[steve-b]

Murder (personally killing someone) and warfare (when nations fight with nations) are two different things....recognized from antiquity.

The distinction requires that the warfare meet the standards of Just War doctrine. Otherwise, you are forced to accept ludicrous positions, such as the notion the 9/11 Massacre was not a murderous act (Osama & Co. certainly consider themselves to be at war with Western Civilization in general and the US in particular).

Obviously, conquering and killing a people simply to take their land does not meet that standard.

[AnalogReigns]

"Just War" doctrine, was developed by Christian scholars some 2000 years after God commanded Joshua to annihilate Israel's enemies. If I understand you, you're accusing God of not following a standard developed by academics for Christians to follow. I have no doubt that those scholars, St. Augustine et als, would disagree with you, and never had laid a charge against God, of having an obligation to follow their principles.

I agree with Just War principles generally--but not being directly spelled out in the Bible, I ONLY agree generally, since they aren't inerrantly authoritative. No warring side in history has followed Just War principles--but it is something good to strive for, particularly in that we don't live in an age where God speaks directly to us or our leaders. I would be quick to add without such a direct command from God, annihilation of civilians is to be greatly avoided--one thing our new generation of micro-targetted weapons explicitly does.

Targeting of civilian population centers (cities) and other tactics used since WWII, prima facia violate Just War principles, yet, are a vital part of modern strategy in war--or its avoidance. Since God Himself didn't always follow Just War principles however, as good in theory as they sound, I must take them with a grain of salt... and our own strategies have saved countless lives.