The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1192 page)

 
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Just war
.

The belief that war is in some circumstances just, and that it must be conducted in ways limited by what is right. The two aspects of the Just War theory are called
ius ad bellum
and
ius in bello
. The classic form of the Christian theory, which had been consolidated by the time of the
Reformation
, stated that
ius ad bellum
requires that there is

(i) a just cause (of which three were recognized, to regain something wrongfully taken, to punish evil, and in defence against planned or actual aggression);
(ii) a right authority initiating the war;
(iii) a right intention on the part of those engaged;
(iv) a proportional use of force, relevant to the issue and not doing more harm than good; and that the war should be undertaken
(v) as a last resort,
(vi) with the purpose of peace, and
(vii) with a reasonable hope of success.
Ius in bello
limits warfare by the requirements of proportionality of means and discrimination of objects—often translated into noncombatant immunity

.
In other religions, war can be regarded as ‘just’ (or at least as justifiable), but the criteria vary. In Islam and among Sikhs, the criteria are formal: see
JIH
D
;
DHARAM YUDH
. In Indian-based religions, there is an overriding consideration of ahi
s
(non-violence). Nevertheless, in the long cycles of rebirth, there will always be those whose obligation (
dharma
) it is to undertake warfare in certain circumstances (especially those of defence). This is the classic argument of
K
a
to Arjuna in the
Bhagavad-g
t
(it must clearly be the dharma of a
k
atriya
to act as a warrior); but it is also found in Buddhism and among Jains. There is no religion in which the propriety of war in some circumstances is not admitted.

 
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