I'm planning on becomming a chaplin within the armed forces; yet I bear a question. I adress many impressive philosophical minds that clutter this board and ask them of this question: If the need arises, could I ethically kill someone durring combat?

It's not my place to do the duty of a soldier, I'd strictly be there for moral support. But I plan on bringing my own gun for defense (I grew up in the back woods of PA, and have fired more guns by age 14 than most people have in their lives.).

Discuss!

If it's in defense, don't worry about it. David killed Goliath and he was one of God's favs. If you do kill and feel guilt, just pray about it. As a matter of fact, just pray about it before hand. If God doesn't want you to kill, he'll see to it you don't have to. If he does, you'll know.

the solution is murder/suicide

In self defence probably. But it is a war crime to shoot at you so it probably won't come to that.

quote:it's not my place to do the duty of a soldier, I'd strictly be there for moral support.

in the army you are a soldier first and anything else second.

i hope you are old. chaplains are given the rank of chaplain (equivalent to a major), and you generaly have to be an officer or an experience priest to get there. at least thats how it is in the australian army.

now here ,just for once, we have an interesting question.

there is however no easy answer. if you are trying to save or protect innocent life then the use of terminal force is not only allowed but even ,biblically speaking, required.

but the use of terminal force to save your own skin is another matter.

So what country are you in that will provide full theological training to a new chaplin? I know in Canada you need to be ordained already preferably with a DD. And also you probably won't be able to use your own gun unless it is the same caliber of an issued weapon and you get it inspected regularly.

Yeah, it's a war crime to shoot at you, but do you really believe that the insurgents will give a damn about that?

Chaplins rarely ever see combat these days, and generally, if you are involved in a combat situation, it will be an unprepared one, so your time will probarly be taken up by giving the last rites than shooting straight

quote:Originally posted by MasterPython:

In self defence probably. But it is a war crime to shoot at you so it probably won't come to that.

Thats really interesting. Never knew that.

Anyway, I seriously believe following Geneva convention is going to be the last thing on a terrorist's mind seeing as though they are savages and the convention rules dont even apply to them.