I’ve spent a lot of time engaging with conservatives about my Christian nonviolence views. Conservatives tend to be big supporters of the military and the police and believers in gun ownership and self defense, so that’s no surprise. But in light of some of the protests over the police murder of George Floyd turning into riots, I’m seeing a lot of my liberal friends also now justifying violence as a legitimate tool of bringing about social change. So, I’d like to look at scripture, reason, and experience to ask, when it comes to protesting the state, why nonviolence?
Audio:
http://www.cantus-firmus.com/Audio/20200614-WhyNonviolence.mp3
Music:
F E E F I F O by Failed Kingdoms. Available here: https://soundcloud.com/failedk
Books mentioned in this episode:
Gene Sharp – The Politics of Nonviolent Action Part One: Power and Struggle
Walter Wink – Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way