Jesus and Nonviolence: Chapter 2

[Jamie McDaniel]

This is a thread for discussing chapter 2 of the book Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way by Walter Wink. When posting comments, please reference the page number in the book.

[kara speltz]

I thought one of the most important things in Chapter 2 was at the very end when Wink says, "I suspect that creative nonviolence can never be a genuinely moral response unless we are capable of first entertaining the possibility of violence and consciously saying, 'No.' Otherwise our nonviolence may actually be a mask for cowardice, as it most certainly was for me."

I suspect that's a question we always must ask ourselves. But I have to admit that after 40 years of nonviolent activism, it caught me by surprise.

kara

[Catt of the Garage]

Me, too. Still chewing on that one. I am startled and puzzled by Ghandi's insistence that violence is better than passivity, and the statement that he often turned away people who were afraid to bear arms. Where does that leave me? Because I hate violence, I am not worthy to take part in nonviolence?

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Catt of the Garage

Me, too. Still chewing on that one. I am startled and puzzled by Ghandi's insistence that violence is better than passivity, and the statement that he often turned away people who were afraid to bear arms. Where does that leave me? Because I hate violence, I am not worthy to take part in nonviolence?

I had the sense that it wasn't the act of violence that was important, but the courage to commit violence. It seems that it takes great courage to engage in nonviolent resistance, perhaps moreso than engaging in violence.

I read this chapter last night, and my mind is just spinning with the possibilities, but also wrestling with wrapping my mind around the concepts. I wish I had brought the book to work with me today.

[kara speltz]

Originally Posted by keltic63

I had the sense that it wasn't the act of violence that was important, but the courage to commit violence. It seems that it takes great courage to engage in nonviolent resistance, perhaps moreso than engaging in violence.

My sense was that Gandhi was saying that the most important thing to do is to resist injustice. To care enough to try and stop it. I'm reminded of the story of the Good Samaritan. One of the best sermons I ever heard on that suggested, rightfully so I suspect, that each of us has taken all of the roles in that story, the person who walks by and makes an excuse as to why they can't help and the person who helps, and even the person lying in the road. When we realize that we are all of them at various points in our lives, we can make a conscious choice to be the person who makes a difference. Kara

[rmnksdem]

yes - neither Ghandi nor Wink are advocating violence - but instead a conscious choosing of nonviolence as a response.

I often reflect on the painful choice that Bonhoeffer made to participate in the attempted assassination of Hitler. It may be that some acts of violence are for the greater good - although I'd say they'd be very few and far between.

If your refusal to act with violence is made from a position of courage and strength - an active resistance - then it is good. Wink's drawing a clear line that being nonviolent is NOT being passive.