Here are some quotes that I have found interesting in this book.
“If we succeed in grasping even some fragment of Jesus secret message, if we take it in and manage not only to look at it but also to learn to look through it, our world and our lives will look different to us at the end of our exploration. And if that happens deeply enough for enough of us, everything could change”.
Brian asks, “Would you be willing to rethink your assumptions”? Speaking about what we believe about Jesus. I have said many times that we believe a lot of stuff that just isn’t true.
“I want to say-clearly-that it is tragic for anyone, especially anyone affiliated with the religion named after Jesus, not to be clear about what Jesus message actually was”.
“For starters Jesus was Jewish. (No he wasn’t a Christian. Christianity as a separate religion didn’t exist until well after Jesus died”.)
“If you’re part of this kingdom, you begin to live in a way that some will say is stupid and naive. (Turning the other cheek? sacrifice, and love? Come on! Get real!) But others might see in your way of life the courageous and wild hope that could heal and transform the world”.
My thoughts: This is one of the best, most thought provoking books that I have read in a long time. I do believe that Brian is bringing some things to light, nothing that wasn’t there before but we may not have seen it before.
There is a lot of criticism of this and other books that Brian has written, however, before you write him off, you should get a copy and read it for yourself. As any other book, I do not agree with everything that he says but there are some things that cannot be denied.
I have never considered myself a pacifist and I would assume that Brian is a pacifist, but then we know what assuming does. I came up with the question from reading this book, Would Jesus ever take up arms and kill a human being? I do not believe that he would and the fact is, he allowed himself to be killed rather than killing another.
I believe in the Old Testament we can make a definite case for the “Just War Theory”.
The just war doctrine has its origins in the writings of Augustine, who said in the City of God that, “A just war, moreover, is justified only by the injustice of an aggressor; and that injustice ought to be a source of grief to any good man, because it is human injustice. It would be deplorable in itself, apart from being a source of conflict.”
Thomas Aquinas furthered Augustine’s just war theory by creating specific criteria. He argued that for a war to be just, the following circumstances must be considered: 1) Only legitimate authorities can take up the cause; 2) the cause must be just; and 3) the intention must be right.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church expanded the moral requirements of just war by adding that before engaging in armed conflict, the following criteria be rigorously considered:
1. The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
2. All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be practical or ineffective;
3. There must be serious prospects of success;
4. The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated.
With all that said: Read Matthew 5: 38-48 again:
Matthew 5:38-48 (New Century Version)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, don’t stand up against an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also.40 If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.41 If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles. 42 If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don’t refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you.
Love All People
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemies.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45 If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong.46 If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that.47 And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don’t know God are nice to their friends. 48 So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Pacifism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pacifism may be based on moral principles (a deontological view) or pragmatism (a consequentialist view). Principled pacifism holds that at some point along the spectrum from war to interpersonal physical violence, such violence becomes morally wrong. Pragmatic pacifism holds that the costs of war and inter-personal violence are so substantial that better ways of resolving disputes must be found. Pacifists in general reject theories of Just War.
Pacifists follow principles of nonviolence, believing that non-violent action is morally superior and/or pragmatically most effective. Some pacifists, however, support physical violence for emergency defense of self or others. Others support destruction of propertyin such emergencies or for conducting symbolic acts of resistance like pouring red paint to represent blood on the outside of military recruiting offices or entering air force bases and hammering on military aircraft. However, part of the pacifist belief system is taking responsibility for one’s actions by submitting to arrest and using a trial to publicize opposition to war and other forms of violence.
Dove or dovish are informal terms used, especially in politics, for people who prefer to avoid war or prefer war as a last resort. The terms refer to the story of Noah’s Ark in which the dove came to symbolize the hope of salvation and peace. Similarly, in common parlance, the opposite of a dove is a hawk or war hawk.