"In 1989, thirteen nations comprising 1,695,000,000 people experienced nonviolent revolutions that succeeded beyond anyone's wildest expectations ... If we add all the countries touched by major nonviolent actions in our century (the Philippines, South Africa ... the independence movement in India ...) the figure reaches 3,337,400,000, a staggering 65% of humanity! All this in the teeth of the assertion, endlessly repeated, that nonviolence doesn't work in the 'real' world." Prof. Dr. Walter Wink
In this unit, we ask whether violence is ever right. Some people argue that Jesus could be seen as a revolutionary who challenged authority and was willing to use violence to achieve his ends. They would support the use of violence to free innocent people from their violent oppressors. Others believe Jesus was committed to peace, trying to change people's hearts and to end violence.
There are many examples of non-violent Christian protest, although Martin Luther King's struggle against inequality is still the best example. Despite being threatened, beaten, arrested repeatedly, having his house blown up (and ultimately being killed before reaching 40), King never wavered in his commitment to non-violence.
It is harder to find examples of violent Christian organistations, although the Religious Tolerance site claims that some pro-life Christian groups protect violent individuals who attack and murder doctors at abortion clinics.
There is also a lot of support for violent revoltion among liberation theologists, although these have been condemned by the Catholic Church.
