We all want peace, but Christian pacifism and nonviolence - what's that all about? On this page we answer some of those basic questions that you have always wanted to ask about Christian peacemaking. If you have any others why not email us?

Q Christian Pacifism is starry-eyed idealism. It's hardly practical in todays highly insecure world is it?

A Anyone who takes the view that we can obtain a peaceful world by resorting to war or that the world will be made secure by the proliferation of vast amounts of weaponry via the "defence" industry, is rather more starry-eyed than the Christian pacifist.

Of course pacifist are idealists shouldn't all Christians be? The reality is that as Christians we have to apply the Gospel teaching to our daily lives and to the world that we inhabit now, not at some mythical point in the future when it will be easier. Love your enemies, do good to those who persecute you is not meant simply to be simply ignored is it?

Committing ourselves to nonviolence and to the understanding that all life is sacred offers us a real alternative in a world committed to using violence not as a last resort, but far too often as the first resort. If we are committed to being part of the family of God, to being sisters and brothers of all people throughout the world, how can we agree that it is right that some people be killed in order to achieve a supposedly greater good? It is worth remembering of course that it was considered starry-eyed idealism to work for the end of slavery, to call for an end to apartheid, for women rights, independece for East Timor.

Q There is lots of war and fighting in the Old Testament even at God's behest! Why should we reject that now?

A There are images in the Old Testament that are violent and disturbing with their portrayal of a vengeful and violent God. Indeed whilst we hold tight to the promise that swords will be beaten into ploughshares, other passages speak of ploughshares being beaten into swords (Joel 4:10) and of the need to take an eye for an eye. However it is important, to remember that all Biblical quotes must be put into context. The passage from Joel for instance, is a passage of judgement on warmongering nations, whilst the eye for an eye saying is imposing limits on violence, not an exhortation to use violence as a solution. The Old Testament does portray God sometimes as being vengeful and war-like (as well as loving and forgiving). However there is no doubt that Jesus proclaimed a New Covenant and a new understanding and relationship with God.

Jesus is the Word of God made flesh and he is the one which we must follow. His life portrays a commitment to forgiveness, reconciliation and peacemaking. Jesus said very clearly that we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

Q What about Hitler, Saddam and Osama Bin Laden?

A Individuals, whether in the school playground or on the world stage will always try to dominate and manipulate others for their own selfish ends. History shows that people such as the ones mentioned only become threats to world peace when they receive support (and arms!) from the major powers. To prevent people like these becoming threats to peace we need to non-cooperate with them and to build up everyones capacity to oppose warmongers and dictators nonviolently.

Q We need armed forces to keep the peace. Peace will only come through nations being strong.

A "If you want peace, prepare for war" wrote the Roman military commentator Flavius Vegetius Renatus, extolling the virtue of armed security. At around the same time and in stark contrast, Jesus and the early Christians urged people to love their enemies and urged nonviolent peacemaking (Matt 5 4-12). One philosophy hailed armed security above all, whilst the other suggested that real security comes from the practice of justice and love.

The reality is that if we want peace, we must prepare for peace. As Christians we have to commit ourselves to peace and nonviolence, not at some mythical future point, but right now in our lives. Whilst many would dismiss this as hopelessly naive and ˜unworldly", we must remember that as Dorothee Soelle puts it, "to believe in God's Spirit means above all to summon it."

With acknowledgment to Philip Dransfield