Pacifism

Question 1

Definition of Pacifism

Answer 1

Belief that violence is always wrong and that peaceful means should be used to deal with conflict.

Question 2

Martin Luther King

Answer 2

Martin Luther King was a famous pacifist, making a point of turning the other cheek in order to fight against injustice. He said ‘meet hate with love’.

Question 3

First and Second World War

Answer 3

During the First and Second World Wars, pacifists enlisted as conscientious objectors, driving ambulances or assisting refugees. Many worked on farms or down the mines replacing the men who had gone to the front. Some refused to assist with the war effort at all, believing the war itself to be completely wrong. These men went to prison.

Question 4

Quaker Church

Answer 4

The Quaker Church is a pacifist church, believing that it is better to use peaceful means to resolve conflict.

Question 5

Ten Commandments

Answer 5

In the Ten Commandments it says “Do not kill”.

Question 6

Jesus teachings

Answer 6

Jesus said “Turn the other cheek” and “Love your enemies”. He also said ‘blessed are the peacemakers. This suggests that he was a pacifist. When he was arrested, Jesus told his disciples “Put down your sword – those who live by the sword die by the sword”.

Question 7

Buddhism

Answer 7

The purpose of Buddhism is to bring about an end to suffering. As any form of violence causes suffering then it must be wrong. Most Buddhists are therefore pacifist.

Question 8

5 moral precepts

Answer 8

The first of the 5 Moral Precepts is ‘I abstain from taking life’, so killing is clearly wrong. It is an unskilful action that will bring bad kamma.

Question 9

Metta

Answer 9

Metta is loving kindness for all creatures – including your worst enemies. Buddhists practise this through a loving kindness meditation where you visualise happiness first for yourself, then friend, then a neutral person, then an enemy. This means that you can face whatever your enemy throws at you with equanimity (calmness).

Question 10

Buddha teaching

Answer 10

Buddha said ‘It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles’.

Question 11

Dalai Lama

Answer 11

The Dalai Lama was the Buddhist leader of Tibet. When his country was invaded and he was forced into exile, he spoke out against violent retaliation. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Buddhist monks still continue to protest peacefully against Chinese rule.

Question 12

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer 12

Thich Nhat Hanh was asked what he would do if he were the last monk in the world and someone were about to kill him and thus wipe out Buddhism. He answered that it would be better to let himself be killed than betray his Buddhist Principles.

Question 13

Evaluating Pacifism

Answer 13

• Some argue that refusing to fight allows evil to continue unchallenged. For example, if Britain had taken a pacifist stance against Hitler, then Nazism would have become the way of life across Europe.
• Most people are not pacifist and will fight against evil. Pacifists can live comfortably knowing that someone else is fighting evil on their behalf while they refuse to fight. They live in peaceful countries which are unlikely to be invaded because there is an army who are prepared to fight.
• On the other hand violence causes hatred which in turn breeds more violence. Wars do not solve anything, they just cause future wars.
• We cannot argue that we are fighting to defend freedom if we take away people’s freedom by causing death or injury or by denying them the right to healthcare, education and employment by destroying the infrastructure of their country.