Anti-War topics

Opposition to... Anti war protest in Melbourne, Australia, 2003 Anti_war is a name that is widely adopted by any social movement or person that seeks to end or oppose a future or current war. ... Image File history File links Peace_Sign_2. ... War of 1812 Second Boer War Vietnam War Afghanistan War Iraq War War on Terrorism Opposition to the War of 1812 was widespread in the United States, especially in New England. ... Opposition to the Second Boer War began slowly but grew due in part to organisations like the Stop the War Committee. ... Opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War began slowly and in small numbers in 1964 on various college campuses in the United States. ... It has been suggested that Post-September 11 anti-war movement be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the Iraq War from outside Iraq. ... Criticisms of the War on Terrorism addresses the issues, morals, ethics, efficiency, and other questions surrounding the War on Terrorism. Arguments are also made against the phrase itself, calling it a misnomer. ... Organizations A.N.S.W.E.R. Anti-Imperialist League Anti-War Coalition Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament End Conscription Campaign Iraq Veterans Against the War Not in Our Name Stop the War Coalition Stop the War Committee United for Peace and Justice Veterans for Peace Vietnam Veterans Against the War Other anti-war organizations ANSWER banner at the head of an April 12, 2003 anti-war march in Washington DC. A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)—also known as International ANSWER and the ANSWER Coalition—is a radical protest organization which has taken a leading role... The American Anti-Imperialist League was formed on June 15, 1898 to fight U.S. annexation of the Philippines and other U.S. insular areas on economic, legal, moral, and even racial grounds. ... The Anti-war Coalition (AWC) is a South African Anti-war Coalition. ... Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament logo In British politics, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has been at the forefront of the peace movement in the United Kingdom and claims to be Europes largest single-issue peace campaign. ... The End Conscription Campaign was an anti-apartheid organisation of conscientious objectors in South Africa. ... Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is an advocacy group comprised of active duty military and Iraq War veterans who are opposed to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. ... Not in Our Name (NION) is a United States organization founded on March 23, 2002, in order to resist the U.S. governments course in the wake of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks. ... The Stop the War Coalition (StWC) (informally just Stop the War) is a UK anti-war group set up on 21 September 2001. ... The Stop the War Committee was an anti-war organisation which opposed the Second Boer War. ... United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) is a coalition of more than 1,300 international and U.S.-based organizations opposed to what they describe as our governments policy of permanent warfare and empire-building. ... Veterans For Peace is an American organization founded in 1985. ... -1... In order to facilitate organized opposition to war, anti-war activists have often founded anti-war organizations. ... Media Books Films Peace symbol Protest song Chants and slogans An anti-war book is a book that is perceived as having an anti-war theme. ... An anti-war film is a movie that is perceived as having an anti-war theme. ... Peace sign redirects here. ... A protest song is a song intended to protest perceived problems in society such as injustice, racial discrimination, war, globalization, inflation, social inequalities. ... Short slogans and chants opposing the Iraq War and related policies of Bush and Blair are commonly heard or seen on signs at antiwar protests. ... General anti-war Appeasement Anti-imperialism Conscientious objector Pacifism Peace churches Peace movement The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... Anti-imperialism, strictly speaking, is a term that may be applied to any idea or movement opposed to some form of imperialism. ... A conscientious objector is an individual whose personal beliefs are incompatible with military service, perhaps with any role in the armed forces or just with a particular war. ... Peace churches are Christian churches, groups or communities advocating pacifism. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes. Pacifism covers a spectrum of views ranging from the belief that international disputes can and should be peacefully resolved, to absolute opposition to the use of violence, or even force, in any circumstance. The only atomic weapons ever used in war - the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan by the United States on August 9, 1945, effectively ending World War II. The bombs over Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki immediately killed over 120,000 people. ... Violence refers to acts of aggression and abuse which causes or intends to cause criminal injury or harm to persons, and (to a lesser extent) animals and property. ...

Pacifism may be based on principle or pragmatism. Principled (or Deontological) pacifism is based on beliefs that either war, deliberate lethal force, violence or any force or coercion is morally wrong. Pragmatic (or Consequential) pacifism does not hold to such an absolute principle but considers there to be better ways of resolving a dispute than war or considers the benefits of a war to be outweighed by the costs. Pragmatism is a collection of many different ways of thinking. ... Coercion is the practice of compelling a person to act by employing threat of harm (usually physical force, sometimes other forms of harm). ...

Dove or dovish are informal terms used, usually in politics, for people who prefer to avoid war or prefer war as a last resort. Some people termed dovish would not view their position as pacifist as they would consider war to be justifiable in some circumstances (see just war theory). The terms allude to the placid nature of the dove. The opposite of a dove is a hawk or war hawk. However, not all cultures perceive these symbols the same. Just War theory is the attempt to distinguish between justifiable and unjustifiable uses of organized armed forces. ... Ross Mungavin Subfamily Columbinae Otidiphabinae Gourinae Didunculinae Treroninae The doves are the 308 species of near passerine birds in the order Columbiformes. ... War Hawk is a term originally used to describe a member of the House of Representatives of the Twelfth Congress of the United States who advocated going to war against the Great Britain in the War of 1812. ...

Vereschagin's painting Apotheosis of War (1871) came to be admired as one of the earliest artistic expressions of pacifism.

Some pacifists, while opposing war, are not opposed to all use of coercion, physical force against people or destruction of property. Antimilitarists, for example, are specifically opposed to the modern nation-states' military institutions rather than to "violence" in general. Other pacifists follow principles of nonviolence, believing that only non-violent action is acceptable. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (853x544, 42 KB)Vasily Vereshchagin. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (853x544, 42 KB)Vasily Vereshchagin. ... Vasily Vereshchagin Vasili Vasilyevich Vereshchagin (1842 - 1904) was the most famous Russian battle painter and the first Russian artist to be widely recognized abroad. ... Property damage is damage or destruction done to public or private property, caused either by a person who is not its owner or by natural phenomena. ... Antimilitarism is a doctrine commonly found in the anarchist and socialist movement, which may be both characterized as internationalist movements. ... The term nation-state, while often used interchangeably with the terms unitary state and independent state, refers properly to the parallel occurence of a state and a nation. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality, power and conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ... Nonviolent resistance (or nonviolent action) comprises the practice of applying power to achieve socio-political goals through symbolic protests, economic or political noncooperation, civil disobedience and other methods, without the use of violence. ...

History

Advocacy of pacifism can be found far back in history and literature, for example in the Classical world. Two instances from the Peloponnesian War 431–404 BC that have come down to us are the non-violent protest of Hegetorides of Thasos, and the Athenian women's anti-war sex strike in Aristophanes' comedy Lysistrata. It has been suggested that Greco-Roman be merged into this article or section. ... Map of the Greek world at the start of the Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian War began in 431 BC between the Athenian Empire (or The Delian League) and the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta. ... In Greek history, Hegetorides was a citizen of Thasos during the Peloponnesian War with Athens (c. ... Thasos (Greek: ) or Thassos is the name of an island in the north of the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Thrace and the plain of the river Nestos (during the Ottoman times Kara-Su). ... Athens (Greek: Αθήνα, Athína (IPA: )) is the capital of Greece and one of the most famous cities in the world, named after goddess Athena. ... Bust of Aristophanes Aristophanes (c. ... Aristophanes anti-war comedy Lysistrata, written in 411 BC, has female characters, led by the eponymous Lysistrata, barricading the public funds building and withholding consensual sex from their husbands to secure peace and end the Peloponnesian War. ...

Historic peace churches, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Amish, Mennonites and Church of the Brethren, have been pacifistic for centuries. Quakers-controlled colonial Pennsylvania employed a pacifist, anti-militarist public policy. The colonial province was for 75 years, from 1681 to 1756, essentially unarmed and experienced little or no warfare in that period. In the 19th century anti-war sentiment grew. Many socialist groups and movements in that century were antimilitarists, arguing that war by its nature was a type of governmental coercion of the working class, who were forced to fight and die in wars of no benefit to them at the behest of their political and economic masters who never suffer in the war's front lines. French socialist leader Jean Jaurès's assassination on July 31, 1914 and the Second International's subsequent abandon to chauvinism and militarism and failure to successfully oppose World War I was considered one of socialist movement's biggest failure. Peace churches are Christian churches, groups or communities advocating pacifism. ... The Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as Quakers or Friends) was founded in England in the 17th century by people who were dissatisfied with the existing denominations and sects of Christianity. ... Amish couple in a horse-drawn buggy in rural Holmes County, Ohio, the site of one of the largest concentrations of Amish in the United States The Amish are a denomination of Anabaptists, found primarily in the United States and Canada are very simlar to and often considered a subgroup... The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations based on the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons. ... The Church of the Brethren was organized by Alexander Mack, a miller, in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... Antimilitarism is a doctrine commonly found in the anarchist and socialist movement, which may be both characterized as internationalist movements. ... The term working class is used to denote a social class. ... Jean Jaurès Jean Léon Jaurès—full name Auguste-Marie-Joseph-Jean-Léon Jaurès—(September 3, 1859 – July 31, 1914) was a French Socialist leader. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The phrase Second International has two meanings: For the international association of socialist parties of the late 19th century, see Second International (politics) and a successor organization, the Socialist International For one of the Merriam-Webster dictionaries of American English, see Websters New International Dictionary, Second Edition This is... Chauvinism is extreme and unreasoning partisanship on behalf of a group to which one belongs, especially when the partisanship includes malice and hatred towards a rival group. ... Militarism or militarist ideology is the doctrinal view of a society as being best served (or more efficient) when it is governed or guided by concepts embodied in the culture, doctrine, system, or people of the military. ... Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead:5 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:8 million Military dead:4 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:7 million The First World...

In Aotearoa/New Zealand during the latter half of the 19th century the British, and its colonial settlers, tried many tactics to acquire land from the Māori, including warfare. In one case a Māori leader was so inspiring that he was able to encourage warriors to stand up for their rights without using their weapons, in an atmosphere where similar warriors had defeated opposing forces in earlier years, Te Whiti-o-Rongomai convinced 2000 people to welcome battle-hardened soldiers into their village and even offer them food and drink. This same, peaceful, leader allowed himself and his people to be arrested without resistance. Look up Aotearoa in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Aotearoa (pronounced: â–¶ (help· info)) is the Māori language name for New Zealand most widely known and accepted. ... -1...

"Leading Citizens want War and declare War; Citizens Who are Led fight the War" 1910 cartoon

In the aftermath of World War I there was a great revulsion with war in much of the West, and pacifist doctrines gained many new adherents. However pacifist literature or public advocation of anti-war ideals was banned in some nations, such as Italy under Mussolini, the Soviet Union, and in Germany after the rise of Hitler. In these nations, pacifism was denounced as cowardice. With the start of World War II, pacifist sentiment declined. Bertrand Russell argued that the necessity of defeating Hitler was a unique circumstance where war was not the worst of the possible evils; he called his position relative pacifism. H. G. Wells, who had claimed after the armistice ending World War I that the British had suffered more from the war than they would have from submission to Germany, urged in 1941 a large-scale British offensive on the continent of Europe to combat Hitler and Nazism. anti war political cartoon, scanned from the book War-- What For? by George R. Kirkpatrick, 1910. ... anti war political cartoon, scanned from the book War-- What For? by George R. Kirkpatrick, 1910. ... Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (July 29, 1883 – April 28, 1945) led Italy from 1922 to 1943. ... (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 and Führer (Leader) of Germany from 1934 until his death. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead:17 million Civilian dead:33 million Total dead:50 million Military dead:8 million Civilian dead:4 million Total dead:12 million World War II... Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970), was a famous and influential British philosopher, logician, and mathematician, working mostly in the 20th century. ... H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 – August 13, 1946) was a British writer best known for his science fiction novels such as The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, The Island of Doctor Moreau and The Time Machine. ... The term National Socialism has been used in self-description by a number of different political groups and ideologies, some of which have no connection with the Nazis; see National socialism (disambiguation). ...

Pacifist sentiment rose a generation later in the 1960s.

Pragmatic pacifism

"Pacifist" often less technically describes a person who accepts risks to her or himself and others, or prefers the penalties which might accompany a non-aggressive stance even in extreme circumstances, for the sake of avoiding a violent or military solution especially in politics. A pacifist person may be distinguished as more than usually confident in peaceful means for the resolution of any conflict, more of a pacifist than others, earning the reputation as a "dove" or a "peacemaker". Pacifism also describes a stance in particular circumstances, in contrast with those who believe that the circumstances justify violence. An advocate of a pacifist strategy may be more optimistic or opposed to violence in the situation, differing from her or his non-pacifist counterpart only in her or his assessment of the means the situation calls for. Positions which advise non-aggression under normal circumstances but reserve the right to self-defense under crisis, while not pacifist in an ideal sense, may be called pacifist in a pragmatic sense, reflecting strong commitment to the natural and nearly universal preference of peace over war. Politics, sometimes defined as the art and science of government. ...

The political theory of Green parties lists "non-violence" and "decentralization" towards anarchist co-operatives or minimalist village government, as two of their ten key values. However, in power, Greens like all politicians often compromise, e.g. German Greens in the cabinet of Social Democrat Gerhard Schröder supported an intervention by German troops in Afghanistan in 2001, but on condition that they host the peace conference in Berlin — and during the 2002 election campaign forced Schröder to swear that no German troops would invade Iraq. This article is about the green parties around the world. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality, power and conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ... Decentralisation (or decentralization) is any of various means of more widely distributing decision-making to bring it closer to the point of service or action. ... Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder [] (born April 7, 1944), German politician, was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. ...

This suggests that many who advocate "non-violence" or pacifism, especially political parties that participate in government, actually advocate what is more properly called de-escalation or even arms reduction (on a very large scale) rather than outright disarmament (which is advocated by many pacifists). Many outstanding pacifists of this sort have taken part in defensive military actions when their countries were attacked, but others prefer to leave their country if it is preparing for aggressive war (such as Germany in the 1930s). Clearly a party that writes and enforces law is not non-violent. It can be pacifist, however, by refusing participation in external conflicts, refusing to supply weapons, and sheltering refugees but not combatants. There are many definitions of such "pragmatic pacifism". An approach to conflict resolution and reducing tension during the discussion of controversial topics. ... Disarmament means the reduction or elimination by a nation of its weapons systems. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Principled or radical pacifism

While those who believe that war is normally preferable to peace are rare indeed, pacifism as a distinctive belief is not at all common. The distinction of pacifism is not only an extraordinary faith in the effectiveness or benefits of peaceful means of resolution of conflict, but the principled rejection of all pretended justification of violent means under any circumstances. At a minimum, this stance is adopted as a matter of personal conviction limited to one's own choices, which sometimes leaves the individual conscientiously free to serve in a war effort as a non-combatant if required to do so. Some people who felt they could not in good conscience fight in a war served as ambulance drivers during World War I; others were jailed, such as the American pacifist agitator David Dellinger. Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead:5 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:8 million Military dead:4 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:7 million The First World... David Dellinger after his arrest for failing to report for his World War II draft physical David Dellinger (August 22, 1915-May 25, 2004) was a renowned pacifist and activist for nonviolent social change, and one of most influential American radicals in 20th century. ...

The ultimate pragmatic argument that may be offered by pacifists is that violent resistance to violence always fails to bring about peace, that war can only be expected to establish a realignment of forces under principles of violence. Besides, pacifists may argue, war frequently fails to accomplish the political or economic ends to which it is supposedly directed, nor do the benefits usually outweigh the cost, and rarely in actuality is war motivated by the high ideals that its supporters use to justify it. Not all forms of radical pacifism make pragmatic assumptions, and rather simply oppose violence as such. Radical pacifism is controversial, and only a few religions (such as the peace churches of Christianity and many Buddhist sects) advocate it. Peace churches are Christian churches, groups or communities advocating pacifism. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, known by Christians as Jesus Christ, and New Testament accounts of his life and teachings. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by...

Pacifism has both a passive component (refusing to fight) and an active component (working for peace). Many pacifists may seek to be recognized conscientious objectors by their government, and may actively seek other ways to avoid all participation in their nation's maintenance or use of military forces. Pacifists believe that if their community is threatened by a crisis of aggressive opposition, all aggression as such should be opposed, including self-defensive "aggression". Those who advocate a philosophy of total non-violence at all levels may offer pragmatic arguments for the benefits of non-violent resistance; however, a radical pacifistic position is in the final analysis a moral, spiritual or religious principle intended to be maintained at all cost, and therefore does not necessarily imply any optimistic expectation for the material benefits of this policy. Radical pacifists would believe that it is better to be killed while sticking firmly to their principles of nonviolence than to fight back and survive (principle over practicality). They would consider submitting to violence against them the only morally acceptable option, and consider their death noble martyrdom. A conscientious objector is an individual whose personal beliefs are incompatible with military service, perhaps with any role in the armed forces or just with a particular war. ...

Today, some countries (for example, Switzerland, Norway and Germany) offer civilian service in order to allow pacifists not to go into the military. Civilian Service is service to a government made as a Civilian, particularly such service as an option for pacifists who object to military service. ...

Pacifism and international aggressions

Some pacifists and multilateralists are in favor of the establishment of a world government as a means to prevent and control international aggression without the UN veto problem. Many large regions (such as the United States, India and Europe) have banded (or have been banded) together to form a political entity. Groups of people within the organization may not like or agree with each other. However war between themselves is considered very unlikely. In the case of India and the United States this is because it is physically impossible (no separate armies) and emotionally unlikely (feelings of being part of one nation). A world government, however, is less likely when different regions are separated by culture, language and economic development. These give rise to frictions due to different perspectives on laws and on social equality. There is less of a feeling of 'us'. It is also easier for politicians to divide up such separated people by appealing to tribal feelings. Multilateralism is an international relations term that refers to multiple countries working in concert. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and conform with our NPOV policy, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The veto power is a power wielded solely by the 5 permanent members of the UN security council. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to some dispute as to Europes actual borders. ... Tribal refers to a culture or society based on tribes or clans. ...

Pacifism and religion

A commitment to pacifism is often based on religious beliefs. In particular, many Buddhists are pacifist, as are members of the Religious Society of Friends, Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, Unitarian Universalist and some other Christian groups. Strictly speaking, Jehovah's Witnesses espouse neutrality rather than pacifism, but in practical terms this means the same thing - a complete rejection of any type of participation in war. There have also been non-violent movements in Islam, in the 20th century the Khudai Khidmatgar movement being a classic example of non-violence being used successfully in combination against a colonial ruler. Fishers of Men, oil on panel by Adriaen van de Venne (1614) Various religious symbols Religion is commonly defined as a group of beliefs concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, and rituals associated with such belief. ... Buddhism (Pāli Buddhadhamma or Sanskrit Buddhadharma) is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived in the 5th century BCE. Buddhism spread throughout the ancient Indian sub-continent in the five centuries following his death, and propagated into Central, Southeast, and... The Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as Quakers or Friends) was founded in England in the 17th century by people who were dissatisfied with the existing denominations and sects of Christianity. ... The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist (Re-baptizers) denominations named after and influenced by the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons (1496-1561). ... The Church of the Brethren was organized by Alexander Mack, a miller, in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708. ... The flaming chalice is the universally recognized symbol for Unitarian Universalism. ... Neutral means balanced between two or more opposites. ... Khudai Khidmatgar literally translates as the servants of God. ...

Opinions are divided among Christians over whether Jesus advocated pacifist teachings. Certain Christian denominations, known as peace churches, have taken the position that he did do so, and believe further that early Christianity was essentially pacifist in nature. The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy was a Christian pacifist. He argued that Christians were obliged to be pacifists, and that pacifists, in turn, were obliged to be anarchists — since government is based on the use of force. Tolstoy was influenced by Henry David Thoreau's writings on civil disobedience. Tolstoy's own writings on pacifism and nonresistance influenced Gandhi's nonviolent resistance movement in the 1930's. Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, known by Christians as Jesus Christ, and New Testament accounts of his life and teachings. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Peace churches are Christian churches, groups or communities advocating pacifism. ... Leo Tolstoy, pictured late in life Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (help· info) (Russian: Лев Никола́евич Толсто́й; commonly referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy) (September 9, 1828 – November 20, 1910, N.S.; August 28, 1828 – November 7, 1910, O.S.) was a Russian novelist, social reformer, pacifist, Christian anarchist, vegetarian, moral thinker and... Christian anarchism (also known as Christian libertarianism) is the belief that the only source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable is God, embodied in the teachings of Jesus. ... Coercion is the practice of compelling a person to act by employing threat of harm (usually physical force, sometimes other forms of harm). ... Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862; born David Henry Thoreau) was an American author, naturalist, transcendentalist, pacifist, tax resister and philosopher who is famous for Walden, on simple living amongst nature, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, on resistance to civil government and... It has been suggested that Civil and social disobedience be merged into this article or section. ... Nonresistance (or non-resistance) discourages physical resistance to an enemy and is a subdivision of nonviolence. ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी; Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી; October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) was a major political and spiritual leader of India, and the Indian independence movement. ... Nonviolent resistance (or nonviolent action) comprises the practice of applying power to achieve socio-political goals through symbolic protests, economic or political noncooperation, civil disobedience and other methods, without the use of violence. ...

In the modern era, theologians such as Mennonite John Howard Yoder and United Methodist Stanley Hauerwas have been strong advocates for Christian pacifism. Both have strengthened the pacifist argument with sophisticated philosophical underpinnings, grounded in the Bible and the life, words, and person of Jesus. The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist (Re-baptizers) denominations named after and influenced by the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons (1496-1561). ... Dr. J.H. Yoder John Howard Yoder (1927-1997) was a Christian theologian, ethicist, and Biblical scholar best known for his radical Christian pacifism, his mentoring of future theological giants such as Stanley Hauerwas, his loyalty to his Mennonite faith, and his 1972 masterpiece The Politics of Jesus. ... The United Methodist Church is the largest Methodist denomination, and the second-largest Protestant one, in the United States. ... Dr. Stanley Hauerwas Stanley Hauerwas (July 24, 1940- ) is a United Methodist theologian and ethicist who is currently the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC. In his career, he has attempted to emphasize the importance of virtue and character within the Church. ... The Bible (Hebrew: תנ״ך tanakh, Greek: η Βίβλος hē biblos) (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Word of God, The Word Scripture, Scripture), from Greek (τα) βίβλια, (ta) biblia, (the) books, is the name used by Jews and Christians for their (differing but overlapping) canons of sacred texts. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Non-pacifistic religions, including Judaism, many variants of Christianity, and of Islam, have usually made no pretense of meaning "pacifism" when they teach that there exists an obligation to pursue peace: typically constructing rules, sometimes very elaborately defined, under which the use of aggression for the establishment and maintenance of justice may be legitimate. Non-pacifist Christians typically interpret Christ to have taught patience under even extreme religious persecution, but do not directly extend the teaching as a rule for the governance of nations or the strategies of police forces. Most (the Roman Catholic Church in particular) adopt some formulation of the Just War Theory, by which the use of violence or force is deemed legitimate and necessary under certain circumstances, on which occasions non-participation may be judged morally wrong. Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people with around 15 million followers as of 2006 [1]. It is one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths and one of the oldest religious traditions still practiced today. ... Islam (Arabic: ; ( ), submission (to the will of God) is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... For other uses of the term, see Catholic Church (disambiguation). ... Just War theory is the attempt to distinguish between justifiable and unjustifiable uses of organized armed forces. ...

Religions without a pacifist stance usually emphasize the inherent limitations of aggression, but do not teach that force is in fundamental contradiction of their basic principles. However, nearly all religions reject violence as a means of proselytism although there are notable cases in which this principle has been ignored, such as the massacre of the Thessalonicans under Roman Emperor Theodosius I. The English language word proselytism is derived ultimately from the Greek language prefix pros (towards) and the verb erchomai (to come). ... For other senses of this name, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... On the reverse of this coin minted under Valentinian II, both Valentinian and Theodosius are depicted with halos. ...

Some of the pacifist religions and philosophies have sometimes approved the use of force in apparent contradiction of their principles, although not always by taking up weapons themselves. During World War II some members of Quaker and Mennonite churches in the United States served as medical workers in the army or put aside their pacifist beliefs altogether and fought in the battlefield.

Pacifist social movements based on religion

Followers of pacifist religions often go to great lengths to effect change. One of the best known cases is that of Mohandas Gandhi. He based his call to Satyagraha, or peaceful protest, on Ahimsa, Satya and Tapasya all concepts found in Hinduism and the other Dharmic religions. The movement of nonviolent reistance which Gandhi built played a major role in India's independence. This also had a practical side as well. The commitment of Gandhi's followers to nonviolence contrasted with the violence used by the British against them and helped to sway public opinion in their favor. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी), called Mahatma Gandhi, was the charismatic leader who brought the cause of Indias independence from British colonial rule to world attention. ... {{for|an account of the opera of that title by Philip Glass| Satyagraha is the philosophy of nonviolent resistance most famously employed by Mohandas Gandhi in forcing an end to the British Raj and also against apartheid in South Africa. ... Ahimsa is a religious concept which advocates non-violence and a respect for all life. ... Satya is a true badman. ... Tapasya is a principle of austerity or willingness to bear suffering in Hinduism and related religions such as Buddhism and Jainism. ... Dharma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Among mainstream Christian churches, strong pacifist movements emerged in the twentieth century. This is particularly the case in the Anglican Communion, and among other liberal Protestant denominations where there exists a strong focus on the social gospel. The Anglican Communion uses the compass rose as its symbol, signifying its worldwide reach and decentralized nature. ... The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant movement that was most prominent in the late 19th and early to mid-20th century. ...

Pacifism in mainstream Christian denominations

The origins of the mainstream Christian pacifist movements can be traced back to the 1930s, when, in the wake of the First World War, modern pacifism emerged. It was first seen in predominantly intellectual circles, both religious and secular, initially in Great Britain. In previous decades in that nation it had been associated with other radical movements, such as the suffragettes. In the backlash after the war, many writers, such as Virginia Woolf, Olaf Stapledon and Aldous Huxley brought pacifism to the forefront of intellectual thought. This caused many theologians and clergy to reassess their previously held positions. Suffragette with banner, Washington DC, 1918 The title of suffragette was given to members of the womens suffrage movement in the United Kingdom and United States, particularly in the years prior to World War I. The name was the Womens Social and Political Union (founded in 1903). ... Virginia Woolf (25 January 1882 – 28 March 1941) was a British author who is considered to be one of the foremost modernist/feminist literary figures of the twentieth century. ... William Olaf Stapledon (1886 – 1950) was a British philosopher and author of several influential works of science fiction. ... Aldous Leonard Huxley (July 26, 1894 – November 22, 1963) was a British writer who emigrated to the United States. ...

Possibly the key figure in making pacifism "respectable" to the general public was Richard "Dick" Sheppard, an Anglican priest prominent due to his position as broadcaster of the BBC's first religious program. Sheppard, a former army chaplain, had come to believe that war, militarism and nationalism was blatantly counter to Christ's teachings. He thus founded the hugely successful "Peace Pledge Union," a secular organisation committed to "No More War!" The "Pledge" was as follows: "I renounce war and never again, directly or indirectly, will I support or sanction another." Within one year, Sheppard had 100 000 signatories to his cause, though the many were to later break this oath and fight in the Second World War. Sheppard's Christian philosophy can perhaps best be summarised by this quote, "Not peace at any price, but love at all costs. At all costs...Though my enemy slay me, I will die rather than hate him." Sheppard died in 1937, the loss of his charismatic presence being a huge blow to his organisation, occurring as it did at a time when the faith of some members was wavering due to the rise of Nazism in mainland Europe. That same year, a specifically Anglican offshoot of the Peace Pledge Union, the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, emerged. Both the PPU and APF are still in existence and are highly active in "constructive" or "positive" efforts towards peace (a contrast to the earlier "negative" pacifism, which defined itself as "anti-military" and "anti-war" without offering any pragmatic solutions to support this ideology.) The Peace Pledge Union is a British non-governmental organization which emerged from an initiative by Richard Sheppard, canon of St Pauls Cathedral, in 1933. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The term National Socialism has been used in self-description by a number of different political groups and ideologies, some of which have no connection with the Nazis; see National socialism (disambiguation). ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to some dispute as to Europes actual borders. ... The Peace Pledge Union is a British non-governmental organization which emerged from an initiative by Richard Sheppard, canon of St Pauls Cathedral, in 1933. ...

In 2005, the APF had approximately 1500 members worldwide, both clergy and laymen. Prominent early members of the APF included former British Labour Party leader (and Nobel Prize nominee) George Lansbury, literary figure Vera Brittain and Anglican theologian Evelyn Underhill. These were involved in a number of campaigns in the late 1930s, the most prominent being a drive to ban bomber aircraft (due to their ability to inflict huge numbers of civilian casualities). This latter cause has been likened to today's anti-nuclear rallies. The Right Honourable George Lansbury (February 21, 1859 - May 7, 1940) was a British Labour politician, socialist, Christian pacifist, and newspaper editor. ... Vera Mary Brittain, Lady Catlin (1893 – March 29, 1970) was an English writer, feminist and pacifist, best remembered as the author of the best-selling memoir Testament of Youth, recounting her experiences during the First World War and the growth of her ideology of specifically Anglican Christian pacifism. ... Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941) was an Anglican writer on mysticism, a novelist, and a metaphysical poet. ...

The most notable Anglican of this period not to be a pacifist was the academic and writer C. S. Lewis. Lewis, in fact, denounced the movement on his radio show during the war years. (It must be noted that many other theologians and clergy were blacklisted from broadcasting in this period by the authorities precisely due to their pacifist beliefs.) It should also be noted that, whilst hugely influential as a populariser of religion, Lewis' pronouncedly conservative views on many issues are not those of mainstream Anglican theologians today. C.S. Lewis Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898–22 November 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an Irish author and scholar, of mixed Irish, English, and Welsh ancestry. ...

Perhaps the greatest success of APF has been the ratification of the pacifist position at two successive Lambeth Conferences, though some Anglicans still would not regard themselves as pacifists. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Amongst modern Anglican pacifists, Desmond Tutu is a prominent example. The Most Reverend Desmond Mpilo Tutu (born October 7, 1931) is a South African cleric and activist who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. ...

Rowan Williams led an almost united Anglican Church in Britain in opposition to the 2003 Iraq War, mirrored by Peter Carnley, who similarly led a front of bishops opposed to the Australian Government's involvement in the invasion. Again, though, this was as the result of the circumstances of this particular attack. Whether opposition would occur to a more popularly supported war remains to be seen. Dr Rowan Williams Lord Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Rowan Douglas Williams, FBA (born 14 June 1950) is the Archbishop of Canterbury, a theologian, poet, and lecturer. ... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation) The Iraq War (2003-present) is an ongoing conflict in Iraq, which began with the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and continues to the present in the form of an insurgent rebellion, which is partly believed to be assisted by Muslim militant groups like... The Most Reverend Dr Peter Carnley AO (1937-) was the Archbishop of Perth, Australia and was Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia from 2000 until July 2005. ... This article describes the national government of Australia. ...

Within the Roman Catholic Church, the Pax Christi organisation is the premiere pacifist lobby group. It holds positions similar to APF and indeed, the two organisations are known to work together on ecumenical projects. Within the Roman Catholic world, there has been a discerible move towards a more pacifist position through the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Indeed, the Popes Benedict XV, John XXIII and John Paul II were all vocal in their opposition to specific wars. However, the Roman Church has not declared itself to be specifically pacifist, nor has it returned to the practice of its pre-Augustinian days, whereby those who served in the military were barred from the Eucharist. Pax Christi is an international Catholic peace movement, which nowadays regards itself as ecumenical. ... This info has been edited. ... Pope John XXIII (Latin: ), born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (November 25, 1881 – June 3, 1963), he was elected as the 261st Pope of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City on October 28, 1958. ... Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), born Karol Józef Wojtyła (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005) reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years, from October 16, 1978 until his death, making his the second-longest pontificate. ...

Since the nineteenth century there has been a notable trend among prominent lay Roman Catholics towards pacifism. Individuals such as Dorothy Day and Henri Nouwen stand out among them. In addition, martyred El Salvadorian Bishop Oscar Romero was notable for using non-violent resistance tactics and wrote meditative sermons focusing on the power of prayer and peace. Dorothy Day was declared Servant of God when a cause for sainthood was opened for her by Pope John Paul II. Dorothy Day (November 8, 1897 - November 29, 1980) was a journalist turned social activist (she was an Industrial Workers of the World member) and devout member of the Roman... Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen (January 24, 1932 - October 2, 1996) was a Dutch Catholic priest and writer who authored 40 books on the spiritual life. ... Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980), commonly known as Monseñor Romero, was a priest of the Roman Catholic Church in El Salvador. ...

By taking the name Benedict XVI, some suspect that Joseph Ratzinger will continue the strong emphasis upon non-violent conflict resolution of his predecessor. Whether this means a further move towards support for pacifist ideology remains to be seen. It is significant that representatives from both conservative and liberal factions of the Roman Catholic communion are giving expression to pacifist ideology. Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: ), born Josef Alois Ratzinger (born April 16, 1927) is the 265th and reigning Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and sovereign of Vatican City State. ... Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: ), born Josef Alois Ratzinger (born April 16, 1927) is the 265th and reigning Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and sovereign of Vatican City State. ...

Criticisms/paradoxes of Pacifism

If a people are being suppressed violently and brutally by an organization (say led by a dictator) the extreme pacifist view from the inside would be to not oppose the dictator violently, and from the outside would be not to support military opposition to the dictator. However, this leads to a potential paradox. While it is true that military opposition to the dictator would result in violence, much violence is already being done by the dictator. Could a short bout of violence (to depose the dictator) shorten the long bout of violence (due to the dictator)? Is a pacifist supposed to worry about that? It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Dictatorship. ...

The ideology and political practice of pacifism has been criticized by American activist Ward Churchill, in his book, Pacifism as Pathology. Churchill argues that all of the social and political advancements cited by pacifists as the direct result of non-violent action could not have been made without the influence of concurrent violent struggles. Ward Churchill Ward LeRoy Churchill (born October 2, 1947) is an American writer, activist, and academic. ...

Some commentators, including Jan Narveson, argue that pacifism is a self-contradictory doctrine. Narveson claims that the pacifist believes a person has no right to indulge in violence. Therefore, a person has a right not to have violence done to her or him, and this right of security consists of the right to defend oneself from violence. As Narveson puts it, “the prevention of infractions of that right is precisely what one has a right to when one has a right at all." Narveson then discusses how rational persuasion is a good but often inadequate method of discouraging an aggressor. One has a right to use any means necessary to prevent deprivation from occurring, and force might be necessary. Therefore, a pacifist must be allowed to use violence in order to protect her or his rights.^[1] Jan Narveson (b. ...

Quotes

• What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy? - Mahatma Gandhi
• In all history there is no war which was not hatched by the governments, the governments alone, independent of the interests of the people, to whom war is always pernicious even when successful. - Leo Tolstoy
• Being a pacifist between wars is as easy as being a vegetarian between meals. - Ammon Hennacy
• The concept of nonviolence is a false ideal. It presupposes the existence of compassion and a sense of justice on the part of one's adversary. When this adversary has everything to lose and nothing to gain by exercising justice and compassion, his reaction can only be negative. - George Jackson.
• Being a pacifist to save your own life is normal, being a pacifist for the lives of others is true pacifism. - Jacob Borer
• The Holy Prophet Mohammed came into this world and taught us - That man is a Muslim who never hurts anyone by word or deed, but who works for the benefit and happiness of God's creatures. Belief in God is to love one's fellow men. - Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
• We're searching for a place. A place where we can live peaceful days. A place with no wars, nor stealing.... a place where people can live as people. - Vash the Stampede (fictional, Trigun)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी; Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી; October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) was a major political and spiritual leader of India, and the Indian independence movement. ... Leo Tolstoy, pictured late in life Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (help· info) (Russian: Лев Никола́евич Толсто́й; commonly referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy) (September 9, 1828 – November 20, 1910, N.S.; August 28, 1828 – November 7, 1910, O.S.) was a Russian novelist, social reformer, pacifist, Christian anarchist, vegetarian, moral thinker and... Ammon Hennacy Ammon Hennacy (July 24, 1893 - January 14, 1970) was a pacifist, Christian anarchist, vegetarian, social activist, member of the Catholic Worker Movement and a Wobbly, and was known for establishing the Joe Hill House of Hospitality in Salt Lake City, Utah and never paying taxes. ... Cover of Soledad Brother George Jackson (September 23, 1941 – August 21, 1971) was a Black American militant who became a member of the Black Panther Party while in prison, where he spent the last 12 years of his life. ... Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Urdu: خان عبد Ù„ غفار خان) (b. ... Trigun manga, volume 1 (English version) Trigun (トライガン) is a 26-episode Anime series which originally aired in 1998 in Japan. ... Trigun (トライガン) is a sci-fi manga series with a steampunk Wild West theme created by Yasuhiro Nightow in 1995, and adapted into a 26 episode anime series in 1998 by Madhouse. ...

See also

• Ahimsa
• Antimilitarism
• Anarchism
• Christian anarchism
• List of pacifist faiths
• Christian Peacemaker Teams
• Criticisms of the War on Terrorism
• List of pacifists
• Martialism
• Militarism
• Multilateralism
• Nonresistance
• Nonviolence
• Nonviolent resistance
• Opposition to the Vietnam War
• Pacifist organisation
• Peace
• Peace camp
• Peace churches: Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Mennonites, Brethren, Polish Brethren
• Popular opposition to the 2003 Iraq war
• Protests against the 2003 Iraq war
• Tax resistance
• Unitarian Universalist Association
• World government

Ahimsa is a religious concept which advocates non-violence and a respect for all life. ... Antimilitarism is a doctrine commonly found in the anarchist and socialist movement, which may be both characterized as internationalist movements. ... Anarchism is derived from the Greek αναρχία (without archons (ruler, chief, king)). Anarchism as a political philosophy, is the belief that all forms of social coercion, such as governments and social hierarchies are undesireable. ... Christian anarchism (also known as Christian libertarianism) is the belief that the only source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable is God, embodied in the teachings of Jesus. ... This is a list of faiths or religious groups that teach pacifism. ... Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is an international organization set up to support teams of peace workers in conflict areas around the world. ... Criticisms of the War on Terrorism addresses the issues, morals, ethics, efficiency, and other questions surrounding the War on Terrorism. Arguments are also made against the phrase itself, calling it a misnomer. ... This is a list of people who have been referred to as pacifists. ... Martialism is an approach to self-defense first described by martial arts author Phil Elmore. ... Militarism or militarist ideology is the doctrinal view of a society as being best served (or more efficient) when it is governed or guided by concepts embodied in the culture, doctrine, system, or people of the military. ... Multilateralism is an international relations term that refers to multiple countries working in concert. ... Nonresistance (or non-resistance) discourages physical resistance to an enemy and is a subdivision of nonviolence. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality, power and conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ... Nonviolent resistance (or nonviolent action) comprises the practice of applying power to achieve socio-political goals through symbolic protests, economic or political noncooperation, civil disobedience and other methods, without the use of violence. ... Opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War began slowly and in small numbers in 1964 on various college campuses in the United States. ... A Pacifist organisation promotes the pacifist principles of standing against war and aggression. ... Widely-recognized peace symbol Peace is commonly understood to mean the Other definitions include freedom from disputes, harmonious relations and the absence of mental stress or anxiety, as the meaning of the word changes with context. ... First peace camps Peace camps are known from the 1920s. ... Peace churches are Christian churches, groups or communities advocating pacifism. ... The Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as Quakers or Friends) was founded in England in the 17th century by people who were dissatisfied with the existing denominations and sects of Christianity. ... The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist (Re-baptizers) denominations named after and influenced by the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons (1496-1561). ... The Brethren are any of several Christian denominations, most of which are Anabaptist-Pietist. ... Polish Brethren (also called Antitrinitians, Arians, or Socinians) was the name of a Christian Polish sect from the 16th century. ... This article is about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... This article is about protests concerning the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... A tax resister resists or refuses payment of a tax because of opposition to the institution collecting the tax, or to some of that institution’s policies. ... Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), in full the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations in North America, is a liberal religious denomination of Unitarian Universalist congregations formed by the consolidation in 1961 of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church in America. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and conform with our NPOV policy, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

External links

• ACTivist Magazine
• Nonviolence.org
• The Philosophy of Nonviolence
• A Pacifist Dictionary
• (Didn't Know I Was) UnAmerican
• A Look at the Cultural Roots of German Pacifism
• Writings on Christian Nonresistance and Pacifism from Anabaptist-Mennonite Sources
• Anti-War Directory
• Bruderhof Peacemakers Guide - profiles of famous and obscure pacifists
• A New Way
• Pacifism in 19th century New Zealand against the British and colonial invaders
• anabaptist.org
• Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
• A Case against War
• Peace Pledge Union
• Source documents in Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia
• Manifesto against conscription and the military system, on official website
• Manifesto against conscription and the military system, with online signature, official website
• The IWW’s Position on War and Militarism

Notes

1. ↑ Narveson, Jan. 1965. “Pacifism: A Philosophical Analysis.” Ethics, LXXV: 4, pp 259-271.