"The path shown by Jesus is a difficult one that can only be trod by true martyrs. A "martyr," etymologically, is he who makes himself a witness to his faith. And it is the ultimate testimony to one’s faith to be ready to put it to practice even when one’s very life is threatened. But the life to be sacrificed, it should be noted, is not the enemy’s life, but the martyr’s own life — killing others is not a testimony of love, but of anger, fear, or hatred. For Tolstoy, therefore, a true martyr to Jesus’ message would neither punish nor resist (or at least not use violence to resist), but would strive to act from love, however hard, whatever the likelihood of being crucified. He would patiently learn to forgive and turn the other cheek, even at the risk of death. Such would be the only way to eventually win the hearts and minds of the other camp and open up the possibilities for reconciliation in the "war on terror.""
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Alexandre Christoyannopoulos, in Turning the Other Cheek to Terrorism (April 2008)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Christian_pacifism
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Christian pacifism
55 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Christian pacifism →
Related Quotes
"Whatever Christians would not wish others to do to them, they do not to others. And they comfort their oppressors and…"
"For since we, a numerous band of men as we are, have learned from His teaching and His laws that evil ought not to be…"
""What do you mean by anarchist-pacifist?" First, I would say that the two words should go together, especially […] wh…"
"Wherefore [Christians] began the battle, not by preparing weapons, nor arms, nor bugles; for such preparation is hate…"
"How many does it take to annul the commandments of God, and render that lawful, which HE has forbidden? How many does…"
"One is called to live non-violently, even if the social or political change one worked for is in fact unlikely or eve…"
"We Christians forget (if we ever learned) that attempts to redress real or imagined injustice by violent means are me…"
"Sons, cease fighting. Lay down your arms, for we are told in Scripture not to render evil for evil but to overcome ev…"
"It was then and there that the net became greatly torn, when the two great whales had entered it, that is, the Suprem…"
"Those soldiers were filled with wonder and admiration at the grandeur of the man's piety and generosity and were stru…"