Pacifism

Question 1

What is Pacifism?

Answer 1

Opposition to war

Question 2

What are Jewish attitudes to pacifism?

Answer 2

1. They say Shalom Alaikum-peace be with you
2. The perfect society is thought in terms of peace.
3. There is no concept of Pacifism in Judaism
4. This is because there are accounts of war in the Tenakh.

Question 3

Why would some Jews disagree with pacifism?

Answer 3

1. In the Holocaust, they could not defend themselves
2. Led to the death of 6 million Jews
3. There was some passive resistance Ringelbum decided to record everything the Nazis did

Question 4

What are some humanist attitudes to pacifism?

Answer 4

1. They are opposed to war and set up the United Nations
2. They do not believe in the afterlife, so human life is even more precious
   3.They think religion is an absurd reason for killing
3. They think war causes so much destruction