Ryan correctly notes that Christianity provided the first, and most effective, challenge to the state’s unrestrained war-making power. In the twentieth century, states became quite skilled at, to paraphrase Ryan, “slipping free of the yoke of Christian mortality.”

Today, with the assent to political and cultural power of the “end times” Christians and neoconned Catholics, we are witnessing a new, and dangerous, phenomenon: a Christianity which actively celebrates war and labels those who oppose war ” bad Christians.” Opposing those who think Christians must study war forever more should be our first priority, even if it means an otherwise unacceptable alliance with the religious left.

BTW– Look for the Catholic neocons and religious right to take pot shots at the new pope as soon as it becomes clear he will continue his predecessors’ heroic opposition to the war party.