Personal Nonviolence: A Practical Spirituality for Peacemakers

by Gerard Vanderhaar

Publisher:

Wipf and Stock

, 2015

Overview

Spirituality is aligning our innermost being with the Way of the Cosmos. It's our effort to get our total beings right, ultimately right, or at least as right as we can at this time in our lives given everything we know. For those trying to live lives deeply influenced by Jesus of Nazareth, a spirituality based on active nonviolence is in harmony with his life and teachings. It is both a guide and support in times of stress, turmoil, terrorism, fear, and uncertainty.

In this book, a compilation of much of his decades-long work on nonviolence, Vanderhaar explains how a spirituality of nonviolence provides methods and guidance in everyday activities such as speech, leadership, and dealing with difficult people or even those who might be seen as enemies. He outlines how this spirituality helps us to understand both our gifts and our shortcomings and to deal with the challenges of life in the twenty-first century. Understanding nonviolence can guide peacemakers to a practical spirituality based on the nonviolent Christ, our guide and inspiration.

Key Features

• Presents the culmination of decades of research
• Examines the relationship between spiritual living and nonviolence
• Emphasizes how nonviolent living helps us grow in our spiritual journey

Contents

• Part One: Getting Started
  • My Journey to Nonviolence
  • Personal Spirituality
  • Foundations
• Part Two: Nonviolence Toward Myself
  • The Shadow
  • Our Gifts
  • Stress and Worry
• Part Three: Everyday Nonviolence
  • A Nonviolence Dialect
  • Public Relations
  • Nonviolent Leadership
• Part Four Enemies
  • Love Not Like
  • When Others are Difficult
  • Personal Assault
• Part Five: Challenges
  • Bad Faith
  • Mammon
  • Revenge
• Part Six: Understanding and Facing Empire
  • Empire
  • Group Narcissism: Nationalism
  • The Role of Anger
• Part Seven: Jesus and the Empire
  • Rome and the Messiah
  • The Imperial Hammer
  • The Verdict
• Part Eight: A Nonviolent Vision
  • Sowing Nonviolent Seeds
  • Persevering Witness
  • A Different Drumbeat

Praise for the Print Edition

Dr. Vanderhaar's unmatched love for peace and nonviolence is beautifully expressed in this book. It is a book that everyone needs to read so that we may become the change we wish to see in this world.

—Arun Gandhi, Founder/President, M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, Memphis, TN

I cannot exaggerate my enthusiasm for Dr. Gerard Vanderhaar's posthumous book providing 'a practical spirituality for peacemakers.' As followers of Jesus, we are called to wage peace on every level of life--from the personal to the international. Dr. Vanderhaar will inspire you to do it and show you the way.

—Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

Product Details

• Title: Personal Nonviolence: A Practical Spirituality for Peacemakers
• Author: Gerard Vanderhaar
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock
• Publication Date: 2015
• Pages: 154
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Topic: Practical Theology

About Gerard Vanderhaar

Gerard A Vanderhaar (1931-2005), author of six books on nonviolence as well as numerous articles and other publications. He was Professor Emeritus of Religion and Peace Studies at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee, where he taught for 28 years.

Sample Pages from Personal Nonviolence: A Practical Spirituality for Peacemakers