Biblical Pacifism

by Dale W. Brown

Biblical Pacifism /// This is a great Christian product sourced from BIML - Bible In My Language, the leader in foreign language Bibles and outreach materials from Baltimore, Maryland in the USA. BIML stocks Bibles in more than 600 languages.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[slaveofone · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a revision of Brethren and Pacifism by the same author, the first edition of Biblical Pacifism: A Peace Church Perspective is heavily weighed in terms of focus and discussion on the history, declarations, and perspectives of a particular sector of Anabaptist tradition: The Church of Brethren. The longest section of the book, which virtually begins the work, concerns the pacifist heritage of the Brethren from its roots in the Radical Reformation to its rise in Pietism, and then follows the statements and witness of the Brethren through the various wars of North American history. It quickly becomes apparent that this is a book partly geared toward those who are members of The Church of the Brethren or especially interested in it. Other audiences might find the first part of the book dry, dull, or even pointless, and may therefore be better served skipping most of the second chapter if not entirely. From there, Biblical Pacifism provides brief surveys and critiques of various “peace” perspectives held both within and without the historical peace churches, summarizes a half dozen biblical themes that are or have been part of those perspectives, explores the possibility of nuclear war and several ways pacifists are responding or can respond to it, brings up issues of peace, justice, and liberation, looks at how Christ's reign and kingdom relate to worldly powers, authorities, and governments, examines diverse areas in life where a shalom theology can be present and at work, and ends with a discussion of the hypothetical “what if” situation (and some typical questions) that is routinely seen outside pacifism as a dilemma to it. The Appendices, which contain excerpts of peace statements, are again heavily weighed in favor of the Brethren, which receives 50% more page space than those peace statements taken from the Mennonite and Friends traditions combined.

As a work that introduces non-pacifists to some of the ideas and perspectives of Christian pacifists and orients them around the perspective of one particular peace church while acknowledging and giving voice to the diversity of pacifisms and peace traditions resting within the shade of Anabaptism, this book gets the job done. As a work that further stimulates the thoughts, hearts, and faiths of those already within a peace tradition, it does even better. As a Mennonite, I found the second half of the book particularly engaging. That section may also be of interest to Christians who would like a little exegetical exploration of the biblical basis for pacifist belief. But this is by no means a work of systematic theology. Neither is it an apologetic or scholarly composition.

I have two negative criticisms. The first is that this is fairly outdated (I cannot speak for the second edition). That may not be entirely the fault of the book, but it means that it does not speak toward or spend adequate time exploring some of our current and present concerns. For instance, while nuclear weapons and nuclear holocaust are as much an issue today as they were in the past when unthinkable masses of innocent human beings made in the image of YHWH were obliterated at Nagasaki and Hiroshima, which receives an entire chapter, what is more relevant now is terrorism, extremist religion or nationalism, systemic evils, and the presence and threat of empire. Few of these are touched on in the book—and then only briefly. Secondly, in the opinion of this reviewer, the author gives far more time and attention to Reinhold Niebuhr than the man or his theology deserves. I personally think the Just War Theory, which lies outside Christian pacifism, is more rational, consistent, and practical than Niebuhr's own “Realism,” which attempts—and utterly fails—to straddle either of the two. Perhaps this wrestling with R. Niebuhr is or was a cultural phenomenon of the Brethren, and is, therefore, that much more valid for being woven into it, or perhaps it is merely a phenomenon of the personal struggles of the author (who seems to admit as much), but I found that this detracted from the power and engagement of the analysis and presentation.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why are Americans (and everyone else it seems) drawn to solve conflicts with violence? The author makes a compelling case for the failure of war and the success of peacemaking. He uses the Bible, A LOT, to strengthen his argument. There is a great section on the famous hypothetical questions, such as "What about Hitler?"

[Shalom House]

This book was written by a Church of the Brethren theologian who who I grew up hearing about as a kid. He's now is his 80's and has been an inspiration to me as he continually protests, writes and lives out a life not succumbing to the temptation of violence. He never gives up!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dale Brown is the man. That is all I have to say.