The Lenten journey of gospel nonviolence (Part 3)
Print Friendly Version| On the Road to Peace by John Dear S.J. | Tuesday, February 19, 2008 |
| Vol. 2, No. 24 |
"Can you be a good Catholic and support war?" That was the question put to me last week by CNN's anchorwoman Soledad O'Brien in front of a thousand people at Marquette University's annual "Faith Doing Justice" Mission Week. What could I say? I gave the only honest answer I could think of: "No."
On the panel with me were a professor from Rutgers who lectures on the benefits of the just war theory to the Armed Forces; a Jesuit academic who used to work for the bishops' conference on international issues who is also an expert on the just war theory; and a representative of the U.S. military, a former soldier who spoke passionately of the moral imperative on occasion to kill people to stop the killings.
I felt like I was from another planet. I could not see how Jesus fit in any of their scenarios. In the end, the devout Catholic soldier said I was, in fact, from another planet. "I wish we could all live in John's world," he said, "but we live in the real world where there is evil and sometimes you have to kill to protect people from further evil." I told him to quit the military and join me, not in my own world, but God's reign of nonviolent love and boundless peace.
A few in the audience laughed. No one booed. I felt I made little impression on anyone in the auditorium or on the panel, which I found discouraging.
Afterwards, many students were saying that it was good to get all perspectives and they were glad for the discussion.
They seemed to miss entirely my point that there is no such thing as a just war. It's a great lie, a gigantic myth, an illusion that leads to death. It's conditions certainly no longer apply given our weapons of mass destruction which kill civilians indiscriminately, beginning with the 650,000 dead Iraqi civilians. I like what Bishop Carroll Dozier, bishop of Memphis from 1971 to 1985, said long ago: "The just war theory belongs in the same drawer as the flat earth theory."
In Milwaukee, I tried to explain that Jesus was nonviolent and commanded us to love our enemies, and so if we claim to follow Jesus, we cannot support war. We have to be nonviolent, too. Jesus didn't say, "Love your enemies, but if they're really bad, and they meet these seven conditions -- then go ahead and kill them." Everyone knows that the early Christians adhered to the Sermon on the Mount, that the Emperor Constantine rejected Gospel nonviolence, allowed Christians to be soldiers, and turned to the pagan Cicero to develop a theory of justified warfare.
Many people have written me lately to explain in earnest how the church has supported warfare for the last 1,700 years. They use that history to justify all sorts of current evils. I don't understand how we can selectively cite the church's history over these last 1,700 years as an excuse for supporting, say, the murder of children in Iraq, or the development of our weapons of mass destruction. The church also waged holy wars (crusades), burnt women at the stake, imprisoned and killed those it didn't like, taught that the earth was flat, and bought and sold slaves. Should we resume those evils as well? Of course not. The church was wrong in each of these examples, just as the church remains wrong whenever it supports killing human beings in war, no matter how noble the cause.
If ever there was a moment in salvation history when warfare was justified when violence was divinely sanctioned, it was in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was about to be arrested. Peter thought he was right to take out a sword to kill the soldiers to protect Jesus. But just at that moment, Jesus issues a new and final commandment: "Put down the sword. You are not allowed to kill." I think that's when Peter and the disciples first understood Jesus, that he was deadly serious about active nonviolence. These are the last words of Jesus to the church: Put down the sword. Yet we continue to disobey him, and come up with a thousand reasons to kill.
I wanted to say at Marquette: If you're so hell-bent on killing and the just war theory, please stop saying you're followers of Jesus.
I remember Fr. Richard McSorley, who died in 2002, asking sarcastically, "If you're going to justify mass murder, why stop there? Lets have a just adultery theory."
In his book, New Testament Basis for Peacemaking, McSorley outlined the theory with the same formality that theologians defend mass murder in warfare.
- Last Resort. Every other means of getting along must be first tried: discussion, advice of a third party, reconciliation, everything short of adultery.
- Good Intention. There must be no intent to harm one's spouse or any other person. The cause must be genuine love and affection for the companion in adultery.
- Protection of the Innocent. The aggrieved partner must not be harmed. Every effort at secrecy must be made. The use of a contraceptive device, or the intent of having an abortion, violate this condition and make the adultery immoral.
- Proportionality. A favorable balance of good over evil must be reasonably hoped for … Provided these conditions are all fulfilled, adultery is not a violation of the gospel but an act of love and mercy."
"Absurd?" McSorley asks. "Perhaps, but less absurd than the just-unjust war theory. Adultery is a personal act. It does not kill millions of people, or even one person. It does not have government support. It always allows for the possibility of repentance and reconciliation that is precluded by killing. Why is it that most Christians understand the weaknesses of the just adultery theory, but are blind to the greater weaknesses of the just- unjust war theory? Could it be that we consider morality to be limited to individuals and to personal conduct, and that what a group or a government does is beyond the limits of morality? Or do we put the authority of the government above that of God?"
Mairead Maguire, the Nobel Laureate from Belfast, ends her lectures by inviting those confused about the just war theory, violence and nonviolence, to spend an afternoon alone, for two or three hours in a church, looking up at a crucifix. Take all your questions about violence and nonviolence to the crucified Jesus, she advises, and not only will you begin to be disarmed of your own inner violence, you will hear those great commandments--Put down the sword, Love your enemies, Blessed are the peacemakers--in a new light.
This May marks the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Bishops' pastoral letter on peace. There for the first time in 1,700 years, the church upheld Gospel nonviolence as a legitimate stand along with the just war theory. With the pope's recent statements against the just war theory, I hope the time is coming when we will abandon it once and for all, and make Gospel nonviolence normative for Catholic Christians.
After Marquette, I flew to the Franciscan Renewal Center in Paradise Valley, near Phoenix, Ariz., to lead a retreat, "The Peacemaking Jesus and Ourselves: Living the Sermon on the Mount." We were only a hundred, not a thousand, but it seemed a far more fruitful use of our time. Instead of coming up with excuses to support our country's wars and weapons, we discussed how we can obey the Word of God and practice it for the remainder of our lives.
There I invited friends to follow the nonviolent Jesus and adhere to his methodology of nonviolence, to teach and practice the commandments of Matthew, chapter five. Those who do, he promised, will be considered the greatest in the kingdom of God. I think the time has come to throw away those useless teachings on war, and get on with the exciting task of teaching those new Gospel commandments.
| Archives | Signup for Weekly E-mail |
Next week, John Dear will be speaking at St. Francis Xavier Church in Kansas City, Mo., and Trinity Episcopal Church, in Santa Barbara, Calf. He is featured in the DVD, "The Narrow Path," available from www.sandamianofoundation.org. His latest book is Transfiguration (Doubleday, with a foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu). To attend one of his speaking events, see: www.johndear.org.
War is not the answer. If it
War is not the answer.
If it were not for war how would all the munitions companies make money?
If it were not for war where would Haliburton and KBR make money?.
If it were not for war how would promotions occur?
If the motivation for war were removed we wouldn't have war.
The CIA are out there now planting the seeds for the next war and our president is out there ready to talk it up.
every day i thank The Holy
every day i thank The Holy One for the life and work of John Dear.
in this time of pre-presidential debates, we read of the ongiong "nah nah" over Obama's faith--is he the Muslim anti-christ or a "Methodist-like" UCC, etc? anyone who dares suggest that a Xan president would not be commander-in-chief, would not support a military, etc gets reported to the Powers.
way back in the ancient 1960's a famous protest song was "Universal Soldier." today even the most "radical" peace groups are always careful to state support for troops. i'm hardly advocating spitting on soldiers, but i do ask that we peace-niks rethink this.
as an expat in a central american country, i often find myself seated at a bar or in a restaurant near a US military person or two, in town to make ocean water potable for the overgrown island filled with far too many gringoas. as a priest in a collar at a bar, i find myself listening to many conversations, i find myself invited into many conversations. tragically, too many folks today seem to equate Xanity with a pro-military, prop-war faith--as well as assuming All Xans behave a la Bushies Inc. to hear this is not so brings shock, to say the least. i quietly ask, in prayer and outloud, that each soldier i encounter leave the military and begin to live a life of peace, and especially when that soldier has told me he or she is a Xan. to find myself the only pro GLBT priest in all of this country also draws shock.
this position does not move one up the ladder in the Church either. it does not make one popular. my husband, who shares a theology of Peace and NonViolence--and well as GLBT rights, is having trouble finding a job with a salary.
i thank God every day for John Dear. i thank God each and every day for this website and its connections to a "beloved community." your thoughts, prayers, and words help us keep our focus and our faith
thank you all
En La Lucha
oonagh+
Of course Jesus mentions
Of course Jesus mentions these things in the Gospel, when he states unequivocally, "Love your enemies". What could be more obvious than that?? He was most likely the first person in the history of the world to make such a statement. It was, and sadly is still, a revolutionary idea, one which most humans simply cannot grasp.
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
What could be more obvious
What could be more obvious then "Love your enemies"? Either saying "Do not wage war" or, to the centurion, "Leave the army" would be a much more obvious rejection of war.
After all "Love your enemies" leaves open the question of which possible action is best. (most closely in accord with loving one's enemies based on this command)
Jesus did not preach in
Jesus did not preach in Jerusalem. He realized that with their hard hearts and deaf ears they were a lost cause. By large we in the US are a lost cause. Two statements can shed more light on this: 1. The US has less than 5% of the world's population and 50% of the world's wealth; 2. The US has the largest military budget in the history of mankind.
Thus, we know that we have a privileged status in the world - which has been developed and maintained by force - and have declared war to the rest of the world because we do not want to share it and we want to defend it also by force.
The ruling class in the US has long been aware of this, and the rest of the population follows consciously or unconsciously.
John, I really think that you should follow Jesus' advice, clean the dust off your sandals and go to work to the margins. This is like a tree: the core is dead, life is in the margins.
Fr. Dear, I think you must
Fr. Dear, I think you must realize that your notion of no war, not ever is truly a challenging notion.
At some level, Americans hold on to WWII as the "good" war but I read somewhere that war, as a tool of last resort, brings with it a cavalcade of evil.
I remember before we went to war in Afghanistan and in Iraq, early in this decade, that there was a little pulse of letters from Vietnam Vets who feared the worst when young soldiers were caught in the no win situations of war and found themselves doing things that would haunt them for a long time, the rest of their lives. Believe me I have tried and it is essentially impossible to find those on the internet. But I remember them.
So then abu gharib happened. There is an excellent interview of a psychiatrist who interviewed Juan Padilla on Democracy Now! and what she found was an essentially de-constructed man. There is the pitiful and embarassing spectre of Americans discussing euphemistically the justification of torture.
Every where around us, we see these real life pictures of evil flowing out of war, out of an American imperial policy.
But there was a foolish hope that this would BE a "good war" like World War II. Hard for me to understand why anyone would have seriously entertained the thought, but it was there. No onse should have any remaining allusions about that anymore but many do still.
It's a huge leap to go from "war is always good" to "war is good but uniformly has tremendous costs" to "war is never good". Most people are more comfortable ground with that middle ground idea. Always and never are tricky ideas.
But rest assured, that for all people who are caused to entertain the bridge notion-- that the costs of war always exceed the benefits--this is a very uncomfortable idea. It challenges the notion of what some in America cherish as a sentinel moment in AMerican history--our involvement in WWII.
So, Fr. Dear as someone who probably counts themselves as "at the bridge notion" that the costs of war always exceed the benefits, I guess I have to tell you that you're going to have to be patient with me.
Please keep challenging my thinking.
Thank you, John. I
Thank you, John. I understand the sense of frustration at Marquette, but Jesus never said it was going to be easy. And while you may not feel like you made a difference, perhaps you planted a seed, which will be sown, and harvested at some unknown time...and that person or persons will seek to follow the nonviolent Jesus, the Prince of Peace. But you're absolutely correct, one cannot be a true follower of Jesus and a supporter of war.
Tim Musser - Cleveland,
Tim Musser - Cleveland, Oh.
As Catholic Bp. Carroll Dozier of Memphis Tn. was fond of saying: 'The Christian Just War Theory should be filed away in the same drawer as the Flat Earth Theory.'
Those who believe that catholics/Christians can participate in modern wars are likely holding to a system of 'Rational Ethics' as opposed to 'Christian Ethics'. How are they different? Firstly, they are alike in that each would hold that one cannot kill, rape, lie, cheat, commit arson, maim, destroy anothers property, etc. However, in Rational Ethics, the primary value is "SURVIVAL", and when "SURVIVAL" is threatened, then EVERYTHING gets turned upside down...all of a sudden its OK to lie, cheat, steal, kill, maim, commit arson/bomb etc. etc. But in Christian ethics, the primary value is not survival, but CHRIST LIKE LOVE, unconditional love, AGAPE and never can one commit these atrocities and remain imitating/following the Messiah. Why is "SURVIVAL" not the primary value in Christian ethics? Because - as we Christians are very well aware (those of us who strive to TRUST Jesus) SURVIVAL is guaranteed! Thats it! It's ALL because of the open tomb...that's why we trust Jesus and why we follow his commandment to 'Love one another AS I HAVE LOVED YOU." To say that Jesus never approaches the issue of WAR is grasping at straws to say the least. He taught an ethic of personal nonviolence such that it should never even enter into our psyches to join the militaries of the world - much less fight and support militarism and SURVIVAL....if fact, we citizens of the First World don't even fight and kill for mere 'survival' anymore - its fight and kill and maim and lie and cheat, and bomb for the continuance of our affluent lifestyles - at least the lifestyles of some. Just ask yourself and others this question: If cucumbers had been the primary export of Iraq, would the U.S. military have been sent there to usher in (our form of) democracy?
If you want a good education thats readable and understandable, go to www.centerforchristiannonviolence.or and click on 'Resources', then scroll down and click on "Christian Just War Theory: Logic of Deceit" by Emmanuel Charles McCarthy. The idea and implication that Christians can join militaries and prepare to kill and slaughter our human sisters and brothers in Christ and all who are made in the image and likeness of God - is a scandal of untold magnitude...and the Churches have been perpetuating it for 1700+ years now. Fortunately Pope Benedict - with his extraordinary homily on the Sunday just prior to Ash Wednesday/Lent of 2007 called that days' Gospel reading - where Christ enjoins us to Love our enemies - the 'Magna Carta of Christian nonviolence...and we are all indeed called to enter and accept this 'Revolution of Love...go to www.catholicpeacefellowship.org and then to the "Sign of Peace" [Spring 2007] CPF journal and read the "Benedict XVI Hails Nonviolence"....
We need to speak out and lovingly challeng Church clerics, and lay people alike, to follow and imitate the nonviolent Jesus...and 'one by one' put on the mind of Christ. If we all did that, and helped pick each other up when we inevitably fail and fall down, then going to war and supporting war would not appeal to Christians/followers of the Messiah.
It's all true - Cleveland IS
It's all true - Cleveland IS the place of an enlightened understanding of many things, including the empty bucket of *just war* theory and the preferential treatment of an AGAPE alternative [to hairy chest-thumping!]
The Rev. Dr. E. McCoy
"If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be li
I don't pretend to be
I don't pretend to be educated in theology or anything else for that matter. I'm just a blue collor worker, union electrician, working at building America. You know take buildings out of the ground, things like that.
I do like to, when I drive, listen to books on tape/disc.
The other day I was listening to: G.K.Chestertan's 'Everlasting Man.'
In it G.K. Chestertan brought up war, and the Gospels. His point was that Jesus never approachs the subject. Further he goes on to say Jesus seem to have some good feelings towards some Roman Soldiers. Even to the point of giving miracle healings to their servents/kids.
Then there is Luke 12:51 "Do not think I have come to establish peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division."
Another place, I'm not sure where, Jesus calls us to be shrewd as serpents, yet gentle as doves. Seems there may be a time for both war and peace.
Like I said I don't pretend to be an educated man.
Out of curiosity... Can one
Out of curiosity... Can one be a good Catholic and not protest war?
The soldier was right, we
The soldier was right, we live in a fallen world, where bad people do bad things and just people need to stand up and project the innocent. I wish I lived in a world where I did not have to lock my car, house, office. But we live in a world full of original sin, that is the reality.
You know when we see a
You know when we see a soldier returning from service often they appreciate a simple Thank You for the sacrifice you have made for us. I'm so disappointed that we put them in that position for the unjust cause of helping Bushe's Texas Corporation friends gain ungodly Profits at the ongoing cost of human Life.
So I'd like to thanks John Dear SJ, for the sacrifice he is making for me in the struggle he has entered as a soldier of Christ and Peace. In an effort to preserve human Life in the highest standard of doing God's Will.
Thank You John. May God bless you and your loved ones for the sacrifice you make for your brothers and sisters of this world. Amen.
The more we discover how much we are Loved by God, the more we want to do God's Will