecuture Presented on Thursday September 28, 2006
You are cordially invited to the John Jay Institute's lecture
Just War in an Age of Terrorism
by Keith Pavlischek, Ph.D.
Colonel, United States Marine Corps
Synopsis
In these early days of what is proving to be a long war against Islamic extremism, it is most needful for Christians to reconsider and reclaim the ancient and received Christian teaching on the nature and obligations of political authority and the moral and legitimate use of force. Confessional Christians and evangelicals in particular, must recover what the doctors of the Church have taught through the centuries as reflected in the just war tradition. Attempts at reclaiming the classic just war tradition, however, confront two major obstacles, which are reflected in two dominant trends in modern American evangelicalism: apocalyptic messianism and modern pacifism. The former is most influential among evangelicals in many non-denominational churches and para-church organizations. While the latter has broad appeal among evangelical academics, publishers, and public policy workers, they both share a common rejection of the classic just war tradition. The result at its best is moral confusion and political absurdity. Drawing upon recent examples in the war between Israel and Hezbollah Dr. Keith Pavlischek will show how the classic just war tradition can provide moral clarity in the terrorist age. Dr. Pavlischek is an intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and has been serving on active duty since shortly after 9/11. He is currently assigned to the Pentagon.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
7:00 pm
In the Great Hall of Grace Church and St. Stephen's Parish
601 N. Tejon Street
Colorado Springs, Colorado
A reception for Colonel Pavlischek will follow the lecture.
Please R.S.V.P. by September 18, 2006 to Mrs. Maeta Emmons at Telephone: (719)471-8900 or email: memmons@johnjayinstitute.org
