Put Down Your Sword: Answering the Gospel Call to Creative Nonviolence – by John Dear

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Few books share not only a vision of Jesus’ nonviolence, but also ways of actually living out that same vision today. Who better to write such a work than Fr. John Dear, an internationally known peacemaker?

Put Down Your Sword invites us into Jesus’ way of nonviolence, as presented by the Gospels. Dear argues that all Christians must follow Christ’s example in the ways of peace. Dear then outlines the many actions he himself has taken following the path of nonviolence today, modeling his own vision of peace in this turbulent world.

First sharing his convictions and insights about the nonviolence of Jesus, the Beatitudes, the nature of God, and the mystery of the resurrection, Dear goes on to relate stories from the various protests in which he has been involved.  Journal entries from missions to India and Colombia offer a poignant backdrop for his impassioned argument.  Dear also profiles the peacemakers he finds most inspiring, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Henri Nouwen to Joan Baez.  Finally he reflects on care for the earth, the teachings of Thomas Merton, and the vision of a new world without war, poverty, or violence.

“For evil to prevail requires only that good people sit on the sidelines and do nothing. Fr. John Dear is compelling all of us to stand up and take responsibility for the suffering of humanity so often caused through selfishness and greed.”  –Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (July 15, 2008) 208 pages