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Gordon Zahn - James Johnson, 1973

 Item — Box: CZHN 4
Identifier: CZHN 4/05617

Dates

  • Creation: 1973

Language of Materials

English.

General

Documents. Rutgers University, contributor to WORLDVIEW ~ "Modern-War Pacifism and the Just War Idea: A Response to Gordon Zahn" by Johnson, and "Rejoiner" by Zahn. ~ Johnson's written response to a previous article of Gordon's with Gordon's written reply to Johnson. A note from the editor of WORLDVIEW is attached asking Gordon to write a reply to Johnson so that they can both be published in WORLDVIEW. A short note from Gordon is attached as well, accompanying his reply. ~ Johnson disputes Zahn's claims, saying that the modern-war pacifist avoids responsibility for himself by his advance judgment that war today is immoral and removes himself from the political process where force is often necessary to produce or maintain right. He claims that Gordon shows misunderstanding of what is possible in regard to limiting war by just war constraints by misunderstanding the nature and scope of just war doctrine and the nature of international law on war. Gordon responds by maintaining that modern war and everything that accompanies it is incompatible with Christianity. He says that Johnson settles for too little if he can be satisfied with a fatalist acceptance of war as a fact of life with the mere hope that some of them can serve the ends of justice, order and peace. Gordon contends that all wars, by definition, are the antithesis of peace and create disorder and injustice. ~ Gordon's letter is dated 10/22

Genre / Form

Repository Details

Part of the University of Notre Dame Archives Repository

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