Farewell, pacifist Quakers
Symon Hill shares some thoughts on pacifism
Pacifism was a key factor in drawing me to Quakerism. It saddens me to see pacifism steadily losing its place at the heart of the Society, at least in Britain. The Peace Testimony is not incidental to Quakerism. Through seeking to live out our commitment to nonviolence, we testify to our experience of the Inward Light. God’s Light shows us our own inner violence, exposes the reality behind the world’s systems and leads us to act in the power of the Holy Spirit, a power that is deeper and longer-lasting than military power. I know only too well that some peace campaigns are ineffective and undermined by egotism or naivety. But this is a partial picture. It is not a reason to reject peace activism as a whole.
You need to login to read subscriber-only content and/or comment on articles.