It’s a strange way to exist when you think about it. One the one hand we’ve had nuclear weapons since the 1940s and they’ve only been used in war twice. So thought about like that then the risk seems quite low that the world will be irrevocably changed by nuclear war. Most of us don’t (and probably couldn’t) live with that kind of existential threat hanging over our head every day. At the same time it seems almost incontrovertible that the risk is growing not diminishing.

It’s also worth pointing out that nuclear war is not the only way we could face a nuclear disaster through nuclear weapons. An unexpected event involving nuclear weapons that results in “accidental launching, firing, detonating, theft, or loss” is called a broken arrow. And according to this article that’s happened 32 times in 75 years. Which, if my maths is correct, means we’re getting lucky every other year or so and sooner or later that streak will run out. Not only that but there are some nuclear bombs that no one knows where they are. The US has lost three nuclear bombs which is frankly an incredible fact. And I wouldn’t be surprised at all to learn that Russia has lost a few as well.

But war is the growing risk and there are a few things to bear in mind. Firstly for many reasons, the war in Ukraine included, multilateral arms control treaties are falling and failing. Then there are other situations that could change – say between Pakistan & India, or Iran & Israel or North Korea & South Korea. Things change, countries rise and fall.

And it’s worth being clear about the disaster that nuclear war is: it destroys a city, starve billions (original study here), change the climate (again), and pretty much end civilisation as we know it.

So for all those reasons, you should listen to this robust discussion about why Christians need to be clearly against the use, proliferation and ownership of nuclear weapons and in favour of and campaign for disarmament. Plough as always comes up with the goods when it comes to peacemaking.