Discussions

Peacemakers all have the same basic goal, but there are many different ways of achieving peace, both in the world and in one's personal life. When it comes to world peace, there are those who think nonviolence is always the ultimate way to peace, and others who believe that it's OK to resort to violence when the necessary in order to create a lasting peace. If you were a peacemaker, which path would you take? Take this simple test to determine what kind of peacemaker you are!  
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1. Besides ending the war, what do you consider the most important cause of a peacemaker?  
(1) Social justice and an end to poverty  
(2) Security and the spread of democracy  
(3) National liberation  
(4) Civil rights and an end to discrimination  
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2. When do you believe it's OK to consider violence or war as an option?  
(1) Never, it's better to perish than survive by war.  
(2) Very rarely, but sometimes violent resistance is better than cowardice or no resistance at all.  
(3) Sometimes, violent resistance is an acceptable option for freedom fighters and the oppressed who have not succeeded otherwise.  
(4) Violence and war can be redemptive and can lead to peace.  
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3. The concept of nonviolence is:  
(1) Cowardice  
(2) Bravery  
(3) A good, if impossible ideal  
(4) Necessary saintliness  
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4. What's the best way to deal with someone who breaks the peace in a violent manner?  
(1) Treat the person with love to show them the error of their ways.  
(2) Stop the person even before they have the opportunity to act violently.  
(3) An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind, so do everything possible to rehabilitate the person.  
(4) Try to clear the way for peace instead of avenging past events. Attempt reconciliation through honest confession.  
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5. Your ideal peace protest would be:  
(1) A hunger strike  
(2) A boycott or strike against Government  
(3) A march or picketing  
(4) I wouldn't protest for peace  
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6. The goal of peacemaking should be about spreading.....?  
(1) Love  
(2) Freedom  
(3) Nonviolence  
(4) Justice  
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7. With which of the following do you agree most?  
(1) " If we have to act, we will act to restrain the violent, and defend the cause of peace."  
(2) " It would be wrong...to continue preaching peace and nonviolence at a time when the Government met our...demands with force."  
(3) " Violent means will give violent freedom. That would be a menace to the world."  
(4) " If we do not emphasize the law of love we betray our trust, our vocation. We must stand opposed to the use of force."  
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8. Which type of peace do you strive for or would you most like to see happen?  
(1) Peace between nations  
(2) Peace between neighbours  
(3) Peace between different classes of people  
(4) Peace within yourself  
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9. When you have a problem with an acquaintance like a neighbour or a co-worker, what do you do?  
(1) Speak to the person calmly and tell him/her what is bothering me.  
(2) Keep it to myself because I don't want to cause a conflict  
(3) Keep it to myself until it unbearable and then confront the person angrily.  
(4) Talk to others about it but not the person who is bothering me.  
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10. Is it ever OK to break the law or sacrifice moral principles in the name of peace?  
(1) It's never acceptable  
(2) It's an acceptable position but I wouldn't do it.  
(3) It's acceptable only in dire situations like life or death.  
(4) It's necessary to do so to achieve peace.  
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Here's how to interpret your score:  
 
10-17) You take the Absolute Pacifist Path.  
You believe in the goodness of all the people and want to make the world a better place for them. You admire other faithful peacemakers, and strongly follow in the footsteps of Catholic Peace worker Dorothy Day, who believed in pacifism without exception. You work to achieve peace by restoring the best in humanity. You chart a path to peace by giving back and hoping for the best in all people.  
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18-27) You take the Nonviolent Path.  
Like famed Indian pacifist, Mahatma Gandhi, you believe that peaceful civil disobedience is the best route to social change. There are rare moments when violent resistance may be considered as a better option. Nonviolence, you emphatically believe, is not to be confused with cowardice, but rather the highest expression of bravery.  
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28-36) You take the Activist Path.  
Like former South African president Nelson Mandela, you're willing to allow for violent resistance in cases where oppressed people have no other options to attain equality or freedom. However, with the tables turned, you prefer more peaceful methods of conflict resolution, such as South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which helped the country overcome some of the rancor of apartheid and move on to a more peaceful future. You consider poverty and social equality as key components of peace and strive to take the long view of history.  
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37-40) You take the Fighting Path.  
You understand peace as coming with a price. Peace is possible in our time, but only if we work hard to achieve it-and that sometimes means fighting for it using violent methods. You follow the model of President George W. Bush and tend to see non-violence as nice, but impractical, ideal that countries can't afford in times of war or danger.