I think in Christianity that something very great has been lost. Jesus’ death, I think, in a very deep sense can be called a self-immolation. I mean that He went consciously to death, choosing that death for the sake of others, reasonably and thoughtfully. But the only way such a death continues in [Christian] history as an example to others is in the military. Except for a few saints here and there who die for others; but that’s very exceptional. In war, soldiers always go and die. And in many cases they die in religious wars. They die with the blessing: you will attain eternal life because you gave your life. But they die with weapons in their hands; they die at the hands of others with weapons. This seems to be so contrary to the example of Jesus, who refused to take up the sword.

So the church loses any capacity to deal with [self-immolation.]