Violence: A Deeper Look

examining violence to understand the ways love can overcome it

WHAT IS VIOLENCE?

• Any human action that causes harm of dignity to the human person• This includes harm to a person’s psychological, social, or spiritual well-

being

INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE

• Occurs as a result of unjust social structures

THE SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE

• A theory proposed by Archbishop of BrazilDon Helder Camara in 1980s• States that “people usually respond to violence by retaliating with an even greater act of violence”

Can you think of an example in history, the news, or your experience where the use of violence led to a more violent response?

Even when one side uses enough force to overwhelm the other, and the conflict appears to end, does the spiral really end?

Basic injustice

Violent response

Violent counter-response

Escalating violence

More injustice

WAR• The 250 wars fought in the 20th century claimed the lives of an

estimated 110 million people• The great majority of deaths were civilian deaths

• Does war really make the world safer? Or, more dangerous?

MILITARISM

• Reliance on military power to resolve conflict and provide security• “Reason and experience tell us that a continuing upward spiral, even

in conventional arms, coupled with an unbridled increase in armed forces, instead of securing true peace will almost certainly be provocative of war.” -The Challenge of Peace, USCCB, 1983

• Can breed distrust

THE ARMS RACE

• Competition between rivals to have the biggest and best military force

• Based on the theory of deterrence: potential of one country to inflict significant harm will discourage adversaries from attacking first

• How can the arms race make the world less safe?

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

• Arms race between the U.S. and Soviet Union left the world nuclear arsenal with 1.4 million bombs of the size of the one dropped on Hiroshima

• Since then, a reduction of stockpiles, yet--• Nuclear proliferation among nations/groups

BREAKING THE SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE

• How can we respond to violence?• Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. offered the following response:“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy…Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

RESPONDING TO TERRORISMCOMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

• Terrorism can never be justified.• The struggle against terrorism must follow the moral law.• Efforts to prevent terrorism must focus on eliminating its causes.