Peace Theology – Quaker Theology

Theology & Peace Witness by Chuck Fager

This post is a detailed letter about the unique theological and practical challenges faced by the Director of Quaker House at Fayetteville-Fort Bragg, a peace witness mission operating within a military culture. It explores the enduring military-industrial complex as a pervasive spiritual and cultural influence, the isolation experienced by peace activists, and the need for…
“To Be Broken and Tender: A Quaker Theology for Today”* A Review

This review of Margery Post Abbott’s book “To Be Broken and Tender: A Quaker Theology for Today” highlights its engaging and accessible style, blending traditional Quaker spirituality with contemporary and mystical elements. Abbott’s theology is described as progressive and inclusive, drawing on Christian and non-Christian spirituality while emphasizing humility, brokenness, and peacemaking.
Study War Some More (If You Want to Work for Peace)

This article explores the complexity and history of the Quaker Peace Testimony, emphasizing the need for a strategic, long-term approach to peace work. It critiques the influence of the U.S. military-industrial complex, highlights the spiritual dimensions of militarism, and advocates learning from military strategy to enhance Quaker peace activism. The author proposes a “Hundred-Year Lamb’s…
Review Essay: Resistance Theology in Niebuhr, Barth, Rauschenbush & Dorrien; Irony & Living a Theological Saga

This review essay analyzes Gary Dorrien’s extensive works on American liberal theology, focusing on key theologians like Karl Barth, Walter Rauschenbush, and Reinhold Niebuhr, particularly their resistance to war and militarism. It highlights the tension between liberal theology and emerging neoconservatism, and calls for theological reflection that supports resistance to militarism and the “war spirit”…
Quakers and “Transformation”

The post critiques the overuse and dilution of the term “transformation” in Quaker and broader religious contexts, highlighting how it has lost meaning and can be misused, including in justifications of war and militarism. The author calls for clearer, more precise language and warns against uncritical adoption of buzzwords that obscure real change.
Love and Peace in Cuba Today From the Perspective of a Quaker

This post is a deeply reflective essay by a Cuban Quaker poet, Julio Antonio Cuesta Martínez, translated by Stephen W. Angell. It explores the spiritual, social, and economic challenges faced by Cubans today, emphasizing the importance of inner peace and faith in Christ amidst external and internal hardships including economic blockade, societal stagnation, and personal…
“Paper Trail: Writings from the Front Line of Peace Action, Quaker House/Fort Bragg, 2001-2012″* A Review

This review of Chuck Fager’s book *Paper Trail* highlights its comprehensive and heartfelt account of peace activism during a highly militarized era. The book discusses peace efforts connected to military families, torture, and the Iraq war, emphasizing the human and moral costs of conflict while celebrating personal and community commitment to peace.
My Theology of Peacemaking — Rwanda Forgiveness

The article explores a theology of peacemaking grounded in forgiveness, reconciliation, and non-violence, drawing heavily from experiences with the Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities (HROC) program in the African Great Lakes region. It emphasizes the transformative power of forgiveness, even in the face of horrific violence like genocide, and advocates for rebuilding relationships based on…
“To Be Broken and Tender: A Quaker Theology for Today,” Selected Excerpts

This post explores a deeply personal and mystical Quaker theology centered on divine love, transformation, and the experience of the Eternal Presence. It reflects on themes of suffering, peace, and spirituality, drawing on historical Quaker figures and the vision of the City of God, while emphasizing the ongoing journey toward tenderness and community in faith.…
“Study War Some More (If You Want to Work for Peace),”* A Review

This article reviews Chuck Fager’s book “Study War Some More (If You Want to Work for Peace),” highlighting its call for a rigorous, long-term peace strategy informed by biblical reflection, Quaker history, and lessons from military strategy. Fager critiques simplistic pacifism and urges Friends to engage thoughtfully with the military-industrial complex through sustained, visionary peace…
“Wrestling With Our Faith Tradition”* A Review

The post reviews Lloyd Lee Wilson’s book on Conservative Quakerism, critiquing his portrayal of a “classic Quaker tradition” that blends traditional Quaker beliefs with various modern spiritual ideas. The review highlights Wilson’s overly individualistic peace testimony, problematic biblical interpretations, and an unacknowledged history of communal oversight’s oppressive potential, while cautioning against his dismissive stance toward…
In Search of Religious Radicalism

The article traces Charley Earp’s personal journey from evangelical Pentecostalism through Christian communalism to a progressive, radical religious philosophy aligned with social activism. It explores the tensions between traditional Christian beliefs and radical social values, ultimately advocating for an integrated, experimental religious radicalism that embraces egalitarianism, inclusivity, and social justice, exemplified in Progressive Quakerism. The…
Peace Theology and Foundations for Ecumenical Dialogue

This article explores the complexities of peace theology within Christian traditions, focusing on the challenges and foundations necessary for ecumenical dialogue among historic peace churches and other Christian communities. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing diverse theological legacies, embodying faith in lived experience, and fostering a spirit of covenantal fellowship to advance shared understandings of…
Quakers and The Lamb’s War: A Hermeneutic for Confronting Evil, Non-Violent Resistance

This article explores the Quaker peace testimony as an active, nonviolent resistance rooted in spiritual warfare, tracing its historical development from early Quaker times through the twentieth century. It emphasizes the theological and communal foundations of Quaker pacifism, recent hermeneutics that interpret Jesus’ teachings as advocating assertive nonviolence, and practical models like the Alternatives to…
Abolishing War? An Appeal to Christian Leaders and Theologians

This article is an appeal by Christian theologians Stanley Hauerwas and Enda McDonagh calling for the abolition of war as a means of resolving political conflicts. Drawing on the teachings of Jesus Christ and early Christian pacifism, it critiques the just war tradition and urges Christians to lead a global effort towards peace through non-violent…
A Great Deep: The Peace Testimony and Historical Realism

This article critically examines the historical complexities and ambiguities surrounding the Quaker Peace Testimony, particularly through the lens of colonial Rhode Island during King Philip’s War and British Quakerism during the early 20th century. It highlights how Quaker pacifism has evolved amid internal conflicts, societal pressures, and differing interpretations, ultimately emphasizing the need for honest…
“Refiner’s Fire: A Religious Engagement with Violence”* a Review

This article reviews Cheryl Kirk-Duggan’s *Refiner’s Fire*, which explores an African American Womanist theological perspective on violence. It highlights the complex engagement of violence within cultural, biblical, and social frameworks, emphasizing how nonviolence is expressed differently across diverse experiences of race, gender, and class.
The Bible & Peacemaking — A Response

This article explores the complex and often ambiguous Biblical teachings on peacemaking, emphasizing the diversity and contradictions within the scriptures. It argues that rather than a cohesive doctrine, the Bible presents a calling to peacemaking that is fraught with paradox and requires ongoing reflection and commitment. The author situates this calling within the Quaker tradition,…
What Can The Bible Teach Us About Peacemaking?

This article explores what the Bible teaches about peacemaking, emphasizing the importance of reading the Bible as a coherent and authoritative text. It outlines a broader Biblical vision of peace (“shalom”) beyond mere pacifism, encompassing justice, truth, mercy, stewardship, and hope, urging active engagement in peacemaking across political, economic, and community spheres.