Noble Truths

I am sorry that Suella Braverman is out of the running, because someone should have asked her whether, as a Buddhist, she would have been prepared to press the nuclear button. She would of course have replied that she did not understand the question. Why would a Buddhist necessarily not be so prepared?

There is a kind of GCSE RE fiction that Buddhism is pacifist. But an examination of the relevant texts shows that violence in general and war in particular are fundamental to Buddhism. A rare balanced treatment of Buddhism and violence was broadcast in August 2013. The subject is also addressed in great detail here.

It is the Catholic Church that permits either Christian pacifism, minoritarian at least since very early but never condemned, or the just war doctrine to which most of us adhere. Nuclear weapons are not remotely compatible with either of those. That is a question for Tom Tughendat, possibly for Penny Mordaunt and Kemi Badenoch, and perhaps for Andy Burnham soon enough.