From the category archives:

Violence

Maybe Learning to Die Well is the Best Response to Violence?

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I understand that violence and non-violence are each other’s contrasts. I understand that great spiritual leaders think of non-violence as superior to violence. And I understand why: a non-violent response shows a fundamental respect for life and it refuses to destroy in the name of revenge.
I also understand what some call a close cousin to [...]

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Is Violence Another Word for “Power”?

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Over the last few days, I have received a couple of comments from people who want to explore exactly how we should define violence.
One person suggested that violence does not have to be physical. We can hurt each other with words, he said. Or by hurtful actions, like stealing things.
So, I was thinking about the [...]

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What’s The Point of Using Non-Violence If You Still Die?

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Jesus and Gandhi say the same thing about non-violence. They say we should not use it because violence breeds violence, not peace. But, both of them were killed during the battle against their enemies. Jesus was killed at the height of his career, so to speak. Gandhi survived the height of his career, but was [...]

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Where Do We Find Courage to Be Non-Violent?

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Gandhi says we must expose those who destroy good things. We must smoke them out of their foxholes and into the light. He says the best way to fight evil is to do whatever it takes for the world to discover who is behind it.
He also says we should not harm those evil-doers when they [...]

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Why be Non-Violent Becasue Someone Asks That of Us?

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There is no need to watch a role model be non-violent in order to figure out that non-violence is a good thing. Is there?
Yesterday, someone suggested to me that followers of Jesus are called to be witnesses to non-violence. They must resist injustice with non-violence because Jesus told us to do so. That is what [...]

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Can Violence Be Beautiful?

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It is no secret that violence is a prevalent theme in movies, computer games, not to mention real life.
When I think of all the designing work that goes into the creation of movies and games, I cannot help thinking about aesthetics. You would think the creation of any scene in a movie involves considerations of [...]

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Is It Always Possible to Fight Injustice without Violence?

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I recently watched the film, Gandhi. It is no secret that this man accomplished by non-violent means what many violent initiatives have not been able to accomplish. Exposing injustice is what he wanted, and it is what he did.
Gandhi was a socially intelligent man, and very resilient.
Now, could it be that Gandhi’s non-violent ways worked [...]

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