Workshop 5: Just War, Pacifism, and Peacemaking

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Part of Resistance and Transformation: Unitarian Universalist Social Justice History

In This Section

Introduction
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 hand if his conscience condemn the cause. — William Ellery Channing This workshop explores a range of stances Unitarian Universalists have taken…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: Defining Just War 15 Activity 2: Understanding Pacifism 15 Activity 3: The Taft-Holmes Debate 25 Activity 4: Peacemaking 20 Faith in Action: Acting on Justice Resolutions Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Role Playing the Taft-Holmes…
Spiritual Preparation
From Resistance and Transformation

Read Handout 1, Just War Theory; Handout 2, Pacifism; and Handout 3, Peacemaking. Consider these strategic and philosophical approaches to the issue of war. Do any resonate more strongly with you than the others? Why? What values do you think are behind each approach?…
Welcoming and Entering
From Resistance and Transformation

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, Schedule Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity Have copies of Workshop 1, Handout 1, Schedule on hand for those who need one. Using the…
Opening
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Timepiece (minutes) Chime or bell Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the UUA hymnbook, for all participants Leader Resource 1, Statement of Conscience -…
Activity 1: Defining Just War
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Just War Theory Participant journals Pens, pencils, and extra paper Preparation for Activity Read Handout 1 and discuss with your co-facilitator any questions you have about just war theory. Copy the handout for participants. Optional:…
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 questions you might have about pacifism. Copy the handout for all participants. Optional: Prearrange for a volunteer to read the handout aloud.
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, Prophetic, Parallel, and Institutional Voices Leader Resource 2, John Haynes Holmes and William Howard Taft, Photographs Optional: Computer and digital…
Activity 4: Peacemaking
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 3, Peacemaking Leader Resource 3, Beyond Just War and Pacifism Preparation for Activity Read Leader Resource 3 and discuss with your co-facilitator questions and responses you might have about Rasor’s ideas or peacemaking….
Closing
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table and chalice Participant journals Writing materials, including paper, pens, pencils, color pencils, and markers Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Customize the Taking It Home section of this workshop and copy…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Resistance and Transformation

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? Why? Did anything surprise you? Review the next workshop. Are there any questions to research or logistics to arrange between workshops? Make a…
Faith In Action: Acting on Justice Resolutions
From Resistance and Transformation

Materials for Activity Computer with Internet connection Leader Resource 1, Statement of Conscience — Creating Peace Preparation for Activity Online, access recent social justice statements and resolutions regarding wars, conflicts, and peacemaking passed by the General Assembly of the Unitarian…
Alternate Activity 1: Role Playing the Taft-Holmes Debate
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 4, Taft and Holmes Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 4 for all participants. Assign roles for the debate. Co-facilitators may want to play Taft and Holmes, or especially enthusiastic group members may be invited to take on this challenge.
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 Preparation for Activity Choose a conflict in the world about which people in your congregation are currently concerned. Briefly familiarize yourself…
Taking It Home: Just War, Pacifism, and Peacemaking
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 hand if his conscience condemn the cause. — William Ellery Channing This week, when reading, watching, or listening to the news, pay attention to…
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. The act made it a crime for people to speak out against the country’s involvement in the war or to encourage draft resistance or conscientious objection. As a result of the act, several…
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). In the 4th century BCE, the Greek philosopher Aristotle outlined what he considered to be acceptable categories of warfare….
Handout 2: Pacifism
From Resistance and Transformation

The exact meaning of the term “pacifism” can be difficult to pin down. It is used to refer to perspectives ranging from absolute rejection of violence of any kind to a principled refusal to engage in military activity and a belief that conflict among nations should never be resolved through war.
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 use of any and all kinds of violence and war to resolve disputes between peoples and nations and adopt a principle of seeking just peace through…
Handout 4: Taft and Holmes
From Resistance and Transformation

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 passionate orators and spoke eloquently for their positions. Review their arguments, read the online materials on Taft and Holmes, and get ready to…
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. Sharon Welch, Dr. Dan McKanon, and Rev. Dr. Paul Rasor were consultants in the crafting of the statement, and all three spoke in support of it…
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. I believe we can move beyond this old divide by adopting an integrated model I call prophetic nonviolence….
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 Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography. The “Third Way” Read more here: “Beyond Just War and Pacifism: Toward a Unitarian Universalist…