In Walter Wink’s article “Beyond Just War and Pacifism” he does not believe war should ever be justified. He gave a helpful understanding for the complexity and opacity of human violence. In a broader view Wink sees a hidden dimension not apart from physical reality and human society but grounded within the social world. Wink calls this hidden reality “The domain of the Powers”. Wink argues that war can never be just because justice requires fairness on both sides and war there could never be that. Wink talks about "The Domination System," which is a cultural vision in which a dominating hierarchy is the only possible source of order and "good" violence is the only reason against "bad" violence. The Domination System plays as the role of Satan
…show more content…
He states, “Violence can never stop violence because its very success leads others to imitate it. Ironically, violence is most dangerous when it succeeds… Christians do not live nonviolently in order to be saved, or in order to live up to an absolute ethical norm, but because we want to end the Domination System. We eschew violence because we do not wish to extend by even one day the reign of violence in the world. Nonviolence is not a matter of legalism but of discipleship. It is the way God has chosen to overthrow evil in the world. And the same God who calls us to nonviolence gives us the power to carry it out.” Wink analysis the Just-War theory, finding loop holes in its logic so that the theory fails, especially if you realize how many millions of innocent civilians are killed in war, regardless of any attempt to “give noncombatants immunity.” In fact, Wink sees Just-War theory as a Christian appropriation of the Myth of Redemptive Violence. At the same time, Wink does not encourage pacifism if that means cowardice and docile submission to the Domination System. Wink reminds us that we must face the fact they the world is hooked on violence. It won’t be easy to break free so we need to turn to a higher power for help in extricating ourselves from our trust in destructive
He states, “Violence can never stop violence because its very success leads others to imitate it. Ironically, violence is most dangerous when it succeeds… Christians do not live nonviolently in order to be saved, or in order to live up to an absolute ethical norm, but because we want to end the Domination System. We eschew violence because we do not wish to extend by even one day the reign of violence in the world. Nonviolence is not a matter of legalism but of discipleship. It is the way God has chosen to overthrow evil in the world. And the same God who calls us to nonviolence gives us the power to carry it out.” Wink analysis the Just-War theory, finding loop holes in its logic so that the theory fails, especially if you realize how many millions of innocent civilians are killed in war, regardless of any attempt to “give noncombatants immunity.” In fact, Wink sees Just-War theory as a Christian appropriation of the Myth of Redemptive Violence. At the same time, Wink does not encourage pacifism if that means cowardice and docile submission to the Domination System. Wink reminds us that we must face the fact they the world is hooked on violence. It won’t be easy to break free so we need to turn to a higher power for help in extricating ourselves from our trust in destructive