Thomas Merton's Teachings on Nonviolence

John Dear speaks to us on the life and teachings of the monk Thomas Merton. Dear tells us that Merton was one of the first United States priests or monks to publicly denounce war, racism, nuclear weapons, and violence. He quotes Merton as saying, “the God of peace is never glorified by human violence.” John extends that by adding “the God of peace is always glorified by human nonviolence.” Thus, begins a podcast filled with eye opening revelations that Merton experienced and wrote about in his many books and and essays. Merton says that “the chief difference between violence and nonviolence is that violence depends entirely on its own calculations, Nonviolence depends entirely on God.” John tells of Merton’s past that was radically different from his life as a Trappist monk where he spent years in contemplative prayer. Merton, he states, rejected war, and dedicated his life to abolishing war and the weapons of war. His revelation that he loved the entire human race may have come from his study of Gandhi during the 1950s and he wrote that we should first find unity within ourselves rather than trying to force unity on others. John tells of one essay wherein Merton states, “I believe that the problem of solving international conflict without massive violence has become the number one problem of our time. The task of humanity and of the church is to end all wars.” John goes on to speak to how we are now living in a global pandemic of violence and war. We have the virus of violence. This is a powerful message with much more for you to listen to.