christian attitudes toward war and peace

Roland H. Bainton's book traces how Christian communities and theologians have thought about violence, war, and resistance from antiquity through later historical periods.

He documents the predominance of nonviolent attitudes in the early church and examines the theological and political shifts that led to acceptance of limited, justifiable war.

Bainton situates debates within broader historical contexts, showing how social and imperial pressures influenced Christian ethics.

The work is both historical and evaluative, offering readers a framework for understanding continuity and change in Christian responses to conflict.

It remains a standard reference for studies in Christian ethics and church history.