Religion and Ethics Newsletter

Following is a brief outline of the stories Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly will be covering this week. Stories are updated on the Web site every Friday evening. Visit us on the Web at: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics for the full Web companion piece, including the Religious Calendar, weekly polls, our Site of the Month, and much more.

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Cover Story: Ethics of War

The Rules of War, describing the international laws of armed conflict and incorporated into the 1949 Geneva Conventions, actually go back at least 1,500 years to St. Augustine. Although commanding generals have considered these laws during warfare, the current war with Iraq is no exception to the disputes that arise as to which countries are in violation.

Lucky Severson talks with Dr. James Turner Johnson, religion professor at Rutgers University and co-editor of the Journal of Military Ethics, and Dr. Louay Safi, a scholar at the International Institute of Islamic Thought, about their views on the military conduct in the war with Iraq and what Islamic law teaches about this subject. Dr. Johnson asserts that Iraqi soldiers have been using unconventional tactics to deceive: “To come out under a white flag or come out dressed as civilians with your weapons hidden, these are both illegitimate means of destruction…” According to Dr. Safi, who is a critic of the war, but believes American forces have been careful to avoid civilian quarters, states that targeting civilians is against the Koran: “You can not use a human as a means to protect soldiers, that’s a human shield, and you can’t target civilians, these are very clear rules.”

Click on the following to read more about the ethics of war: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/transcripts/322.html

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week632/cover.html

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Feature: Prayer During War

The war with Iraq has produced a vast amount of prayer around the country — in private, small groups, in worship services and on the Internet. Two people who both study prayer and practice it are Carol Zaleski, a professor of religion at Smith College and her husband, Philip Zaleski, a religion writer and editor.

Host Bob Abernethy talks with the Zaleski’s to explore the importance of prayer during wartime and how it is being used differently in the war with Iraq. Ms. Zaleski says that “what prayer does for people in times of war… provides that kind of shield, that kind of enveloping warmth and releases hope.” Mr. Zaleski notes that prayers during the current war with Iraq are “an extraordinary thing which I’ve never seen before… in reports of past wars.” He comments that American soldiers are praying for themselves and for the Iraqi’s and that, “for us to really win… we have to win by winning the hearts of the people… even loving the people, which includes loving our enemies.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week632/feature.html