Clik here to view.
The Case for Non-Participation: The Powers
I should have clarified in the last post that I’m specifically talking about non-participation in the military. The term “pacifism” brings lots of different ideas to mind, so I thought the term...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Case For Non-Participation: Jesus’ teachings
As we look at reasons for not participating in any nation’s military, it’s obvious that we need to look at what Jesus taught, as well as the rest of the New Testament. I read a piece by Patrick Mead...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Case for Non-Participation: Deceit
This week I’m laying out a case for Christians not participating in war nor in the military. I had laid out the basic reasons a couple of weeks ago and am now analyzing the four principal ones that I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Honoring the sacrifices of war
There’s an aspect of the U.S. military’s actions overseas that is continually hidden by proponents of military participation: the cost in human lives in other countries. When discussing the sacrifices...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sleight of mouth
When I was a kid, I really enjoyed magicians. Even though I knew it was a trick, I still became a part of the illusion. Sleight of hand, or prestidigitation for those who like using big words, is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Does Just War Theory bring peace or just war?
I saw a question asked online the other day which I found to be quite compelling. I read Rex Butts’ blog post on “The Evangelistic Scandal,” which led me to Scot McKnight’s discussion of Lee Camp’s new...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Good men doing something
We’re taking time this week with a much-repeated phrase: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” In the context of conservative churches, this saying has become a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A country of peace
Costa Rica proclaims itself to be a country of peace. They abolished their army in 1948 and never looked back. Costa Ricans will quickly tell you that their citizens are considered among the happiest...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Prayer of Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Stop supporting the “war” on terrorism
Cartoon by Glenn McCoy Some of my Christian friends support war when that war can be defined as a just war. Not everyone who holds this position is versed in “just war theory,”so I guess we can’t...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why not try God’s way
We’ve seen that human solutions are never as good as divine ones. We’ve seen that evil rulers and nations are sometimes agents of God to bring about a greater good. We’ve seen that God’s timetable for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
No more speaking up for evil
OK, I want to go back to a recurring theme on this blog, the idea of speaking to the political system from outside the system. I admittedly wrestle with terminology a bit, for I tend to think of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What about the second mile?
In discussing the issues of violence and non-violence, pacifism and non-pacifism, something comes up at times that I think needs to be re-examined. I’ve heard it said that Jesus’ comments about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Talking about values
In 2007, the Pew Research Center released the results of a survey about “Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes.” It’s a topic they regularly research. There are encouraging findings, like:...
View ArticleWaging Peace
In English, the word “peace” conjures up a passive picture, one showing an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities, or a personality free from internal and external strife. The biblical concept of...
View ArticleShalom Builders
Yesterday, I was pointing out that “peace” in the Bible has a broader range of meanings than merely the absence of conflict. This is especially true in Hebrew. We have to feel that the Hebrew meaning...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Greg Boyd on pacifism and government
I posted a link the other day to an article by Greg Boyd discussing what he (a pacifist) would say to the president about Syria. He raised some interesting points. I’m not sure that I’m in full...
View ArticleClik here to view.
39 Shades of Peacemaking
Pacifism. Pacific-ism. Passivism. Political Pacifism. Absolute vs. Contingent Pacifism. Maximal vs. Minimal Pacifism. Universal vs. Particular Pacifism. Skeptical and Prima Facie Pacifism....
View ArticleChristians being killed
We hear stories of persecuted Christians around the world. They’re troubling to me, as I’m sure they are to you. It’s awful to think of people dying for their religious beliefs. It’s puzzling to me,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
From brother to enemy
Army basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. We’re at the 100 year anniversary of the War to End All Wars; somehow I don’t think that concept worked so well. Yesterday, a Cuban friend posted on Facebook a...
View Article
