[anon808]

Or how about the most obvious one, killing ie. wars. Conventional American Christianity and the military are very closely tied; how that disconnect is ignored is beyond me.

[joshuapants]

A more accurate translation of the commandment would be "you shall not murder." Conservative Judaism is also pretty big into the military, and pretty much every major religion makes a distinction between murder and justified killing.

e: Just to be more clear, this isn't me coming up with my own justification. The Hebrew word "ratsakh" used in the commandment specifically refers to murder or manslaughter and isn't used in the context of killing in war.

[phrogdriver]

Strong jus ad bellum and jus in bello traditions in the military? For better or worse, people can justify killing in war.

[happyscrappy]

You cannot be a pacifist without a protector, ask Tibet.

[anon808]

Unless you believe in an after-life or that God protects you.

[api]

There's a difference between defending yourself and offensive war.