Do Christian Scientists believe in war?
Christian Scientists look to the Bible for their authority in all affairs, divine and human. If the Bible teaches that war is a divine institution, Christian Scientists should feel themselves obliged to regard it as such. Literally interpreted the Scriptures bear abundant evidence that war is of divine intent. In its historically literal import a great part of the Old Testament is devoted to recitals of wars of the most bloody and savage character. The slaying of thousands and tens of thousands, by means which would be ruled out of modern warfare as too inhuman and barbarous to be tolerated, would seem to have been but an ancient pastime, if we may judge from the nonchalant manner of their recitals. The spilling of human blood and destruction of human life, were matters of small significance in the minds of the biblical writers, if their language is to be literally construed. The only effective manner of ridding themselves of an enemy, according to the literal record of the ancients, was to annihilate that enemy by fire and sword and other warlike methods. Extermination rather than reformation seems to have been the order.
It is evident that Moses and the children of Israel were firm believers in the divinity of war. In Exodus 15 we read that they broke forth into song unto the Lord for joy because of their victory over the hosts of Pharaoh. This was the tenor of their song:—
