What is pacifism? Peace and Pacifism. Dr Alessandra Cecolin Religion, Peace and Conflict (HT51019A) Block 1, Lecture 3

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1 Peace and Pacifism Dr Alessandra Cecolin Religion, Peace and Conflict (HT51019A) Block 1, Lecture 3 Today PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECTS What is pacifism? Varieties of pacifism RELIGIOUS ASPECTS Christian pacifism Early Church Christian pacifists Peace Churches 2 What is pacifism? 1902: 10th International Peace Conference. Two core ideas: war and violence are unjustifiable; and conflicts should be settled in a peaceful way. Doesn t everyone want peace? War a means rather than an end War is a continuation of diplomacy by other means von Clausewitz, Carl Philip Gottlieb ( ), Prussian general and theorist of war. 3 1

2 What are pacifists opposed to? All War? Offensive wars? Killing? (Albert Schweitzer) Violence/use of force? (Tolstoy, Gandhi) Use of force by citizens ( private passivism) or state? 4 Motives Religious Secular (e.g. humanism) Ideological/political (war oppresses the working classes) Pragmatic (practical belief that war is wasteful and ineffective) 5 Forms of pacifism Absolute pacifism Never right to take part in war, even in selfdefence. To stick to this principle consistently is hard. Difficult to reconcile this view with taking life in other contexts. Conditional pacifism (pragmatism) 1. Against war and violence in principle, but they accept that there may be circumstances in which it is allowable. 2. Utilitarian principles. 6 2

3 Forms of pacifism Selective pacifism A matter of degree. Active pacifism 1. Not passive-ism 2. Political activity to promote peace and against particular wars. 3. Take part in activities that seek to reduce the harm of war 7 C20th in UK Reaction to First World War and universal male conscription. Creation of nuclear weapons. WWI 'conscientious objectors in UK: some worked in non-combat roles. During WWI: Fellowship of Reconciliation. No-Conscription Fellowship. 8 C20th in UK 1923: Christian Pacifist MP. Mid-1930s: Peace Pledge Union Oxford Union: 'this House will in no circumstances fight for King and Country. WWII: 59,000 British conscientious objectors. The Holocaust. 9 3

4 Christian Pacifism Teachings of Jesus and disciples Non-retaliation and forgiveness of enemies Sermon on the Mount But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also... Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5) The Sermon on the Mount Carl Heinrich Bloch ( ) 10 Christian Pacifism All those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword (Matthew 26.52) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7) (The Golden Rule) Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23.24) St Stephen, first Christian martyr (35 AD) Lord, charge not this sin against them (Acts 7.60) 11 The Early Church (1-2nd C.) Justin Martyr (d.165) We, who formerly used to murder one another now (as Christians) refrain even from making war on our enemies Athenagoras of Athens (d.190) We have rejected such spectacles as the Colosseum. How then, when we do not even look on killing, can we put other people to death? Paulinus of Nola (d. 431) Whoever serves as a soldier with a sword is the servant of death Justin Martyr 12 4

5 13 Development (3-4 th C.) Conversion of Constantine in AD 312 integrates Christianity into the state Christians no longer a persecuted community Conquer in Christ s name Face new political and ethical dilemmas Should we defend the state? Should Christians serve in the Roman army? Barbarian invasions (e.g. Attila, 5 th C.) Constantine the Great Parting of the ways Original Christian Pacifism Pacifism (minor) Non-violence Just War (major) Justice, charity 14 The Pacifists St Martin of Tours St Francis of Assisi (d.1220) Leo Tolstoy (d.1910) Martin Luther King Jr. (d.1968) 15 5

6 Peace Churches 3 Main Groups (16 th /18 th C.) Church of the Brethren Mennonites Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) 16 Other anti-war churches Community of Christ Churches of Christ Jehovah s Witnesses Fellowship of Reconciliation Seventh-Day Adventists Christadelphians 17 Conclusion Broad spectrum of views. Strong pacifist element in Christianity. Just war (developed in next week s lecture). 18 6