Self Defense

[awediot]

Where does self defensive, counter violence fit in with the desire to turn the other cheek? I would like to imagine that if confronted with a thug bent on nothing but harming me, the lack of will to fight back would inspire a bit of degrading name calling about my doll collection and daintiness of my unmentionables, they would be (preferably moved, but likely...) disgusted enough to give up and move on... What if they are not? What if they will kill me, with or without defending myself? Does God want me to take it?

Political and social sufferring has nothing to do with a cretin out to bash our brains in.

If we could (should?) endure such abuse on ourselves, could we when its directed on another? If defensive violence could be used to stop an attack on a child or elderly person, is it justified? And to what level can one act to stop a planned attak on an innocent person or group?

Dont mean to beat a dead horse (sorry), as this vein of thought is foreign to me, thus the focus. I run the risk of appearring a tad obsessed to you. Please humour me awhile longer as this site implies some thought has been put in to this topic and I am truley curious, and a little confused as to how far Jesus intended passivity to go.