Life without violence

EXPLORING PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY

Life without violence

A sampling of the many relevant references and resources available

This webpage is listed in the Topical Index of Commentaries and Cross-references.

Some relevant quotations from the Bible

(The Bible texts below are from the New Revised Standard Version (Copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

Jeremiah 22:3

Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place.

Proverbs 24:15-16

Do no violence to the place where the righteous live; for though they fall seven times, they will rise again.

Ezekiel 45:9

Put away violence and oppression, and do what is just and right.

Isaiah 60:18

Violence shall no more be heard in your land.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.

Matthew 5:43-45

"You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven;

Mark 11:25

"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."

Matthew 5:21,22

"You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whosever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire."

Colossians 3:8-11

But now you must get rid of all such things -- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

{Note: According to all the writings of that period, the Scythians were a group of people considered to be the epitome of extreme savagery and barbarism. They had a reputation for being the most violent and uncivilized people living.}

John 8:31,32

Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

1 John 4:12,16,18

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us... God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them... There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear...

Ephesians 3:20,21

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.

Some relevant references from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy

(The number preceding the colon is the page number. The number after the colon is the line number on which to begin reading. Read to the end of the paragraph unless otherwise indicated.)

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

571:15
458:23
19:6
49:21
95:32-97:4
340:12-29
275:6-19
475:7-476:5
467:355:16-21

Miscellaneous Writings

8:8-13:12
210:27-211:5
311:15-22

Message to The Mother Church for 1902

18:30-19:20

The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany

220:12

Some relevant pamphlets available in Christian Science Reading Rooms

Addiction can be healed
Beyond brain chemistry
Breaking the cycle of abuse
Breaking the grip of gambling
Family strength
Forgiving and forgetting
Freedom from stress and pressure
God's care is equal to any emergency

Hard drugs: from addiction to freedom
Health, happiness and the real woman
Human rights: a higher view
Just one step out of alcoholism
Justice and God's law
Life without fear
Peace in the neighborhood

Safe at school
Safety assured
Stability in a world of change
Teens and parents
To be a real man
Turning around a bad life
What stopped me from suicide
You're not alone

Some relevant articles available in Christian Science Reading Rooms

(The articles listed below are from The Christian Science Journal [CSJ] and the Christian Science Sentinel [CSS]. You can read these articles at any Christian Science Reading Room, where all of these articles are conveniently available in the Reading Room's library.)

A healing of hatred and heavy drinking, CSS, 1960, vol 62, p. 1040
Addict, prodigal son (poem), CSJ, 1978, vol 96, p. 192
Alcoholism? It can be healed, CSS, 1977, vol 79, p. 135
An answer to violence, CSJ, 1971, vol 89, p. 57
An end to race hatred, CSS, 1972, vol 74, p. 1646
Anger? Don't divert it. Destroy it!, CSS, 1982, vol 84, p. 1051
Are we prisoners of our past?, CSS, 1973, vol 75, p. 407
Arresting violent thoughts, CSS, 1993, vol 95/35, p. 27
Be victors, not victims, CSS, 1962, vol 64, p. 1285
Beyond the label, forgiveness, CSS, 1991, vol 93/31, p. 16
Can I contribute to eliminating violence?, CSS, 1993, vol 95/24, p. 4
Can we forgive as Jesus did?, CSS, 1970, vol 72, p. 796
Can we love our enemies without being victims?, CSS, 1990, vol 92/43, p. 16
Combating addiction, CSS, 1993, vol 95/11, p. 8
Control destructive forces, CSJ, 1973, vol 91, p. 79
Crime and violence, CSS, 1977, vol 79, p. 1313
Crime-stoppers, CSS, 1992, vol 94/45, p. 26
Crimes of sexual violence among teenagers: how to respond, CSS, 1989, vol 91/46, p. 31
Danny learns to forgive (for children), CSS, 1967, vol 69, p. 1645
Dealing spiritually with harassment at work, CSS, 1980, vol 82, p. 870
Dealing with hate, CSS, 1981, vol 83, p. 835
Dealing with mob violence, CSJ, 1972, vol 90, p. 554
Depriving criminality of a victim, CSS, 1982, vol 84, p. 785
Destroying destructive impulses, CSS, 1979, vol 81, p. 145
Developing the potential of inner-city children, CSS, 1979, vol 81, p. 724
Divine Love helps a New Zealand woman to fight child abuse, CSS, 1984, vol 86, p. 1095
Do not fear, hate or ignore evildoers, CSS, 1960, vol 62, p. 1827
Does media violence matter?, CSS, 1994, vol 96/22, p. 28
Doing our part to defuse violence, CSS, 1992, vol 94/36, p. 12
Doing violence -- or undoing it?, CSS, 1993, vol 95/22, p. 27
Dominion over violence, CSS, 1985, vol 87, p. 1620
Don't accuse and condemn -- forgive!, CSJ, 1973, vol 91, p. 263
Don't be afraid of your spouse, CSS, 1977, vol 79, p. 305
Don't let hate take root!, CSS, 1964, vol 66, p. 2150
Easter and forgiveness, CSS, 1970, vol 72, p. 605
Escape from addiction, CSS, 1979, vol 81, p. 172
Father, forgive me, CSJ, 1970, vol 88, p. 26
Father, forgive me!, CSS, 1982, vol 84, p. 1776
Father, forgive them, CSS, 1966, vol 68, p. 632
Finding freedom from alcoholism, CSS, 1963, vol 65, p. 1790
Finding freedom through forgiveness, CSS, 1995, vol 97/26, p. 24
Finding protection on the streets, CSS, 1966, vol 68, p. 2189
Finding the power to forgive, CSS, 1992, vol 94/11, p. 17
Forgive me, Father, CSS, 1986, vol 88, p. 1893
Forgive them, CSS, 1973, vol 75, p. 2122
Forgive you? (poem), CSS, 1983, vol 85, p. 573
Forgiven as we forgive, CSS, 1979, vol 81, p. 916
Forgiveness (poem), CSS, 1968, vol 70, p. 672
Forgiveness (poem), CSJ, 1982, vol 100, p. 3
Forgiveness (poem), CSJ, 1983, vol 101, p. 649
Forgiveness (poem), CSJ, 1984, vol 102, p. 151
Forgiveness (poem), CSS, 1988, vol 90/20, p. 24
Forgiveness -- a grace of love, CSS, 1988, vol 90/35, p. 10
Forgiveness and healing, CSS, 1986, vol 88, p. 239
Forgiveness and repentance -- It's a constant process, CSS, 1991, vol 93/19, p. 3
Forgiveness brings protection and progress, CSS, 1995, vol 97/34, p. 3
Forgiveness heals, CSS, 1976, vol 78, p. 409
Forgiveness is not merely an act, CSS, 1995, vol 97/51, p. 22
Forgiveness liberates, CSS, 1967, vol 69, p. 1893
Forgiveness that heals, CSS, 1990, vol 92/31, p. 3
Forgiveness, then peace (poem), CSS, 1993, vol 95/18, p. 8
Forgiveness: a scientific defense, CSS, 1989, vol 91/8, p. 3
Forgiveness: an act of true loving, CSS, 1969, vol 71, p. 2076
Forgiving and forgetting, CSS, 1989, vol 91/25, p. 21
Forgiving and forgetting, CSS, 1993, vol 95/18, p. 4
Forgiving and healing, CSJ, 1961, vol 79, p. 490
Forgiving Frisco (for children), CSS, 1991, vol 93/22, p. 33
Forgiving our debtors, CSS, 1986, vol 88, p. 723
Forgiving our debtors, CSS, 1991, vol 93/48, p. 13
Forgiving sin, CSJ, 1970, vol 88, p. 126
Forgiving the abuser, CSS, 1993, vol 95/13, p. 4
Forgiving the past, freeing ourselves, CSS, 1992, vol 94/26, p. 11
Forgiving the unforgivable, CSS, 1989, vol 91/22, p. 24
Forgiving the wrongs people do, CSS, 1974, vol 76, p. 2091
Freedom from destructive tension, CSS, 1980, vol 82, p. 351
Freedom from sexual harassment, CSJ, 1993, vol 11/2, p. 6
Freedom from violence, CSS, 1976, vol 78, p. 844
Freedom, revolution, and forgiveness, CSS, 1991, vol 93/5, p. 3
Freeing the captives of hatred, CSS, 1986, vol 88, p. 869
From profound Christian conviction: the power of forgiving, CSJ, 1990, vol 108/2, p. 36
Gaining dominion over anger, CSS, 1985, vol 87, p. 1932
Getting rid of anger, CSS, 1973, vol 75, p. 288
God and the ghetto, CSS, 1993, vol 95/26, p. 17
God heals anger, CSS, 1980, vol 81, p. 942
He chose to forgive, CSS, 1994, vol 96/25, p. 4
Healing alcoholism, CSS, 1985, vol 87, p. 1793
Healing for victims of rape, CSS, 1979, vol 81, p. 1077
Healing the effects of crime, CSS, 1988, vol 90/32, p. 18
Healing the ghetto, CSS, 1973, vol 75, p. 137
Held hostage by crime?, CSS, 1992, vol 94/23, p. 4
Help for innocent victims, CSS, 1977, vol 79, p. 1177
Help for the addict, CSJ, 1971, vol 89, p. 539
Help for the battered, CSS, 1975, vol 77, p. 1473
Helping children to reject violence, CSS, 1969, vol 71, p. 913

Helping inmates find freedom to choose a better way of life, CSS, 1989, vol 91/50, p. 3
Holding crime in check, CSS, 1991, vol 93/5, p. 16
How spiritual sense defeats addiction, CSS, 1991, vol 93/33, p. 15
Hurting is not right! (for children), CSS, 1981, vol 83, p. 1536
I deserve to forgive, CSS, 1988, vol 90/4, p. 23
I found freedom in prison, CSS, 1972, vol 74, p. 1160
I wasn't fighting to give up drugs; I was praying, CSS, 1990, vol 92/34, p. 3
Immediate forgiveness, CSS, 1994, vol 96/2, p. 14
Improve your city, CSS, 1974, vol 76, p. 1785
In forgiving we find forgiveness, CSS, 1971, vol 73, p. 1635
Inner-city children -- do we care?, CSS, 1972, vol 74, p. 414
Instanteous forgiveness (poem), CSJ, 1984, vol 102, p. 332
Interview with a prison inmate, CSJ, 1995, vol 113/10, p. 9
Is hate necessary?, CSS, 1963, vol 65, p. 2145
Learn to forgive (poem), CSS, 1970, vol 72, p. 227
Learning to forgive, CSS, 1968, vol 70, p. 122
Love dissolves hate, CSS, 1980, vol 82, p. 1174
Love enough to forgive, CSS, 1980, vol 82, p. 1828
Love's triumph over hate, CSJ, 1979, vol 97, p. 557
Man is not a victim of chance, CSS, 1968, vol 70, p. 1575
Me, forgive?, CSS, 1986, vol 88, p. 63
Mercy and forgiveness, CSS, 1963, vol 65, p. 493
Must I forgive? (poem), CSS, 1981, vol 83, p. 321
My turning point in giving up drugs (an interview), CSS, 1989, vol 91/44, p. 3
Neutralizing violence, CSJ, 1976, vol 94, p. 87
Never too late to be forgiven, CSS, 1993, vol 95/18, p. 28
No fear, no anger, CSS, 1980, vol 82, p. 915
No more violence, CSJ, 1979, vol 97, p. 78
No villain -- no victim, CSJ, 1992, vol 110/5, p. 31
Nullifying violence, CSS, 1980, vol 82, p. 18
One way: Christ frees us from lawless violence, CSS, 1993, vol 95/8, p. 12
Our brothers and sisters in prison, CSJ, 1992, vol 110/2, p. 12
'Our Father' heals gang animosity, CSS, 1988, vol 90/22, p. 3
Overcoming alcoholism, CSS, 1965, vol 67, p. 1739
Overcoming criminal instincts, CSJ, 1978, vol 96, p. 736
Overcoming hatred with love, CSS, 1968, vol 70, p. 857
Overcominig fear in the city, CSS, 1972, vol 74, p. 624
Pastor tells first AME: 'Fight hate with love', CSS, 1994, vol 96/11, p. 13
Peace on the streets, CSS, 1981, vol 83, p. 1991
Practicing forgiveness, CSS, 1986, vol 88, p. 943
Progress and forgiveness (poem), CSJ, 1985, vol 103, p. 189
Protection from criminal mentality, CSS, 1980, vol 82, p. 194
Pursued by hatred?, CSS, 1993, vol 95/35, p. 24
Real forgiveness: not human resolve, Christlike understanding, CSS, 1992, vol 94/15, p. 6
Release from addiction, CSS, 1982, vol 84, p. 395
Resurrection through forgiveness, CSJ, 1969, vol 87, p. 182
Revising a history of abuse, CSS, 1993, vol 95/13, p. 24
Safe on the streets, CSS, 1969, vol 71, p. 1077
Scientific forgiving, CSS, 1978, vol 80, p. 692
Spiritual help in dealing with abuse, CSS, 1985, vol 87, p. 1624
Stopping sexual harassment through prayer, CSS, 1992, vol 94/11, p. 6
Street violence, CSS, 1992, vol 94/14, p. 6
Thanksgiving and the forgiveness perspective, CSS, 1986, vol 88, p. 2197
The basis for forgiveness, CSS, 1977, vol 79, p. 623
The blessing of forgiveness, CSS, 1966, vol 68, p. 1723
The Christ and the addict, CSS, 1978, vol 80, p. 1025
The Christian demand for forgiveness, CSS, 1988, vol 90/20, p. 20
The forgiveness that heals, CSS, 1983, vol 85, p. 1389
The gang, CSS, 1989, vol 91/51, p. 8
The Golden Rule: a gang buster (for children), CSS, 1972, vol 74, p. 1028
The healing of drug addiction, CSS, 1978, vol 80, p. 1011
The healing of hate, CSS, 1968, vol 70, p. 1881
The heart to forgive, CSS, 1994, vol 96/12, p. 15
The how of forgiving, CSS, 1974, vol 76, p. 807
The love that heals addiction, CSS, 1988, vol 90/4, p. 7
The need to forgive, CSJ, 1976, vol 94, p. 9
The opportunity to forgive, CSS, 1982, vol 84, p. 154
The power to forgive, CSJ, 1962, vol 80, p. 292
The rewards of forgiveness, CSS, 1971, vol 73, p. 1548
The Science of forgiveness, CSS, 1967, vol 69, p. 403
The Science of forgiving, CSJ, 1979, vol 97, p. 161
The time for forgiveness has arrived, CSJ, 1993, vol 111/12, p. 15
They belong to God, not to a gang, CSS, 1992, vol 94/36, p. 20
To forgive and to heal, CSS, 1973, vol 75, p. 819
To overcome addiction: not suppression but demonstration, CSS, 1983, vol 85, p. 1165
Understanding eternity - a basis for forgiving, CSJ, 1984, vol 102, p. 661
Victors, not victims, CSS, 1974, vol 79, p. 1177
Violence: how the individual can respond, CSS, 1986, vol 88, p. 1100
Walk the streets -- and be safe!, CSS, 1973, vol 75, p. 180
We can forgive and forget, CSS, 1995, vol 97/21, p. 14
We're all on the beat, guarding against crime and violence, CSS, 1994, vol 96/49, p. 10
Weapons that disarm violence, CSS, 1973, vol 75, p. 935
What about forgiveness?, CSS, 1995, vol 97/26, p. 30
What can I do about violence?, CSS, 1972, vol 74, p. 1954
What it takes to forgive, CSS, 1990, vol 92/11, p. 8
What you can do about community problems, CSS, 1965, vol 67, p. 209
Why forgive?, CSS, 1988, vol 90/29, p. 13
Why keep on forgiving?, CSS, 1995, vol 97/33, p. 27
Why stereotypes hurt -- and how we can challenge them, CSS, 1994, vol 96/40, p. 29
Willing to forgive?, CSS, 1985, vol 87, p. 485
You can forgive, CSS, 1989, vol 91/30, p. 32

See also

"The Law of Love" - Relevant excerpts from G.B. Caird's explanation of Jesus' teaching, "Love your enemies" (Luke 6:27-38), taken from Caird's commentary on Saint Luke. (http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/agape-c.htm)
Victory over Violence -- Jesus and the Revolutionists - Relevant excerpts from this book by internationally respected biblical authority Martin Hengel. (http://www.bibletexts.com/articles/victory-over-violence.htm)
A special series of articles regarding children - The full text of all of these articles from The Christian Science Monitor, The Christian Science Journal, and the Christian Science Sentinel are available online. The issues addressed in this series include: neighborhood and school violence; sexual exploitation and trafficking of children; child abuse; suicide; and the influence of the media, drugs, alcohol, and peer pressure. (http://www.tfccs.com/GV/Children/Children.html.)

For links to some other Bible-related Web pages, browse http://www.bibletexts.com

To contact the BibleTexts Web site administrator, email or click on support@bibletexts.com