Difference between revisions of "War"
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| − | # | + | [[File:Ukrainian Nazis surrender.PNG|right|400px|thumb|Two U.S. taxpayer-supported [[Ukrainian]] soldiers, the one on the left wearing Nazi [[SS Galicia Division]] insignia, and on the right Nazi SS Totenkopfverbände insignia.]] |
| + | '''War''' is a prolonged state of violent conflict between two or more states. War has been conducted for many purposes, such as the acquisition of goods, seizing enemy territory, to satisfy the honor of the [[sovereign]], eliminating a threat to the homeland, stamping out rival religious sects (see [[Religious war]]), or exporting political ideologies. Warfare between factions within a single [[state]] is called [[civil war]]. | ||
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| + | Wars have often been periods of great technological innovation as each side finds itself faced with the necessity of creating new methods of offense and defense to ensure national survival. Modern warfare has to be adaptive to the practicalities of an ever-changing battlefield. Investing in complex expensive systems that take years to perfect can limit adaptability and flexibility and lead to defeat in war. | ||
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| + | The [[American Civil War]], coming shortly after the [[Industrial revolution]] in the United States, introduced mechanized warfare to the world with accurate rifles, metal [[warship]]s, [[railway|railroad]] transportation of forces and material, and instant communication via the [[telegraph]]. | ||
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| + | [[World War I]] (1914-1918) introduced air combat, chemical warfare, [[submarine]] and tank warfare, and the large scale deployment of the [[machine gun]]. | ||
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| + | [[World War II]] (1939-1945) refined tank tactics in the form of the [[Blitzkrieg]], and introduced large-scale strategic bombing of enemy cities. The [[aircraft carrier]] took mastery of the seas. It ended with the first (and only) use of [[nuclear weapon]]s. | ||
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| + | When the [[Cold War]] began in 1947, there have been a few international wars and many civil wars with outside actors, such as the [[Vietnam War]] and the [[Korean War]]. | ||
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| + | ==Clausewitzian theory== | ||
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| + | [[Carl von Clausewitz]] was [[Prussian]] military officer during the [[Napoleonic wars]]. Clausewitz' treatise ''On War'', published posthumously, remains a fundamental study on the Art and Theory of war. | ||
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| + | Clausewitz defines war as an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will. The object is to disarm the enemy. | ||
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| + | == World War I, World War II and Darwinism == | ||
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| + | Historically, the most prominent and vocal defenders of the [[evolution|theory of evolution]] which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been atheists or [[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref name="Batten and Sarfati">Multiple references: | ||
| + | * Batten, Dr. Don (December 1997). [https://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists "A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists"]. Creation Ministries International. Originally published in ''Creation'' 20(1):32. Retrieved July 17, 2014. | ||
| + | * Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D., F.M. (1999). [https://creation.com/refuting-evolution-chapter-1-evolution-creation-science-religion-facts-bias "Chapter 1: Facts and bias", ''Refuting Evolution'']. Retrieved July 17, 2014. | ||
| + | </ref> | ||
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| + | The founder of [[Darwinism]], [[Charles Darwin]], was an [[agnosticism|agnostic]]/[[weak atheism|weak atheist]] (see: [[Religious views of Charles Darwin]]). | ||
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| + | There is historical evidence indicating that [[Darwinism]] was a causal factor for [[WWI]] and [[WWII]] (see: [[Irreligion/religion and war]] and [[World War I and Darwinism]]). | ||
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| + | == Academic studies consistently challenge link between religion and war == | ||
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| + | Academic studies and other research consistently challenge the link between religion and war.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/14/religions-war-cause-responsible-evidence_n_6156878.html Does Religion Really Cause War - And Do Atheists Have Something To Answer for?] by Louise Ridley, assistant news editor at the Huffington Post UK</ref> See: [[Irreligion/religion and war]] | ||
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| + | Louise Ridley in her article entitled ''Does Religion Really Cause War - And Do Atheists Have Something To Answer For?'': | ||
| + | {{Cquote|But academic studies consistently challenge the link between [[religion]] and war. [http://www.visionofhumanity.org/#/page/news/1085 Research published in October from the New York and Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace] looked at all of the wars that took place in 2013. It found no 'general causal relationship' between religion and conflict. | ||
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| + | In fact, religious elements played no role at all in 14 (40%) of the 35 armed conflicts in the research, and only five (14%) had religious elements as their main cause, the report showed. All of the wars had multiple causes, and the much more common motivation was opposition to a government, or to the economic, ideological, political or social systems of a state, which was named as a main factor in nearly two thirds of the cases studied. | ||
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| + | The ''Encyclopedia of Wars'', an extensive study published in 2008, chronicles 1,763 wars throughout human history. It names just 123 as 'religious in nature' – a little under 7%.}} | ||
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| + | ==Further reading== | ||
| + | * Dupuy, R. Ernest, and Trevor N. Dupuy. ''The Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500 B.C. to the Present'' (1993) | ||
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| + | ==Quotes== | ||
| + | *''God created war so [[American]]s would learn [[geography]].'' - [[Mark Twain]] | ||
| + | *''War is a racket.'' - [[Smedley Butler]] | ||
| + | *''If wars can be started by lies, they can be stopped by truth.'' [[Julian Assange]] | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Military History]] | ||
| + | * [[War crimes]] | ||
| + | * [[Bombing a civilian population]] | ||
| + | * [[Nuclear target structures]] | ||
| + | * [[List of American Wars]] | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | {{reflist|2}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Man-Made Disasters]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Threats]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:52, March 12, 2024
War is a prolonged state of violent conflict between two or more states. War has been conducted for many purposes, such as the acquisition of goods, seizing enemy territory, to satisfy the honor of the sovereign, eliminating a threat to the homeland, stamping out rival religious sects (see Religious war), or exporting political ideologies. Warfare between factions within a single state is called civil war.
Wars have often been periods of great technological innovation as each side finds itself faced with the necessity of creating new methods of offense and defense to ensure national survival. Modern warfare has to be adaptive to the practicalities of an ever-changing battlefield. Investing in complex expensive systems that take years to perfect can limit adaptability and flexibility and lead to defeat in war.
The American Civil War, coming shortly after the Industrial revolution in the United States, introduced mechanized warfare to the world with accurate rifles, metal warships, railroad transportation of forces and material, and instant communication via the telegraph.
World War I (1914-1918) introduced air combat, chemical warfare, submarine and tank warfare, and the large scale deployment of the machine gun.
World War II (1939-1945) refined tank tactics in the form of the Blitzkrieg, and introduced large-scale strategic bombing of enemy cities. The aircraft carrier took mastery of the seas. It ended with the first (and only) use of nuclear weapons.
When the Cold War began in 1947, there have been a few international wars and many civil wars with outside actors, such as the Vietnam War and the Korean War.
Clausewitzian theory
Carl von Clausewitz was Prussian military officer during the Napoleonic wars. Clausewitz' treatise On War, published posthumously, remains a fundamental study on the Art and Theory of war.
Clausewitz defines war as an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will. The object is to disarm the enemy.
World War I, World War II and Darwinism
Historically, the most prominent and vocal defenders of the theory of evolution which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists or agnostics.[1]
The founder of Darwinism, Charles Darwin, was an agnostic/weak atheist (see: Religious views of Charles Darwin).
There is historical evidence indicating that Darwinism was a causal factor for WWI and WWII (see: Irreligion/religion and war and World War I and Darwinism).
Academic studies consistently challenge link between religion and war
Academic studies and other research consistently challenge the link between religion and war.[2] See: Irreligion/religion and war
Louise Ridley in her article entitled Does Religion Really Cause War - And Do Atheists Have Something To Answer For?:
| â | But academic studies consistently challenge the link between religion and war. Research published in October from the New York and Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace looked at all of the wars that took place in 2013. It found no 'general causal relationship' between religion and conflict.
In fact, religious elements played no role at all in 14 (40%) of the 35 armed conflicts in the research, and only five (14%) had religious elements as their main cause, the report showed. All of the wars had multiple causes, and the much more common motivation was opposition to a government, or to the economic, ideological, political or social systems of a state, which was named as a main factor in nearly two thirds of the cases studied. The Encyclopedia of Wars, an extensive study published in 2008, chronicles 1,763 wars throughout human history. It names just 123 as 'religious in nature' â a little under 7%. |
â |
Further reading
- Dupuy, R. Ernest, and Trevor N. Dupuy. The Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500 B.C. to the Present (1993)
Quotes
- God created war so Americans would learn geography. - Mark Twain
- War is a racket. - Smedley Butler
- If wars can be started by lies, they can be stopped by truth. Julian Assange
See also
References
- â Multiple references:
- Batten, Dr. Don (December 1997). "A Whoâs Who of evolutionists". Creation Ministries International. Originally published in Creation 20(1):32. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D., F.M. (1999). "Chapter 1: Facts and bias", Refuting Evolution. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- â Does Religion Really Cause War - And Do Atheists Have Something To Answer for? by Louise Ridley, assistant news editor at the Huffington Post UK