Citation

Kauffman JH. Sociol. Relig. 1989; 49(4): 368-385.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Association for the Sociology of Religion)

DOI

10.2307/3711223

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A review of the literature on peace movements and pacifism in America reveals a small but slowly increasing concern for replacing war and violence with peaceful methods of conflict resolution. Recently many Christian denominations have recognized the validity of the pacifist option for their members who are conscientiously opposed to participation in military operations. Since pacifism has come to be associated with left-wing movements, pacifists and conservative church members tend to locate toward opposite ends of the liberal-conservative socio-religious-political continuum.Although a majority of Mennonites adhere to their traditional pacifism rooted in a conservative biblicism, a minority do not. A major survey of Mennonite church members reveals their pacifist and political leanings. The hypothesis that conservatives would accept pacifism more strongly than liberals was rejected.