*1.1. A Moral Dilemma*

The Australian government introduced selective military conscription for twenty-year old men during 1964, with amendments to the National Service Act (NSA). Soon after, it integrated conscripts with the regular army and units were sent to fight in the Vietnam War. The introduction of military conscription created a moral dilemma for many young men. Did their conscience allow them to participate in the violence that is war?

A Christian man who was conscripted had a number of choices in resolving his moral dilemma. First, he could accept the call-up to the army and serve in both combatant and non-combatant roles, judging they were compatible with his conscience. Second, he could apply to be registered as a conscientious objector based on his Christian pacifism, and argue he be exempted from both combatant and non-combatant duties. Third, he could apply to be registered as a conscientious objector based on his Christian pacifism, and argue he be exempted from combatant duties only. Fourth, he could refuse to comply with the NSA and become a conscientious non-complier (CNC). The government did not offer a fifth choice by refusing to offer a civilian alternative to military service. There was another choice, to become a draft evader. It is assumed that no man of conscience chose that option.

The research reported here concerns known Christian conscientious objectors who resolved their moral dilemma by choosing the second, third, or fourth option. It was a choice in favour of non-violence because they believed that this was what their Christian faith demanded. Intentionally or unintentionally their individual actions affected social change. Relevant here was the end of military conscription and an end to Australia's participation in the Vietnam War.

**Citation:** Sandy, Geoffrey A. 2021. Australian Christian Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War Years 1964–72. *Religions* 12: 1004. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12111004

Academic Editors: Ephraim Meir, Ed Noort, Louise du Toit and Wolfgang Palaver

Received: 22 October 2021 Accepted: 10 November 2021 Published: 15 November 2021

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