This article expresses to both pacifists and non-pacifists that one does not have to settle for the world’s current state of affairs regarding peace and stresses the importance of active resistance against evil. It puts forth several ideas to aid in the progression of a more peaceful society through the reduction of military force. This article acknowledges that many Americans believe that there is no solution to the current military system. In response, it argues that the answer to this problem is the practical implementation of religious truth and love in human relations. It is my contention that through a thorough exploration of the article itself, the circumstances surrounding the article, and by investigation of how it relates to themes …show more content…
It put forth several strategies for reducing conflict and starts with stimulating a discussion surrounding peace. In this respect, the article speaks directly to pacifists and non-pacivists alike, calling for the recognition of the flaws of current American policies surrounding peace and to disprove the notion that violence can be used to protect one’s country from violence as the article voices that no policy can be sustained with such a claim as it’s foundation. It also acknowledges the conflict between pacifist religious inclinations and the policies set forth by the government. It also proposes a solution to the current means of resorting to violence and committing evils to “protect” their country against others. The author proposes and objection of violence in all circumstances and argues that with love being in discriminatory between men of different nations, standing outside of the boundaries of time, and serving as an inherent religious truth, it can be the remedy to war and can mend relations between …show more content…
This group has strived to achieve peace through publishing a series of works thoroughly discussing problems of peace around the world and the methods to be used within these societies to reduce conflict. Such articles include The United States and the Soviet Union (1949) and Toward Disarmament Through Security (1952). The current issue is called Speak Truth to Power and deals with the innermost truth of the Quakers and comes to the understanding of three aspects of power which are those who are of authority to make decisions on war and peace, Americans and their standard of behaviour which sets then sets the standard for those who create and enforce policies regarding peace, and last is power itself and how it impacts the past century. These articles were approved by a committee board as a means to stimulate discussion surrounding peace which in hopes will ultimately lead to changes in the policies surrounding peace. While the article thoroughly discusses steps for pacifism to take to better society, it admits to the lack of pacifist input in recent discussions of peace but expresses that the pacifist opinion has been deemed irrelevant in discussions of these matters for possible reasons like seeming ignorant to the sacrifices that must be made in certain instances in the name of peace or
Rather brutally honest with their views on the conflict, the children spoke with the minimal prior knowledge they had. This way, the film sought to capture the impartial opinions of victims in the crisis. However, the consequence of this supposed path to reality lies in the children’s unweighted belief in their single and likely predisposed source of knowledge -- correlated with using a microcosm to explain a macrocosm. Religion -- the man-made practice of worshipping a supernatural force -- distorts a country’s peace. Some may argue that religion unifies a country because of its standards and morals. Nevertheless, religion has been created by man -- an interpreted way to practice faith, which is commonly misconcepted as religion. Religion is one’s interpretation of a practice that will satisfy a supernatural force. While every interpretation differs infinitesimally, so does religion -- from individual to individual. With this as a basis for such a prime conflict in Southwest Asia, no matter who decides to step into both shoes of the conflict, impartiality will never be achieved because of the infinite number of shoes that must be stepped into. That said, only a portion of this conflict was covered by the film, but must not be held against the film because of the impossibility to do so. Additionally, because this film was a primary account of the conflict, it definitely veered from conventional classroom notes which are secondary or tertiary
Most pacifists are committed to finding new and imaginative methods of conflict resolution. “The Quakers”, for example, are a Christian group who are famous for their pacifist stance. This is not a doctrinal tradition and there is no rule to say that Quakers must not fight under any circumstances, they have chosen to follow this path, as they have done for over 300 years. Quakers believe there is something of God in all people. They believe that more can be accomplished by appealing to this capacity for love and goodness than can be hoped for by threatening punishment or retaliation. Instead of harming and killing, they us “spiritual weapons” – love, truth, imagination and laughter – weapons that heal, not destroy.
Pacifism in the Twentieth Century, an expanded version of Peter Brocks 1970 book, is a cogent survey that has a remarkable knack for clarifying complex issues. It is sensitive to the issues of pacifism but does not fall into the trap that so many other similar studies do, of uncritically accepting the arguments of anti-war groups. On the contrary, Brock and Nigel Young directly address the contradictions within the movement, and the degree to which inconsistency and disunity have often been near-fatal weaknesses. Its one significant shortcoming is its bias towards pacifism in the Anglo-American countries. The movement
Throughout history many people have debated whether or not nonviolent acts work or is it tactic that wastes time. Many places across the globe including the United States has depended on violent acts in order settle foreign and domestic disputes. Even though many people believe violence is a way to settle disputes a lot of places have discovered other alternatives in order to solve their problems peacefully. One of the alternative methods that societies are leaning towards is nonviolence. Nonviolence had become an effective tool to help fix social problems in many places around the world. Even though solving problems peacefully as a major impact on the people involved it still comes with negative aspects. This essay will prove how practicing
‘War. War never changes.’ The tagline from the popular video game series, Fallout, suggesting that although the weapons used and how wars are fought my change, conflict in human nature never changes. Is war an inevitable part of global politics? According to Immanuel Kant the answer is no. Kant would have us believe that a perpetual peace is possible. In this essay I will discuss whether war is an inevitable part of global politics, and whether or not perpetual peace is possible, with reference to the work of Immanuel Kant. The body of my essay will consist of four main sections. What is meant by war and peace, in the global political perspective, Immanuel Kant’s position on the questions, and other theories and ideologies that would seek to
In this paper I will be analyzing and critiquing the theory of pacifism. This theory is the belief that war is never an option under any circumstance. Even if a nation is being attacked a pacifist will believe that retaliating is morally wrong for a number of reasons. Such reasons behind pacifism are supported by issues of morality and what the pacifist themselves feel to be morality. I will provide three arguments to the pacifist way of thinking.
Destruction, displacement, and death are all words associated with any war. With that so is the Just Post Bellum, after war. Just Post Bellum has been the concept that deals with morality of the concluding phase of the war. The objective is to maintain peace and justice after the war is over, which will mitigate any other blow ups that may be forthcoming. Just Post Bellum consists of four principle: just cause, reconciliation, punishment, and restoration. These fundamental areas all aid guidance to promote Augustine’s tranquillitas ordinis. “Just war should aim at establishing a just peace” (11) Lifelong peace is what Augustine and the Just Post Bellum are the ultimate desired outcomes of both.
We as human beings should be able to understand that we are the ones who formulate our own society. Therefore every individual must always be in the right position to act according to the laws of God and not of man or of the government (Tolstoy, 1901). Moreover (Tolstoy, 1901) states that if people were free to do their own will without the intervention of the government then they will be fewer chances of war and terror. On the other hand (Ritchie, 1940) identifies two scenarios whereby one has to stand for pacifism and the other one is to act according to the civic virtue. Basically, civic virtue deals more with the personal feeling of the humans and the consequences of these feelings in the society whiles pacifism can better be explained
Since the end of the Cold War, the total amount of wars has declined sharply compared to those that occurred during the cold war period. According to Baylis et al. the 1990’s were the least violent decade since the end of World War II. Along with the striking decline of wars, lie a new form of state cooperation, one which theorists call the Democratic Peace Theory. This theory holds that while democracies do go to war that they do not fight each other. In essence, in a region where all democratic countries exist, war will become nonexistent. However, along with the Democratic peace theory are other theories within the theory of Realism that pose great reasons for the causes of war. On the same note, we see new conflicts arising in the form of terrorism taking up the new image of wars. So despite the overall commendable decline of wars, wars continue to persevere in certain regions of the world where it is exhibiting new features. As a result, I agree with Joll’s argument that most wars have many intertwining causes especially in this day and era where most of the conflicts and all wars current are as a result of an ethnic clash often linking to religion. (Baylis et al. 2011).
In this paper, the author critically analyzes this article from various perspectives. Although the article is an important contribution to the IR literature on peace, some points in the article require further clarification and research. First, some issues with the two new variables and the way they are coded are discussed. Then, some general points about the conclusions they draw from the data are presented.
There is a conventional belief among many individuals that religion is the main cause of the present and past wars inflicting torment within the world. However, many humans fail to see past that belief; they are unable to understand that religion is just a small factor amongst the many contributing to the cause of wars. In fact, religion is merely a tool and an excuse used to hide the need for power and sins of the human nature. Among these factors, it may be the misinterpretation of religious teachings and the differing ideals of many individuals. Unfortunately, these factors are often overlooked as most people view this issue with a simplistic mindset.
When we are trying to attain world peace, we must first start with peace between individuals as these relationships are the building blocks of society and nations. Peace can be achieved by non-violent means or by the use of lethal force. This essay will explore notions of peace and conflict, advocating the use of non-violent means for resolving conflict. The environmental and social cost of lethal force is very high and unsustainable. Never the less, there are situations when justice requires the use of lethal force and examples of these will be discussed. The paper will conclude with the argument that ongoing life enhancing structural reform is required for the management and the prevention of future violent conflicts throughout the
In todays society there are many conflicts,or disagreements these conflicts and disagreements need to be solved. Some can be felt with by simply talking it out but others are on a global scale, and these will need more than talking to settle. Some conflicts on a global scale can lead to war, and others can be negotiated using peace. If you believe in only peace then you are a pacifist. Today’s society has war and peace as a solution to conflict but it is in everyones beliefs and values that will help them to form their own opinion on weather they are a pacifist or they believe in only war or bits of both, it is different for everyone .
1) 2) 3) The understanding of peace in religious traditions Peace expressed through the sacred texts- principle teachings on peace Contributions to peace (Individual and World)
‘Peace’ as a concept is seen through the lens of the fundamental problems faced by the world today: war, armed conflict and political violence. By insinuation, peace itself is understood predominantly as a negative concept, or as the absence of these phenomena (Atack, 2009).