The Morality of Nuclear Proliferation

[Slave to God]

Currently nine nations possess nuclear devices capable of being considered weapons of mass destruction if detonated. Of these, five are members of the Nuclear Club, The United States, the United Kingdom, The Russian Federation, The French Republic, and the People's Republic of China. I'm already set in my opinion concerning the build up and proliferation of nuclear weapons, but I'm wondering, from a Biblical standpoint, is there any justification for a nation researching nuclear technology to build nuclear weapons and if so, does any exist for the possession of said devices? Furthermore, can any such reasoning justify the use of such a weapon?

[Manwë Súlimo]

Good question. I don't have a really good answer. I'm not a pacifist, so I believe that war is actually sometimes preferable over inaction; but there has to be a limit to the amount of destruction. Nuclear winter could seriously wreck havoc to creation as a whole on this Earth.


Makes for good video games, though (Fallout 3 )

[Slave to God]

I agree, the prospect of a nuclear exchange affecting biological change on every living thing down to their most basic cell structures is a horrific concept. It begs the question, can the design and buildup of such weapons in itself be considered sinful due to recklessly endangering life as we know it?

Also, Fallout 3 is a great game :D

[Manwë Súlimo]

To quote my favorite author (get use to this, I'll never stop ):

The news today about 'Atomic bombs' is so horrifying one is stunned. The utter folly of these lunatic physicists to consent to do such work for war-purposes: calmly plotting the destruction of the world! Such explosives in men's hands, while their moral and intellectual status is declining, is about as useful as giving out firearms to all inmates of a gaol and then saying that you hope 'this will ensure peace'. But one good thing may arise out of it, I suppose, if the write-ups are not overheated: Japan ought to cave in. Well we're in God's hands. But He does not look kindly on Babel-builders.

J.R.R. Tolkien














This is Three Dog, your disc jockey! What's a disc? Heck if I know, but I'm going to keep talking anyway!

[Slave to God]

His words carry such great weight and gravity to them. I couldn't agree more. I'm also reminded of Albert Einstein who said about the issue:

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

[lee_merrill]

"Within a hundred years of physical and chemical science, man will know what the atom is. It is my belief that when science reaches this stage, God will come down with His big ring of keys and will say to humanity: 'Gentlemen, it's closing time.'" (Pierre Berchelt)

I do believe this problem is beyond the ability of any human agency or decision, where every move involves a wrong move. I can see the reason for deterrent, MAD, you know...

But still, this is a "lesser of two (or more) evils", and then some day the terrorists will have nuclear weapons--unless you consider North Korea a terrorist regime, in which case--we're there.

At that point, it will be perfectly obvious that the situation is beyond us--alas, the politicians will be telling us still that "willpower and grit and determination and we'll win this"--but they will be wrong.

I believe the morally right decision is to give this up, and rely on God.

"Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless." (Psa108:12NIV)

Or from Tolkien (Beren reminding us of such!): "... and he broke the Ban of the Valar, going up with war to wrest everlasting life from the Lords of the West. But when Ar-Pharazan set foot upon the shores of Aman the Blessed, the Valar laid down their Guardianship and called upon the One, and the world was changed. Numenor was thrown down and swallowed in the Sea, and the Undying Lands were removed for ever from the circles of the world. So ended the glory of Numenor."

Blessings,
Lee

[Slave to God]

I do believe this problem is beyond the ability of any human agency or decision, where every move involves a wrong move. I can see the reason for deterrent, MAD, you know...

Very true, and mankind is beginning to see the error of his ways by covertly reversing decisions such as MAD through SALT and SALT II. Still, it does seem beyond the scope of human power to fully disarm at this point. Some point to Zechariah 14:12 as a prophecy for nuclear war beginning in the Levant, but this could be a misinterpretation.

And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem:

Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet,
Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets,
And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.

I'll let the Body be the judge.

[Manwë Súlimo]

Or from Tolkien (Beren reminding us of such!): "... and he broke the Ban of the Valar, going up with war to wrest everlasting life from the Lords of the West. But when Ar-Pharazan set foot upon the shores of Aman the Blessed, the Valar laid down their Guardianship and called upon the One, and the world was changed. Numenor was thrown down and swallowed in the Sea, and the Undying Lands were removed for ever from the circles of the world. So ended the glory of Numenor."

You....*sniff*....you're such a good man. Excuse me, I have something in both my eyes....

[Obsidian]

The government "carries not the sword in vain" (Romans 13). Therefore, I'm perfectly okay with nuclear weapons. Furthermore, I believe the possibility of nuclear winter may be myth. Carl Sagan dreamed it up as a political move, not as scientific fact. In any case, the best way to keep the peace is to make sure the United States keeps a big stockpile of weapons.

[Slave to God]

Furthermore, I believe the possibility of nuclear winter may be myth. Carl Sagan dreamed it up as a political move, not as scientific fact. In any case, the best way to keep the peace is to make sure the United States keeps a big stockpile of weapons.

Denying Nuclear winter is the equivalent of denying the Law of Gravity. It's a fact that if a nuclear exchange occurs on a global level, it will affect a massive change on biological life on earth. This is both because of and as the result of temperature change, the introduction of millions of pounds of fallout dust into the atmosphere (no matter how temporary) that's highly radioactive and the wholesale increase of atmospheric pressure worldwide. The United States continuing to stockpile nuclear weapons is illogical as the US already has an estimated 4,075 weapons, more than enough to destroy the earth or at the very least ensure an atomic holocaust.

[Obsidian]

Denying Nuclear winter is the equivalent of denying the Law of Gravity.

Rofl, way to subtly understate your case for effect...

But I guess we should just take your word for it. Or perhaps you've proven it in one of your labs.

lol

[Slave to God]

lol ok, my language was a bit extreme, I admit, but you can't seriously believe it's all political. We have proof that a legitimate threat exists against our environment with the detonation of even one device.

[Obsidian]

I initially heard that there was debate over nuclear winter when I was reading an article by Michael Crichton.
He's a couple articles showing the controversy over the idea. The second one is kinda long.

http://www.armageddononline.org/nuclear_winter.php
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...g=content;col1

[Macgawd]

Currently nine nations possess nuclear devices capable of being considered weapons of mass destruction if detonated. Of these, five are members of the Nuclear Club, The United States, the United Kingdom, The Russian Federation, The French Republic, and the People's Republic of China. I'm already set in my opinion concerning the build up and proliferation of nuclear weapons, but I'm wondering, from a Biblical standpoint, is there any justification for a nation researching nuclear technology to build nuclear weapons and if so, does any exist for the possession of said devices? Furthermore, can any such reasoning justify the use of such a weapon?

I don't see how the possession of nuclear weapons is any more or less moral than the possession of any other kind of weapon of war. They're all designed to destroy--just some destroy more than others.

=M=

[Manwë Súlimo]

I don't see how the possession of nuclear weapons is any more or less moral than the possession of any other kind of weapon of war. They're all designed to destroy--just some destroy more than others.

=M=

That's the point. The destructive power of nuclear weapons could potentially put all of creation in peril. Standard ordinance does not.