Is Pacifism an Ideology?

This article takes up the current debate on populism and democracy and deals with the philosophical critique that the twentieth-century idea of pacifism represents an (apolitical) ideology, the misguided nature of which must be debunked. In this context, the term ideology is referred to with a post-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in Christian ethics
Main Author: Klein, Rebekka A. 1980- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage [2018]
In: Studies in Christian ethics
Year: 2018, Volume: 31, Issue: 2, Pages: 173-185
RelBib Classification:NBA Dogmatics
NCD Political ethics
VA Philosophy
ZC Politics in general
Further subjects:B Buddhism
B antagonism
B Desire
B Pacifism
B Ideology
B Democracy
B Peace
B Populism
B Religion
B Faith
B Christianity
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:This article takes up the current debate on populism and democracy and deals with the philosophical critique that the twentieth-century idea of pacifism represents an (apolitical) ideology, the misguided nature of which must be debunked. In this context, the term ideology is referred to with a post-Marxist understanding, which interprets ideology as a collective fantasy structuring our social reality by way of a practice of disguise. Hence, the question will be raised as to whether modern religions, such as neo-Buddhism or Christianity, are well advised to appropriate the idea of pacifism in order to renew their imaginary register of peace and non-violence. In conclusion, it will be argued that the imagination and promise of a peaceful community is among the biblical motives that are the source of Christian faith. However, in order to prevent a political force from turning into an ideology, biblical motives have to be interpreted from the perspective of a negative Christology, which sees pacifism as an impossible project and thus liberates us from the pitfalls of human desire.
ISSN:0953-9468
Contains:Enthalten in: Studies in Christian ethics
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0953946817749086