Christianity and Nonviolence
Church Statements on the Iraq War
Call for Dialogue and Action on Responsible Transition in Iraq
A Statement of the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Bishop William S. Skylstad, Bishop of Spokane, Nov. 13, 2006
Church of the Brethren 2006 Resolution on Iraq
Church of the Brethren General Board, Des Moines, Iowa, July 5, 2006
Pastoral Message on the War in Iraq
Governing Board of the National Council of Churches USA, Nov. 7, 2006
End the War in Iraq
75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, June 2006
A Call to Repentance and Peace with Justice
United Methodist Bishops, Nov. 8, 2005
Statement on the War in Iraq
Mennonite Church USA Delegate Assembly, July 9, 2005
A Call to Speak Out
Governing Board of the National Council of Churches USA, July 4, 2005
A Call to Recover America's Moral Character
Church Folks for a Better America, October 2004
Iraq: Our Responsibility and the Future
216th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), 2004
Church of the Brethren 2004 Resolution on Iraq
Church of the Brethren General Board, July 5, 2004
Iraq and Beyond
215th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), 2003
Books on Christianity and Nonviolence:
Butigan, Ken. From Violence to Wholeness: A Ten-Part Program in the Spirituality and Practice of Active Nonviolence. Las Vegas: Pace e Bene Franciscan Nonviolence Center, 1999.
Chernus, Ira. American Nonviolence: The History of An Idea. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2004.
Cortright, David. Gandhi and Beyond: Nonviolence for an Age of Terrorism. Boulder: Paradigm Publishers, 2006.
Dear, John. Disarming the Heart: Toward a Vow of Nonviolence. Scottdale: Herald Press, 1993.
Dear, John. The God of Peace: Toward a Theology of Nonviolence. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1994.
Ferguson, John. The Politics of Love: The New Testament and Nonviolent Revolution. Nyack: Fellowship Publications, 1979.
Herr, Robert and Judy Zimmerman Herr. Transforming Violence: Linking Local and Global Peacemaking. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1998.
Kassmann, Margot. Overcoming Violence: The Challenge to the Churches in All Places. Geneva: WCC Publications, 1998.
Lederach, John Paul. The Journey Toward Reconciliation. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1999.
McDonald, Patricia M. God and Violence: Biblical resources for living in a small world. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 2004.
Mock, Ron. Loving Without Giving In: Christian Responses to Terrorism & Tyranny. Telford, PA: Cascadia Publishing House, 2004.
O’Gorman, Angie. The Universe Bends Toward Justice: A Reader on Christian Nonviolence in the U.S. Philadelphia: New Society Publishers, 1990.
Swartley, Willard M. Violence Renounced: Rene Girard, Biblical Studies, and Peacemaking. Telford, PA: Cascadia Publishing House, 2000.
Trocme, Andre. Jesus and the Nonviolent Revolution. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2003.
Wink, Walter. Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992.
Wink, Walter. The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium. New York: Galilee/Doubleday, 1998.
Wink, Walter. Peace is the Way: Writings on Nonviolence from the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2000.
Wink, Walter. Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.
Yoder, John Howard. The Politics of Jesus. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972.
Video
A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict (3-hour series)
This video documentary explores one of the 20th century’s most important but least-understood stories—how nonviolent “people power” overcame oppression and authoritarian rule all over the world. Part I recounts Mohandas Gandhi’s civil disobedience campaign against the British in India; the sit-ins and boycotts that desegregated downtown Nashville, Tenn.; and the nonviolent campaign against apartheid in South Africa. Part II recounts Danish resistance to the Nazis in World War II; the rise of Solidarity in Poland; and the momentous victory for democracy in Chile. Narrated by Ben Kingsley, it premiered on PBS in September 2000. Available from the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Study guide available online.
Soldiers Of Conscience
Their country asked them to kill. Their hearts asked them to stop.
A documentary film about our soldiers in Iraq facing the most difficult moral
decision of their lives: to kill or not to kill. Eight soldiers, torn between
the demands of duty and the call of conscience, including four who decide not
to kill – a realistic yet optimistic film about war, peace and the power
of the human conscience. Featuring Kevin Benderman, Joshua Casteel, Aidan Delgado,
and Camilo Mejia. (USA, 85 minutes)
Watch the trailer at www.socfilm.com
Interested in hosting a screening in your community? Help spark community conversations about conscience, war, and the potential for peace. Contact ian [at] lunaproductions [dot] com