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Permalink Reply by Adria Gulizia on 4th mo. 7, 2011 at 12:25pm

Kathy, I think that what you're saying is so right, except for one thing. I think people have to find the light of God in one another BEFORE they can commit to non-violence. As long as non-violence is based on utilitarian concerns, whenever killing some people would save a larger number of people (see Libya), violence will always be a tempting, even valid, option. I think that it's only by stepping outside of our limited, rationalistic human notions of "the most good for the most people" can we truly commit to forswear violence.

 

It's easy to be non-violent when no one is attacking you or those you care about. Once the things you love are threatened with destruction, it's a different story. I think that only loving God MORE can keep you from responding violently. Loving God can help a person prefer martyrdom to murder; I don't know what else can.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Summers on 4th mo. 7, 2011 at 12:33pm

Yes, I think you are very right Adria. Thank you for what you shared. Kathy

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Permalink Reply by Lola Georg on 4th mo. 8, 2011 at 9:02pm

Violence never IS the solution to any problem.

 

I have a dream . . . . My dream is that as a species, human beings would agree NOT to use violence to solve our problems. If we could agree to do this as a species, then we could live without the military, as Costa Rica does. Then we could divert the funds we now spend on the military to feed, clothe, house, educate, and provide health care to every human being one the planet. Then where a person was born would no longer determine whether or not that person survived.

 

I have a dream . . . 

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