Christian theology and ethics have wrestled with the challenge to apply Jesus’s central message of nonviolence to the injustices of this world. Is it not right to defend the persecuted by using violence? Is it unjust if the oppressed defend themselves—if necessary by the use of violence—in order to liberate themselves and to create a more just society? Can we leave the doctrine of the just war behind and shift all our attention toward the way of a just peace?
In 2011 the World Council of Churches brought to a close the Decade to Overcome Violence, to which the churches committed themselves at the beginning of the century. Just peace has evolved as the new ecumenical paradigm for contemporary Christian ethics. Just peace signals a realistic vision of holistic peace, with justice, which in the concept of shalom is central in the Hebrew Bible as well as in the gospel message of the New Testament.
Mennonite ecumenist Fernando Enns has played a leading role in the WCC initiative He has now gathered peacebuilding practitioners and experts from different parts of the world (Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia, and Europe) and from different disciplines (anthropology, psychology, social sciences, law, and theology)—voices from across generations and Christian traditions—to promote discussion about the different dimensions of building peace with justice.
“Just Peace is an ambitious goal for the World Council of Churches. However, it is the mandate for anyone who wants to follow the call of the kingdom of God. We need reflections like [these] to nurture our concepts and strengthen our commitment. Mosher and Enns are well-qualified guides in the landscape where we need to be.”—Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
“This is a welcome contribution to the emerging ecumenical discussion about a fundamental reorientation of Christian peace ethics towards the vision of just peace. Drawing on the tradition of historic peace churches, it broadens the discourse by introducing challenging perspectives from different cultural and religious contexts as well as from other disciplines beyond theology and ethics. While it marks only the beginning of the debate, it succeeds in demonstrating its urgency.”—Konrad Raiser, Former General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
“Defining just peace, finding space, building community through truth, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and restoring justice: this is the intent of this book, an invitation to journey through the wounds of humanity toward a working vision of God’s shalom in life-enhancing relationships. Arising from intercultural and interdisciplinary perspectives, this book is held together by a concept and practice of justice that orients ethics.”—Rodney L. Petersen, Executive Director of the Boston Theological Institute
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