Contemporary American Protestant Attitudes toward the War on Terror: Authority, Theology and Political Beliefs

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2007-06

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The Ohio State University

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Abstract

This thesis examines the breadth of opinions toward the current war in Afghanistan among American Protestants. The thesis presents data gathered from fieldwork in several Central Ohio Protestant churches as well as books and articles published post-9/11. As my data demonstrate, Protestant attitudes toward this war are strongly related to specific theological attitudes, such as how a Christian perceives the figure of Jesus Christ, how one interprets the religious authority (the Bible), and how one defines evil. The cyclical relationship between theological beliefs and attitudes toward war is mediated by the level of political authority a particular Christian or group of Christians has.

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religion and war, Protestantism, religious ethics, just war theory, pacifism, Christianity

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