Workshop 5: Just War, Pacifism, and Peacemaking

Part of Resistance and Transformation

In This Section

Introduction

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...the citizen, before fighting, is bound to inquire into the justice of the cause which he is called to maintain with blood, and bound to withhold his...
Workshop-at-a-Glance

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Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: Defining Just War 15 Activity 2: Understanding Pacifism 15 Activity 3: The Taft-Holmes...
Spiritual Preparation

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Read Handout 1, Just War Theory; Handout 2, Pacifism; and Handout 3, Peacemaking. Consider these strategic and philosophical approaches to the issue of...
Welcoming and Entering

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Materials for Activity Sign-in sheet and pen or pencil Name tags for participants (durable or single-use), and bold markers Workshop 1, Handout 1, Sched...
Opening

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Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Timepiece (minute...
Activity 1: Defining Just War

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Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Just War Theory Participant journals Pens, pencils, and extra paper Preparation for Activity...
Activity 2: Understanding Pacifism

From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Pacifism Preparation for Activity Read Handout 2 and discuss with your co-facilitator any...
Activity 3: The Taft-Holmes Debate

From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape A copy of the story "The Taft-Holmes Debate" Workshop 2, Handout 1,...
Activity 4: Peacemaking

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Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 3, Peacemaking Leader Resource 3, Beyond Just War and Pacifism Preparation for Activity Read...
Closing

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Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table and chalice Participant journals Writing materials, including paper, pens,...
Leader Reflection and Planning

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Take a few moments right after the workshop to ask each other: What went well? What did not? Why? What do you think was the best moment of the workshop?
Faith In Action: Acting on Justice Resolutions

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Materials for Activity Computer with Internet connection Leader Resource 1, Statement of Conscience - Creating Peace Preparation for Activity Online,...
Alternate Activity 1: Role Playing the Taft-Holmes Debate

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Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 4, Taft and Holmes Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 4 for all participants....
Alternate Activity 2: Envisioning Alternatives

From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Just War Theory Handout 2, Pacifism Handout 3, Peacemaking Newsprint, markers, and tape...
Taking It Home

From Resistance and Transformation

...the citizen, before fighting, is bound to inquire into the justice of the cause which he is called to maintain with blood, and bound to withhold his...
The Taft-Holmes Debate

From Resistance and Transformation

The United States entered World War I in April 1917. Shortly afterward, Congress passed the 1917 Espionage Act....
Handout 1: Just War Theory

From Resistance and Transformation

This summary is based on information from God's War by Christopher Tyerman (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2006)....
Handout 2: Pacifism

From Resistance and Transformation

The exact meaning of the term "pacifism" can be difficult to pin down....
Handout 3: Peacemaking

From Resistance and Transformation

The 2006-2010 Study/Action Issue for the Unitarian Universalist Association asks the question: "Should the Unitarian Universalist Association reject the...
Handout 4: Taft and Holmes

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You will present a mock debate between two great Unitarian figures from the 20th century, William Howard Taft and John Haynes Holmes. Both men were...
Leader Resource 1: Statement of Conscience: Creating Peace

From Resistance and Transformation

This statement was passed on June 25, 2010 by the delegates to the 2010 General Assembly in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Unitarian Universalist theologians Dr.
Leader Resource 2: John Haynes Holmes and William Howard Taft, Photographs

From Resistance and Transformation

Holmes (left), from the Unitarian Universalist Association archives. Taft (right) from the United States Library of Congress.
Leader Resource 3: Beyond Just War and Pacifism

From Resistance and Transformation

From an article, "Prophetic Nonviolence," by Paul Rasor, which appeared in the Spring 2008 issue of UU World. Used with the author's permission....
Find Out More

From Resistance and Transformation

Holmes and Taft Find biographical information for John Haynes Holmes and William Howard Taft in the Unitarian Universalist Historical Society's online...

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Workshop 5: Just War, Pacifism, and Peacemaking

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