Sider - Nonviolent action: what Christian ethics demands but most Christians have never really tried

2015 by Ronald J. Sider

Published by Brazos Press

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www . brazospress .com

Ebook edition created 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-2171-1

This book is for every person who is appalled by evil but conflicted in how to respond to it in a way that honors Jesus, the Prince of Peace. It is not just for pacifists. It is for skeptics, war hawks, liberals, and conservativesbut is not for the faint of heart, for in the end it is a clarion call to take the cross as seriously as we have taken the sword.

Shane Claiborne , author, activist, and founding partner of The Simple Way

In recent years Ive traveled often to the Holy Land, where unholy violence continues to beget more violence. This book affirms the wisdom of the peacemakers Ive metboth Israelis and Palestinianswho refuse the path of violence. With their active witness in mind, I fully endorse Rons call to an organized, active campaign of nonviolence.

Lynne Hybels , advocate for global engagement, Willow Creek Community Church

Whether or not one is a pacifistI am notone has something to learn about the power of nonviolent protest and resistance from Dr. Siders careful and thoughtful study of successful nonviolent movements against tyranny and oppression. He shows that sometimes nonviolence is the most effective wayand therefore the right wayto overcome injustice and protect its victims. In my view, that isnt always the case, but Dr. Sider does the Christian community and everyone a great service in reminding us that sometimes nonviolence is the best option.

Robert P. George , Princeton University

Nonviolence has not been given the large scale study and trial it deserves. I hope this book of case studies inspires more people to seek the knowledge and training that Christian action for justice requires.

David Neff , speaker, writer, and former editor-in-chief of Christianity Today

Ron Sider provides a profound and illuminating account of the effectiveness of nonviolent, grassroots movements that challenge unjust and discriminatory social practices. He concludes with a summons to faith communities to equip themselves for generating and sustaining such movements in their own responses to oppressive social systems that abuse vulnerable human beings in the contemporary world.

Thomas W. Ogletree , Yale Divinity School

Sider presents a compelling case for vastly increased investment by Christian churches and other faith traditions in the development of effective nonviolent strategies for resisting violent oppression and accomplishing social change. This convincing book makes an important contribution to a critical debate.

Marie Dennis , co-president, Pax Christi International

There are few people better qualified to write a book on this topic than Ron Sider, whose steadfast work for peace and justice for more than forty years never ceases to inspire me. I encourage anyone who cares about the future of humankind and wants to live out Jesuss call to be a peacemaker to read this book.

Jim Wallis , author of The (Un)Common Good , president of Sojourners, and editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine

Thoroughly documented and clearly written. It explains how all persons can discern nonviolence to be both strategically and morally preferable to violence. A valuable resource for understanding peacemaking as a needed skill.

Edward LeRoy Long Jr. , Drew University

This book is an inspiring addition to Ron Siders magisterial collection of writings, and in many ways a capstone to his consistent witness for peace. I strongly recommend this important contribution to the literature of Christian peacemakingthat is, Christian discipleship.

David P. Gushee , Center for Theology and Public Life, Mercer University

The facts are in: nonviolent action is often more effective than the use of force in the quest for justice. Sider argues powerfully that both pacifist and just war Christians should join together in struggles for such nonviolent change.

David Hollenbach, SJ , Boston College

Ron Sider is a vigorous and well-informed advocate for nonviolent action as the best way forward as we confront the deep problems of the twenty-first century. I am happy to recommend this book very strongly both to peace activists who are looking to deepen their historical and theological knowledge of the basic issues and to theologians who are searching for a more experiential and pragmatic approach than what a simple reiteration of pacifist convictions offers.

John Langan, SJ , Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University

To all the courageous pioneers who have demonstrated that nonviolent action works