Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way (Facets): Walter Wink: 9780800636098: Amazon.com: Books
More than ever, Walter Wink believes, the Christian tradition of nonviolence is needed as an alternative to the dominant and death-dealing "powers" of our consumerist culture and fractured world. In this small book Wink offers a precis of his whole thinking about this issue, including the relation of Jesus and his message to politics and nonviolence, the history of nonviolent efforts, and how nonviolence can win the day when others don't hesitate to resort to violence or terror to achieve their aims.
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Top Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A radical Jesus
By Martin Smedjeback on February 9, 2004
We have all been fooled! That was the feeling I had when I put down Jesus and Nonviolence. Jesus is not the weak, nonpolitical, do not rock the boat-kind of guy that they talk about in church. The Bible researcher Walter Wink shows with clarity how Jesus both gave examples and himself acted very politically to change the society he was living in. He challenged the rules and the laws of his day's powers. He acted powerfully against the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and he questioned the unlawful occupation of his land. There were others that did this before him. The difference was that they used violence to protest against the occupation. Jesus acted with loving nonviolence. He challenged the injustices but always with respect for the other. Wink goes on to show us that the ideas and methods of nonviolence are very alive also today, actually more than any time before. Only in 1989-90 there were fourteen nations that underwent nonviolent revolutions, all of them successful except China. In this thin book Wink has given me a whole new view of Christianity, has strengthened my belief in nonviolence and has given me hope for a nonviolent future. Quite an accomplishment for a 117-pages book!
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5.0 out of 5 starsnonviolent action is not passivism!
By C.J.A. on September 1, 2004
I carry a copy of this little book with me wherever I go, and I've reread it many times with great enjoyment. This is an essential introduction to the nonviolent way of Jesus for all Christians, including great commentary on relevant biblical passages and invaluable guidance for respecting the dignity of one's "opponents." It makes a super gift.
----
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wink Does It Again
By Dr. Thomas H. Martin on June 11, 2003
If you are considering or committed to the way of nonviolence and searching for firm footing in the actual practice of peace and reconciliation, read this book. As always, Wink is challenging, creative, convincing, and compelling. The many stories he tells to illustrate his points are quite interesting and practical.
This is vintage Wink at his best. I will refer to this little book often. It would be a steal at twice the price.
----
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good interpretation of the Christian basis for nonviolence.
By James G. Williams on September 2, 2005
Walter Wink here gives a fine overview and simplification of his thinking on the topic of nonviolence as presented in his various scholarly studies of the New Testament topics of the principalities and powers and the Son of Man. It gives new life to turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and love of enemies. It is especially appropriate for classes and small groups of laypeople who have only an elementary background in biblical studies.
For heartier fare on this issue that is at the heart of Christian faith and life one may turn to Wink's trilogy on The Powers. For comparable or related works I highly recommend John Howard Yoder, The Politics of Jesus and William T. Cavanaugh, Torture and the Eucharist. One lack in this little monograph is that Wink doesn't mention the work of René Girard on desire and violence, although he has taken note of it in The Powers.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA new look at Jesus
By Highlanderthal on October 12, 2005
This is a small book that you can carry with you as a reminder in your hectic life.This introduction to a non-violent Jesus will empower you to make changes in your life.It has many biblical passages that teach you to respect the dignity of people who disagree with your beliefs. The only lasting way to eliminate an enemy is to make him your friend.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic of Nonviolence Written with Passion and from Personal Experience
By Amos Smith on May 24, 2014
This is a classic of Nonviolence in Christian tradition. Whereas some books on Nonviolence from a Christian perspective often stray from the mark, Walter Wink brings us back over and over again to the Nonviolent core of Jesus' message. He also shows us how that message has been watered-down and misunderstood. Wink writes with conviction, passion, and personal experience as an international proponent of Nonviolent resistance. Highly recommended!!
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Awsome little book!
By R. Ross on January 13, 2008
This book was first introduced to me through a Wilmington College (Ohio) class on Quakerism and the Peace Testimony. It affirmed my beliefs that we have no right to kill other people, no matter what. Jesus was a radical, and understanding the context of his teachings help to make them clearer to our culture today. As a Christian (and now following the Quaker testimonies), I don't understand how someone who believes Jesus is Christ can kill another human being, when he states that we are to "love (respect) our enemies." This little book shows how nonviolent revolutions solve political problems in the long run, much more often than violent ones do, yet people still believe that nonviolence in passive and cowardly. This is a book that every Christian should read.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoughtful and can be provocative
By Frank Coats on December 30, 2015
This is a thoughtful, can be provocative look at Jesus'teaching on non-violence. It helps answer a question that shoukd bother everyone: if Jesus was so nice and sweet why did anyone want o kill him? Walter Wink was a sharp theologian and this kindle version is excellent.
More than ever, Walter Wink believes, the Christian tradition of nonviolence is needed as an alternative to the dominant and death-dealing "powers" of our consumerist culture and fractured world. In this small book Wink offers a precis of his whole thinking about this issue, including the relation of Jesus and his message to politics and nonviolence, the history of nonviolent efforts, and how nonviolence can win the day when others don't hesitate to resort to violence or terror to achieve their aims.
---
Top Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A radical Jesus
By Martin Smedjeback on February 9, 2004
We have all been fooled! That was the feeling I had when I put down Jesus and Nonviolence. Jesus is not the weak, nonpolitical, do not rock the boat-kind of guy that they talk about in church. The Bible researcher Walter Wink shows with clarity how Jesus both gave examples and himself acted very politically to change the society he was living in. He challenged the rules and the laws of his day's powers. He acted powerfully against the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and he questioned the unlawful occupation of his land. There were others that did this before him. The difference was that they used violence to protest against the occupation. Jesus acted with loving nonviolence. He challenged the injustices but always with respect for the other. Wink goes on to show us that the ideas and methods of nonviolence are very alive also today, actually more than any time before. Only in 1989-90 there were fourteen nations that underwent nonviolent revolutions, all of them successful except China. In this thin book Wink has given me a whole new view of Christianity, has strengthened my belief in nonviolence and has given me hope for a nonviolent future. Quite an accomplishment for a 117-pages book!
---
5.0 out of 5 starsnonviolent action is not passivism!
By C.J.A. on September 1, 2004
I carry a copy of this little book with me wherever I go, and I've reread it many times with great enjoyment. This is an essential introduction to the nonviolent way of Jesus for all Christians, including great commentary on relevant biblical passages and invaluable guidance for respecting the dignity of one's "opponents." It makes a super gift.
----
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wink Does It Again
By Dr. Thomas H. Martin on June 11, 2003
If you are considering or committed to the way of nonviolence and searching for firm footing in the actual practice of peace and reconciliation, read this book. As always, Wink is challenging, creative, convincing, and compelling. The many stories he tells to illustrate his points are quite interesting and practical.
This is vintage Wink at his best. I will refer to this little book often. It would be a steal at twice the price.
----
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good interpretation of the Christian basis for nonviolence.
By James G. Williams on September 2, 2005
Walter Wink here gives a fine overview and simplification of his thinking on the topic of nonviolence as presented in his various scholarly studies of the New Testament topics of the principalities and powers and the Son of Man. It gives new life to turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and love of enemies. It is especially appropriate for classes and small groups of laypeople who have only an elementary background in biblical studies.
For heartier fare on this issue that is at the heart of Christian faith and life one may turn to Wink's trilogy on The Powers. For comparable or related works I highly recommend John Howard Yoder, The Politics of Jesus and William T. Cavanaugh, Torture and the Eucharist. One lack in this little monograph is that Wink doesn't mention the work of René Girard on desire and violence, although he has taken note of it in The Powers.
---
5.0 out of 5 starsA new look at Jesus
By Highlanderthal on October 12, 2005
This is a small book that you can carry with you as a reminder in your hectic life.This introduction to a non-violent Jesus will empower you to make changes in your life.It has many biblical passages that teach you to respect the dignity of people who disagree with your beliefs. The only lasting way to eliminate an enemy is to make him your friend.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic of Nonviolence Written with Passion and from Personal Experience
By Amos Smith on May 24, 2014
This is a classic of Nonviolence in Christian tradition. Whereas some books on Nonviolence from a Christian perspective often stray from the mark, Walter Wink brings us back over and over again to the Nonviolent core of Jesus' message. He also shows us how that message has been watered-down and misunderstood. Wink writes with conviction, passion, and personal experience as an international proponent of Nonviolent resistance. Highly recommended!!
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awsome little book!
By R. Ross on January 13, 2008
This book was first introduced to me through a Wilmington College (Ohio) class on Quakerism and the Peace Testimony. It affirmed my beliefs that we have no right to kill other people, no matter what. Jesus was a radical, and understanding the context of his teachings help to make them clearer to our culture today. As a Christian (and now following the Quaker testimonies), I don't understand how someone who believes Jesus is Christ can kill another human being, when he states that we are to "love (respect) our enemies." This little book shows how nonviolent revolutions solve political problems in the long run, much more often than violent ones do, yet people still believe that nonviolence in passive and cowardly. This is a book that every Christian should read.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoughtful and can be provocative
By Frank Coats on December 30, 2015
This is a thoughtful, can be provocative look at Jesus'teaching on non-violence. It helps answer a question that shoukd bother everyone: if Jesus was so nice and sweet why did anyone want o kill him? Walter Wink was a sharp theologian and this kindle version is excellent.
