Peace and Non-Violence: Methods of resolving conflict

Meets Wednesday nights for eight weeks, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

At Huzanity School. www.huzanity.org

 

 

Text Box: “What if they gave a war and no one came?" Popular pacifist saying. “Without love, you are trying to find out what is the right thing to do, and your action only leads to greater harm and misery; it is the action of politicians and reformers. Without love, you cannot comprehend cruelty; a peace of sorts may be established through the reign of terror; but war, killing, will continue at another level of our existence.” Krishnamurti, Commentaries III, 170 “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12: 12-21)

      Contemporary activists adopt the outward forms of non-violent protest, such as strike, non-cooperation, and civil disobedience, to achieve their goals. But if the protestors themselves are violent in an inward way, if they seek victory and the conquest of their opponents, these protests cannot create lasting peace. Lasting peace requires action based on a deeper transformation. This involves the understanding of fundamental principles, such as truth and love.

   Can conflict be resolved at its core, without the use of force, completely and permanently, through truly non-violent means? What makes real peace—not just a truce, not just a way of getting along--possible?  In this course we examine several views about what this means and how this might be done.

 

Questions we will address

What is peace? How is peace possible?

Can conflict be resolved without force?

What should one be willing to compromise in the interests of peace? What should one never compromise?

Is violent force ever justified or required? If so, when?

Can lasting change be made through politics, or does it have to come from within?

Is it OK to use non-violence as a tactic, or does it require a moral commitment?

How do contemporary activist movements succeed in actually resolving conflicts?

 

Class meetings

[Eight  of the following]

Introduction

Religious views of peace and war

Meaning of pacifism: Leo Tolstoy

Criticism—Is violence necessary?

Mohandas Gandhi

Gandhi, part II

Inner Change: J. Krishnamurti

Recent religious writings

Activists

Contemporary activism and non-violence programs