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WelcomeThis small web site has been developed to find an agent, editor, and publisher for my book, Jesus Was A Pacifist, subtitle: How Jesus Taught World Peace-- and Why. It is written to non-believers as well as peace activists and religious seekers. All of the items for a typical book proposal are contained in the links on the left along with a link to download one of the more powerful chapters. Thanks for visiting and open your mind as you read and discover a comprehensive perspective of Jesus' gospel teachings on peace. You'll find his message to be very simple but very challenging. Please express your interest or comment in an email if you are moved to do so. Everyone interested in the non-violent teachings of Jesus is welcome, too. Please pass this site on to others, especially if you know people involved in the publishing industry or people who have expert knowledge of the Gospels. The book is a handbook for peacemakers in Christian churches and peacemakers everywhere regardless of their faith. It is a guide to the teachings of Jesus on peace with the perspective that Jesus’ prime commandment was, “Love your enemies and pray for them,” which applies to both individual and national relations. Unfortunately, through the last 2000 years, the Christian countries have been the most warlike. If the world will ever find peace, it will be by finally realizing that the founder of the world's greatest religion forbid fighting of every sort.How do we know he was a pacifist? He told us he was! "Blessed are the pacifists, for they shall be called the "sons of god." (Mt 5:9 and Lk 6:35). Actually it's not quite that simple, but looking into the etymology of the word "peace"-- shalom-hebrew, agape-greek, and pax-latin, the languages of the early Bibles-- the root word could have a variety of translations into English such as calm, tranquility and inner stability. Jesus mentioned this word in a humble statement as the seventh beatitude in Matthew and as the reward for loving enemies in Luke 6:35, intending it as the virtuous response to a hostile relationship. Jesus clearly meant that this blessing applied to him, as a Son of God, and that it could apply to each of us, too if we would be peace-bringers. The word "peacemaker" is the traditional translation of Mt 5:9 starting with the early translations into English, but the word pacifist didn't come into existence until early 20th century French, giving the root of the word a form for "peace activist," or a human who engages in peace bringing activity. Jesus was the peace activist of his day. The book goes on to show how "pacifist" is a plausible and perhaps better translation given the stories and quotes in Jesus' life, though Jesus has not been the peacemaker because wars have been a constant in history in the Christian nations that claim to follow him. While Jesus did show anger on one occasion and warned the people about a growing revolt from Rome by the Jews, this is not the angry war protestor we see in old news clips of the Vietnam war that we think of as a pacifist today. He taught a philosophical approach of personal convictions and non-violence much like Buddha, Gandhi, Leo Tolstoy and Martin Luther King. His followers also believed this until the fourth century as the church drifted toward political necessities and adopted the principle of "just" war. How can anyone who knows the story of Jesus look at
a crucifix and not see a pacifist who willingly gave up his life rather than
fight? His preaching of nonviolence and love for everyone—not simply
neighbors but also strangers and enemies—were as clear and as firm as anyone
we call a pacifist today. Much like war protestors today, he
foretold the destruction of the temple, the most prized possession of the Jews,
which occurred in a revolt against
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Send mail to
jesuswasapacifist@yahoo.com with questions or comments about this web site.
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