Collage of Slides on Nonviolence in Christianity. They were used as supportive presentation for a seminar paper on the same topic.

1. Paradox of our
Times

2. We have taller buildings, but
Paradox of our Times
shorter tempers
Wider freeWays, but narroWer
vieWpoints
We spend more, but have less
We buy more, enjoy it less
We’ve been all the Way to the moon
and back
but have trouble crossing the
street to meet our neighbors.
We’ve conquered outer space,
but not inner space

3. We multiply our possessions, but reduce our values
We talk too much, love too little and lie too often
“Violence is the ethos of our times. It is the spirituality of the
modern world. It has been accorded the status of a religion,
demanding from its devotees an absolute obedience to death.
Its followers are not aware, however, that the devotion they
pay to violence is a form of religious piety. Violence is
successful as a myth precisely because it does not seem to be
mythic in the least. Violence simply appears to be the nature of
the things. It is what works”.
Walter Wink, Engaging the Powers, Fortress, Minneapolis, 1992, p.28

4. Ahimsa in Christianity
Ahimsa is Christianity

5. Nonviolence in the Old Testament
(OT)
Three stages of development
in the understanding of nonviolence:
a)Violence in the Books of
Pentateuch
(4,000-3,500 BC)
b) Revenge in the Book of Psalms
(3,200-2,900 BC)
c) Nonviolence of the Suffering

6. a) Violence in the Books of
Pentateuch

7. b ) Revenge in the Book of Psalms
(3,200-2,900 BC)

8. Prophet Isaiah
The wolf will live with the
lamb, the leopard will lie
down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the
yearling together; and a
little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the
bear, their young will lie
down together, and the lion
will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near
the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his
hand into the viper's nest.
They will neither harm nor
destroy on all my holy
mountain,
for the earth will be full of
the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
(Isaiah 11:6-9)

9. Jesus Christ – Prince of
Peace
Jesus Christ, the
incarnation of God,
is acclaimed by the
prophets as the ‘Prince of
jesus Peace’ (Isaiah 9, 6),
who brings ‘peace to the
people of good will in the
world’ (Luke 2, 14).
He himself is the peace
(Ephesians 2, 14)
but his peace is a fruit of
the Holy Spirit.
Resisting power, domination and exploitation…………5, 22).
(Galatians

10. Sermon on the Mount – Announcing the dawn of the

11. The Beatitudes
(Mathew, Chapter 5)
3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“ Blessed are they, who do not use violence,
5
they will inherit the earth.
6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9
“ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you
and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

12. To become authentic peacemakers, it is fundamental
to keep in mind our transcendent dimension and to
enter into constant dialogue with God,
the Father of mercy, whereby we implore the
redemption achieved for us by His only-begotten
Son…. Pope Benedict XVI

13. Love your neighbour……… 27 “But I say to
you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse
you, pray for those who abuse you.
(Luke 6, 27-28 & Mathew 5, 43-48

14. Then Peter
came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of
the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As
many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times,
but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

15. The Golden Rule
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is
the law and the prophets (Math 7,12).

16. “ Victim & Sacrifice
Sacred Violence to Heal Wounds of Violence

17. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if
anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;
and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to
everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to
borrow from you”.
Mathew 5, 38-42:

18. Parson
Jesus washing Apostles’ feet

19. Father, forgive them they know not what they are doing…. Luke 23,
33-34
In Luke, Jesus faces his crucifixion stolidly. He asks God to forgive those who are
crucifying him, possibly the Romans and possibly the Jews.

20. Jesus died before late afternoon at Calvary, which was also called Golgotha.

21. He is Risen…..Love has the last Word

22. Jesus' resurrection is a matter of great importance for Christians,
for the Christian faith is based on the resurrection of Christ.

23. pax et bonum

24. I will be till the end of the world!

27. Make me channel of your peace
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled,
as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

28. Shalom!
May the peace of the Lord
be with you all!