Papal Wijsheid op Nonviolence
Geschreven door Mark Van Steenwyk: 19 februari, 2007
Terwijl ik me niet ooit zie wordend Katholiek, heb ik diepe eerbied voor de Paus. Niet alleen is zijn liefde voor Christus duidelijk, maar zo is zijn toewijding aan de Manier van Christus. Deze woorden komen gisteren uit zijn preek (nadrukmijn):
… Waarom vraagt Jesus ons om van onze eigenlijke vijanden namelijk een te vragen te houden, liefde die menselijke capaciteiten overschrijdt? Wat bepaald is is dat het voorstel van Christus realistisch is, omdat het rekening houdt met dat in de wereld er teveel geweld, teveel onrechtvaardigheid is, en dat deze situatie niet kan worden overwonnen zonder meer liefde te poneren, meer vriendelijkheid. Dit „meer“ komt uit God: Het is zijn genade die vlees in Jesus is geworden en die alleen het evenwicht van de wereld van kwaad aan goed kan herstellen, beginnend van die kleine en beslissende „wereld“ die man hart is.
Deze pagina van het Evangelie wordt terecht beschouwd als „magna carta“ van Christelijke nonviolence; het bestaat niet uit zich het overgeven aan kwaad - zoals eisen een valse interpretatie van „draai de andere wang“ (Luke 6:29) - maar uit het antwoorden aan kwaad met goed. (Romeinen 12:17 - 21), en waarbij de ketting van onrechtvaardigheid wordt gebroken.
Men begrijpt zo dat nonviolence, voor Christenen, niet zuiver tactisch gedrag maar van een persoon de manier is om te zijn, de houding van wie van de liefde en de macht van de God overtuigd is, die niet bang is om kwaad met de wapens van alleen liefde en waarheid te confronteren. Het houden van de van vijand is de kern van de „Christelijke revolutie,“ een revolutie niet die op strategieën van economische, politieke of media macht wordt gebaseerd. The revolution of love, a love that does not base itself definitively in human resources, but in the gift of God, that is obtained only and unreservedly in his merciful goodness. Herein lies the novelty of the Gospel, which changes the world without making noise.
I agree with the Pope here, that our nonviolent response to violence isn’t mere strategy or tactics, but the way of defeating injustice with love. Amen.
for further reading . . .
- None Found
It is thus understood that nonviolence, for Christians, is not mere tactical behavior but a person’s way of being, the attitude of one who is convinced of God’s love and power, who is not afraid to confront evil with the weapons of love and truth alone.
I sincerely doubt that the RCC, or any denomination, has ever done anything with love and truth alone…
There’s nothing wrong with hyperbole, but it shd be recognized as such.
Loving the enemy is the nucleus of the “Christian revolution,” a revolution not based on strategies of economic, political or media power.
dlw: just because something is not based on such strategies, does not mean it does not involve such strategies. There’s a point of ambiguity here.
The revolution of love, a love that does not base itself definitively in human resources, but in the gift of God, that is obtained only and unreservedly in his merciful goodness. Herein lies the novelty of the Gospel, which changes the world without making noise.
dlw: As I said above, these words sound nice, but they don’t say that much upon closer examination. Noise is a word subject to selective perception. One person’s favorite song can be another person’s noise.
dlw
dlw
I am struggling to like this pope. I had huge respect for his predecessor, but when Pope Benedict was still Cardinal Ratzinger, he did great harm to many of the best theologians in contemporary Catholicism–including some I knew personally. Since becoming pope (his funeral sermon for John Paul II was clearly a campaign speech before the Cardinals), Benedict has made some noises that sound peaceful and nonviolent–but as Cardinal he opposed most of what John Paul II did for peace and human rights. It will take some time before I trust him. In the meantime, I am very glad I am NOT Catholic.
Yes! I love the emphasised part - and for some reason I’m surprised to read it from “God’s Rottweiler”.
Hmmm…perhaps I’m missing something, but this pope has been a consistent advocate of peace. Perhaps you could articulate the ways in which he has undermined the strides John Paul II has made for peace and human rights?
I especially like the bit about the “novelty” of the gospel. In his book, Subversive Orthodoxy, Robert Inchausti describes the Christian worldview as one that is deeply ironic and comical. I’m certain that this idea could easily be misinterpreted. I think he means that, if done properly and with accountability and faith, the Christian life of discipleship turns many of the values of this culture, this time, and this place on its head and what comes from this is indeed deeply ironic and comical. Comical in the sense that, although life is serious business, we are (should be) often moved to laughter (and tears) over the absurd fact that because of the church’s unfaithfulness, so many never know peace in this life. I suppose we must share Paul’s hope that “now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Mark, let me clarify. I am not sure whether Benedict has done anything anti-peace or anti-human rights AS POPE. (I think the whole offending Muslims thing was a case of poor communication skills, period.)
As a young man he was part of the Hitler Youth. His explanations have seemed fairly weak to me.
As Cardinal Ratzinger, he constantly tried to get Pope John Paul II to see every form of liberation theology as just Marxism. He encouraged the pope to rebuff the efforts of Archbishop Romero before he was assassinated. He insinuated that the martyred Jesuits in El Salvador deserved their fate. He had Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff (a pacifist Franciscan) silenced twice–the second time leading to Boff’s resignation from the priesthood and his order. He has reinforced the subjugation of women. He has referred to movements for human rights in Africa and Asia as individualist pride.
I could go on. I could list the literally hundreds of great priests, nuns, and theologians around the world that Benedict as Ratzinger has persecuted–all working for peace and justice. He also was skeptical of Pope John Paul II’s condemnation of the Iraq invasion before it happened. Ratzinger has been the great enemy of Vatican II and done much to roll it back.
I am afraid that I trust him about as far as I could throw his pope-mobile.
My Catholic relatives were in hopes that they would get a pope more in the tradition of John 23rd. Instead they got the Catholic Church’s equivalent of Dick Cheney and Antonin Scalia rolled into one. Shudder!
i think you are right that the pope can be wise from time to time. personally, i dont think its because he is trying to live the way of Christ, but that is for other reasons.
in regards to nonviolence not just as a tactic, but as a way of life, i agree wholeheartedly. Jesus called us to follow Him. He told us to turn the other cheek. He told us to love our enemies. etc.
i have a blog devoted to the discussion of shalom (nonviolence). you can check it out at http://seekinghisshalom.wordpress.com. i would value your feedback.
peter