How did society view men who refused to go to war?

Our society is under the influence of God's enemie. 1 John 5: 19 reads. " The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one and Revelation 12. 9 shows that the wicked one is the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth.

So our society could only have the wrong point of view to going to war and being exposed to being injured , being killed and moreover killing innocent people including innocent children.

Going to war in our society's view was and is still viewed as being a hero. However things are changing. A concientious objector can face years in prison in many countries, but will have the priviledge to live with the idea that he did not take an innocent life.

So to answer your question. People will rather go to war than go to prison in many cases. But some will have the courage to refuse to go to war. Either way, there will always be consequence according to ones' choice.