You Shall Not Kill

In our lives, there is a crime that instantly devalues all our good deeds and initiatives. It is the maintenance of armies, police forces, and other security services that ensure our safety through threats, mutilation, and the killing of people. Every day, we are told that violence is necessary. Necessary for security. Necessary for order. Necessary for peace. But what if it s not? You Shall Not Kill is not just a manifesto, but a practical guide to breaking free from the vicious cycle of violence through personal and collective refusal: Refusal to need bloody protection for your values Refusal to support legalized violence in the form of military, police, and justice systems Refusal to silently consent to a society that approves of killing and maimingHow can we reject violence?For a long time, people unwilling to depend on or participate in the killing of others to protect their lives, lands, and order have sought and found alternative means of protection. This book collects some of them. Find among these the ones that could become your life s mission. Join initiatives aimed at preserving human life. Invest your resources in real programs, products, and services designed to end legalized violence, mutilation, and killing. Grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ as interpreted by Leo Tolstoy and summarizing global nonviolence experience, this book reveals: How we participate in violence and why we can t seem to stop Whether Jesus Christ permitted the killing and harming of others How to protect yourself and your loved ones without the use of force Stories of nations and individuals who refused to killThis book is not a utopia. It is for everyone tired of hearing, There is no other way. It is about how to build a life without needing or participating in violence here and now. For readers of: Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, Adin Ballou, Dorothy Day, Peter Maurin, Gene Sharp, Thomas Merton