an to develop justifications for the use of force which would eventually take shape over time as just war theory.(11) The first major Christian theologian to address himself to the task of determining the circumstances under which war is legitimate was St. Augustine of Hippo.(12) Augustine held that "[t]he natural order, which is suited to the peace of moral things, requires that the authority and deliberation for undertaking war be under the control of a leader."(13) For Augustine, war is a permissible part of the life of a nation, and the power of prosecuting a war was part of the natural powers of a monarch, ordained to uphold peace.(14) War, far from being something which Christians should shun, is part of the life of a nation, ordained by natural law, a law which according to the New Testament is ordained by God. Augustine's conception of the just war did not create a carte blanche for bloodshed.(15) In formulating his ideas on war, St. Augustine was careful to state the purposes for which war may be fought, and the procedural means which must be satisfied in order for a war to be just. "For it makes a great difference," he wrote, "by which causes and under which authorities men undertake the wars that must be waged."(16) For Augustine, for a war to be just, it must be fought for the right reasons, and it must be waged under rightful authority.(17) Augustine held that the only reason which justified war was the desire for peace. "Peace is not sought in order to provide war, but war is waged in order to attain peace."(18) Augustine criticises other motives for war, such as "the desire for harming, the cruelty of revenge, the restless and implacable mind, the savageness of revolting, the lust for dominating, and similar things,"(19) and refers to them as things which are "justly blamed in wars."(20) In fighting a war, the goal must be to do that which is necessary to obtain peace; "let necessity slay the warring foe, not your will."(...
