REL 385. Religion and the Law of War

The law of war, or international humanitarian law (IHL), is the body of law that regulates the conduct of armed conflict in order to preserve basic human dignity and reduce suffering. Although IHL was invented in modern Europe, this body of law is rooted in ethical and religious traditions that are thousands of years old and that span diverse cultures. In this course, students analyze the relationship between the military ethics of IHL and the ethical systems of religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and select indigenous traditions. Students also explore how the International Committee of the Red Cross engages with religious communities in order to strengthen humanitarianism across the globe.