Sample Chapter: Spiritual Insight Training (SIT)

 Sample Chapter

Spiritual Insight Training (SIT)

By Rev. Edgar S. Welty, Jr

Introduction

What is “Spiritual Insight Training”?

There are two disciplines, which I have combined to create “Spiritual Insight Training or SIT. The first is “Spiritual Direction” a system of techniques developed for using faith based concepts to apply to life’s problems. The second is “Theological Reflection” a way of examining issues from a faith perspective. The book that follows uses this combination address the problems of America’s troops and veterans.

Why do America’s troops and veterans need “Spiritual Insight Training”/

Twenty-two vets a day are killing themselves. Self-inflicted deaths among veterans are three times the rate as among the general population.  Homelessness is occurs twice as often among veterans.

Chapter One

“Just War”: Scripture and Tradition

            Let’s use a four-pronged approach to examine the Bible and the issue of “Just War”. This approach, which comes out of the Methodist denomination, is based first on scripture, than tradition, reason and experience. It was developed first by John Wesley and his brother early in the life of the “Method”

            Scripture is listed first because of the importance of looking at exactly what Bible passages say. Study in the Biblical Greek and Hebrew is vital. So is looking at context both literary and historical.

            Tradition based on how passages have been viewed over the centuries is seen as second in importance. The way biblical concepts are treated in hymns can be key.

            Reason is utilized in the use of scripture and tradition. Direct experiences of the Holy Spirit pointing out truth completes the set of four approaches

Scripture: The Bible on War

 A review of the biblical record shows a mixed message on war and the profession of warriors. Note the following verses:

Hebrew Scriptures

Isaiah 2:4King James Version (KJV)

⁴ And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.

Joel 3:10King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

Micah 4:3King James Version (KJV)

³ And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

New Testament

Matthew 10:34King James Version (KJV)

³⁴ Think not that I (Jesus) am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Matthew 26:52King James Version (KJV)

⁵² Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Tradition: *The “Principles of the Just War”

• A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified.
• A war is just only if it is waged by a legitimate authority. Even just causes cannot be served by actions taken by individuals or groups who do not constitute an authority sanctioned by whatever the society and outsiders to the society deem legitimate.
• A just war can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered. For example, self-defense against an armed attack is always considered to be a just cause (although the justice of the cause is not sufficient--see point #4). Further, a just war can only be fought with "right" intentions: the only permissible objective of a just war is to redress the injury.
• A war can only be just if it is fought with a reasonable chance of success. Deaths and injury incurred in a hopeless cause are not morally justifiable.
• The ultimate goal of a just war is to re-establish peace. More specifically, the peace established after the war must be preferable to the peace that would have prevailed if the war had not been fought.
• The violence used in the war must be proportional to the injury suffered. States are prohibited from using force not necessary to attain the limited objective of addressing the injury suffered.

The weapons used in war must discriminate between combatants and non-combatants. Civilians are never permissible targets of war, and every effort must be taken to avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are justified only if they are unavoidable victims of a deliberate attack on a military target.

Reason: The Feasibility of Accomplishing America’s Mission

            Americans have reason to be proud of the times we have stood up democracy in the world. But to be reasonable about how we can support democracy the citizens of the USA need to look at numbers. Americans make up about five percent of the world’s population. Are we defending democracy when we presume to dictate the other ninety-five percent of humanity? Reason says we cannot go it alone if our mission is to defend democracy, which by definition requires the participation of the majority of the world’s population   

Experience:

            In the First World War, Troops were called on to fight the “War to End All Wars” The Second World War proved this objective was not met. Nor did WW2 make the “World Safe for Democracy”.  If we want less war in the world, we need to learn the lessons of those experiences.

Conclusion

            When we examine scripture, tradition in the light of reason and experience, we as veterans can look clearly at the problem of “Just War” and our role in one.