Active Nonviolence

Active nonviolence is a creative power for good available to everyone. It is grounded in the sacredness of all life and respect for every person. When drawn upon, active nonviolence interrupts the cycle of violence by refusing to inflict harm and by actively seeking out ways to promote the common good and justice. It is not passive.

 

“Nonviolence is the greatest and most active force in the world.” 

- Gandhi

 

The positive energy of active nonviolence is accessible in the everyday lives of individuals, as well as in organized ways of working for change. It recognizes we are all interconnected, respects the dignity of every person, and believes that everyone can be transformed.  

“My optimism rests on my belief in the infinite possibilities of the individual to develop nonviolence.”

- Gandhi

 

Active nonviolence is all-encompassing: It is a spirituality, a way of life, and a strategy for social change. Gandhi called it satyagraha: “Soul Force” or “Truth Force.” Martin Luther King, Jr. knew it as the way of unconditional love, a transformative power, the means to create the Beloved Community.

Spirituality of Active Nonviolence

Nonviolence is the way of Christ, epitomized in the Sermon on the Mount and culminating in the command to love our enemies. (Mt.5:43-48). As Christians, we are called to recognize the centrality of nonviolence to the vision and mission of Jesus.

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Active Nonviolence as a Way of Life

Active nonviolence involves both our inner self and our outer self. It is manifested in how we treat ourselves, others, and Earth. It is embodied through such acts as respect, attentive listening, kindness, compassion, reconciliation, forgiveness, and works of justice.

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Active Nonviolence as a Strategy for Social Change

Active nonviolence can be a powerful force for social change. We are most familiar with the examples of Gandhi’s Salt March and the marches and sit-ins of the civil rights movement. More recently, demonstrations, marches, and civil disobedience have captured our attention.

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Clinton Franciscan Journey to a New Corporate Mission

We Clinton Franciscans engaged in a communal journey which led us to recognize a new corporate mission: living and promoting active nonviolence and peacemaking.

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Two Hands of Nonviolence

The Two Hands of Nonviolence was inspired by the metaphor of Barbara Deming. One hand says, “I refuse to cooperate with injustice;” while the other says, “I respect you as a person and will work with you for the common good.”

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Resources

The following are resources on active nonviolence. We will continue to share new resources as they become available.

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