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Religion, Practice and Science of Non-Violence
exercise of vengeance, and the taking of human life were strictly forbidden to the disciple of Christ.
Quakers: The Society of Friends called Quakers, was founded c. 1650 by George Fox. Quakers, throughout their three hundred years' history, have maintained that the teaching and spirit of Jesus Christ by which they believe they are guided, lead to a rejection of war in all circumstances, whether, as a means of defence, or for the promotion of justice. They are convinced that war is wrong in itself and wrong in the eyes of God. They dissent from the judgement of Augustine and of the official Church since his time and they deny that there can be such a thing as a 'just war.'
At the time of founding the Society, George Fox said: “All that pretend to fight for Christ are deceived, for His kingdom is not of this world, therefore, His servants do not fight. Fighters are not of Christ's kingdom, but are without Christ's kingdom; His kingdom starts in peace and righteousness, but fighters are in the lust: and all that would destroy men's lives are not of Christ's mind who came to save men's lives. Christ's kingdom is not of this world; it is peaceable: and all that are in strife are not of His kingdom. All that pretend to fight for the Gospel are deceived, for the Gospel is the power of God, which was before the devil, or fall of man was; and the gospel of peace was before fighting was. Therefore, they that pretend fighting, are ignorant of the Gospel; and all that talk of fighting for Sion, are in darkness for Sion needs no such helpers. All such as profess themselves to be ministers of Christ, or Christians, and go about to beat down the whore with outward, carnal weapons, the flesh and the whore are got up in themselves, and they are in a blind zeal; for the whore is got up by inward ravening from the spirit of God; and the beating down thereof, must be by the inward stroke of the sword of the spirit within. All such as pretend Christ Jesus, and confess Him, and yet run into the use of carnal weapons, wrestling with flesh and blood, throw away the spiritual weapons. They that would be wrestlers with flesh and blood, throw away Christ's doctrine; the flesh is got up in them, and they are weary of their sufferings. Such as would revenge themselves are out of Christ's doctrine. Such as being stricken on one cheek, would not turn the other, are out of Christ's
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