For and Against Pacifism

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For and Against Pacifism

Pacifism subscribes to the idea of peace being the best goal and they

best means of achieving peace is always through peaceful methods. So

pacifists reject the use if physical force, even in the defence, and

maintain war is always wrong.

When it comes to pacifism there are arguments both for and against its

wide spread use. Arguments for include the teachings of Jesus, which

show that he taught about love our neighbours as ourselves and that we

should turn our cheek to violence against us. This is shown in Matthew

26:52 Jesus instructs Peter to drop his sword and not fight the Roman

guard and says 'all who live by the sword, will die by the sword.' And

again in Luke 6:7 where he instructed 'if someone strikes your cheek,

turn to him the other also.' These show Jesus was very much a pacifist

himself and as we are taught to follow Jesus example we should also

adopt pacifist views.

Another argument in favour of pacifism is that of the Hebrew idea of

Shalom. Shalom is a Hebrew word, which can be translated to mean

peace. However the idea behind shalom is much more than peace. It

embraces wholeness, a complete well-being, and a lively harmony. It is

about trust, openness, caring and justice. Shalom is a gift from God

and was brought to earth by Jesus.

Different Christian organisations have taken what the Bible teaches

about pacifism and interpreted it to be part of what their faith

teaches. For example Jehovah's witnesses refuse military service as a

matter if conscience, as their belief is that God demands pacifism

from them as his followers, regardless of any hostility they may face

or cost it may bring to them in other words their lives being taken.

They believe the state do not have the authority to go against God and

make anyone kill another human being. Then there is the Society of

Friends or the Quakers who believe under no circumstances must force

be used by armed forces, there should be no war weapons of any kind

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