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Can we support those with whom we don’t agree?
Beheading of Anabaptist Martyrs (Rembrandt) Goshen College has been in the news a lot this year. This small school in Indiana was founded by believers steeped in the Anabaptist tradition, specifically...
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Does Just War Theory bring peace or just war?
I saw a question asked online the other day which I found to be quite compelling. I read Rex Butts’ blog post on “The Evangelistic Scandal,” which led me to Scot McKnight’s discussion of Lee Camp’s new...
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Good men doing something
We’re taking time this week with a much-repeated phrase: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” In the context of conservative churches, this saying has become a...
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Righting historical wrongs
As we look at questions of justice on a global scale, we quickly come to see that situations are very complex. For example, disputes over territorial claims aren’t easily resolved. (Anybody remember...
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A country of peace
Costa Rica proclaims itself to be a country of peace. They abolished their army in 1948 and never looked back. Costa Ricans will quickly tell you that their citizens are considered among the happiest...
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Prayer of Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness,...
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A non-militarist Veteran’s Day
As someone with pacifistic beliefs, Veteran’s Day presents a challenge, one that I haven’t always met gracefully. Let me try and offer some thoughts, hoping to hear your thoughts as well: Veterans...
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Stop supporting the “war” on terrorism
Cartoon by Glenn McCoy Some of my Christian friends support war when that war can be defined as a just war. Not everyone who holds this position is versed in “just war theory,”so I guess we can’t...
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Why not try God’s way
We’ve seen that human solutions are never as good as divine ones. We’ve seen that evil rulers and nations are sometimes agents of God to bring about a greater good. We’ve seen that God’s timetable for...
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No more speaking up for evil
OK, I want to go back to a recurring theme on this blog, the idea of speaking to the political system from outside the system. I admittedly wrestle with terminology a bit, for I tend to think of...
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The value of human life
Scenario 1: “Q: What’s sandy all over and glows in the dark? A: Iran, if they harm even one of the hostages.” It was 1980. Iran was holding American citizens hostage. Americans! We were high school...
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What about the second mile?
In discussing the issues of violence and non-violence, pacifism and non-pacifism, something comes up at times that I think needs to be re-examined. I’ve heard it said that Jesus’ comments about...
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Talking about values
In 2007, the Pew Research Center released the results of a survey about “Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes.” It’s a topic they regularly research. There are encouraging findings, like:...
View ArticleWaging Peace
In English, the word “peace” conjures up a passive picture, one showing an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities, or a personality free from internal and external strife. The biblical concept of...
View ArticleShalom Builders
Yesterday, I was pointing out that “peace” in the Bible has a broader range of meanings than merely the absence of conflict. This is especially true in Hebrew. We have to feel that the Hebrew meaning...
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Greg Boyd on pacifism and government
I posted a link the other day to an article by Greg Boyd discussing what he (a pacifist) would say to the president about Syria. He raised some interesting points. I’m not sure that I’m in full...
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39 Shades of Peacemaking
Pacifism. Pacific-ism. Passivism. Political Pacifism. Absolute vs. Contingent Pacifism. Maximal vs. Minimal Pacifism. Universal vs. Particular Pacifism. Skeptical and Prima Facie Pacifism....
View ArticleChristians being killed
We hear stories of persecuted Christians around the world. They’re troubling to me, as I’m sure they are to you. It’s awful to think of people dying for their religious beliefs. It’s puzzling to me,...
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From brother to enemy
Army basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. We’re at the 100 year anniversary of the War to End All Wars; somehow I don’t think that concept worked so well. Yesterday, a Cuban friend posted on Facebook a...
View ArticleChanges coming regarding Cuba
On Friday, President Trump plans to announce changes to the United States policy toward Cuba. I pray that these changes will benefit the Cuban people. I put a similar statement on Facebook when Obama...
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