Living the Discipline: United Methodist Theological Reflections on War, Civilization, and Holiness

by D. Stephen Long

Although the United Methodist Church claims in its constitution to be pacifist, they have condoned participation in war and marginalized pacifists. Long seeks both to explain how this contradiction came about and to provide a convincing theological argument for pacifism. Long puts forth a vision of faithfulness that will inspire United Methodists to be a community of resistance--a people cultivating the virtues of holiness and peaceableness--in a world of war.

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

D. Stephen Long is professor of theology and ethics at Southern Methodist University. Previously he worked at Marquette University, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, St. Joseph’s University and Duke Divinity School. He received the PhD from Duke University, and is an ordained United Methodist Minister in the Indiana Conference. He has served churches in Honduras, North Carolina and Milwaukee.

He has published a number of works, including Divine Economy: Theology and the Market (2000), The Goodness of God: Theology, Church, and the Social Order (2001), John Wesley's Moral Theology: The Quest for God and Goodness (2005), and Calculated Future: Theology, Ethics, and Economics (2007).