A Double-Edged Sword: Jehanne d'Arc and Claims to Divine Sanction in Acts of War

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On first consideration, one might not be inclined to view Adolf Hitler and Dietrich Bonhoeffer in relation to Jehanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc), but Brenda E. Novack does just that. She demonstrates how these three prominent figures who influenced world history all acted in accordance with what they claimed or perceived to be divine sanction of their participation in violence. Taking the reader on a unique exploration of their lives and deaths, Novack identifies significant similarities and differences in notions of divine call and human response conveyed by these personalities and determines how they align or fail to align with the biblical prophetic tradition. Taking Jehanne d'Arc as her foundational study, the author engages important theological issues such as the nature of revelation, evil, and morality. The process culminates in the construction of a model of righteous warfare and human agency presented as a tool for evaluating claims to divinely sanctioned violence and as a potentially effective alternative to an outmoded and currently inadequate just war model. Case studies of Hitler and Bonhoeffer tentatively establish the model’s ability to steer humanity away from unnecessary destruction toward justice, compassion, and peace.