• The Vietnam War was initially supported by US ethicists and theologians, but this changed over time. By 1971, even the US Catholic bishops questioned the means of war, arguing they no longer justified its goal. Here, we see a conflict between religious morality and consequentialism.

Real World Example: Imagine you are a referee in a football game. Your job is to uphold the rules of the game (religious morality) but the winning team is consistently breaking these rules and the crowd is enjoying it (consequentialism). Do you keep enforcing the rules or do you let the game continue as it is?

• Michael Orange, a Vietnam War veteran, believed his actions in the war were morally wrong. However, he also expressed gratitude for the moral ambiguity of the war. His argument is that unambiguous wars would be even more terrifying.

Real World Example: It's like being a student who cheats on a test because everyone else is doing it. You know it's wrong, but you also see it as a necessity to keep up with your peers. If there were no grey areas, and cheating was seen as perfectly acceptable, it would create a culture of dishonesty that could affect the whole educational system.

• "Just war" is a concept often used to justify conflicts, while Ahimsa, a key virtue in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism, promotes compassion or non-violence. Ahimsa acknowledges the spiritual energy of all beings and argues that harming others harms oneself.

Real World Example: Think of it like being in a playground fight. Just war is like standing up for a friend who's being bullied, potentially using force if necessary. Ahimsa, on the other hand, would mean trying to resolve the situation peacefully, without resorting to violence.