One of the main components of our Quaker Faith is our belief in Peace. Our history and steadfast belief in nonviolence is evident today, including recent participation in the Nonviolence Parade in Youngstown, OH.
The 16th Annual Ohio Nonviolence Parade brought together marching bands, community organizations, YSU athletes, schools, and everyday people who believe nonviolence is more than a week — it's a way of living!-- Quoted from website: https://www.ohiononviolenceweek.org/
This YouTube video (Link : YouTube Parade Youngstown ) highlights the parade.... even our own Members at 1:52!
Here are some more photos:
Our Book of Discipline explains our belief:
PEACE AND WAR
It has been the belief of the Society of Friends from its
rise that all war is contrary to the teachings of our blessed
Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In His Sermon on the Mount, He
admonished us to love our enemies, to bless those who curse
us, and to do good to those who hate us. Likewise, when Peter
smote the servant of the high priest with his sword, our Lord
said to him, “Put up thy sword again into its place: for all they
that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matt. 26:52).
In a statement presented to the King of England in
1660, Friends declared: “The Spirit of Christ by which we are
guided is not changeable, so as once to command us from a
thing as evil, and again to move unto it; and we certainly do
know, and testify to the world that the Spirit of Christ, which
leads us into all truth, will never move us to fight and war
against any man with outward weapons, neither for the
Kingdom of Christ nor for the kingdoms of this world.”
As we believe that all war is wrong, so we believe that
all preparation or training for war is wrong. Military
conscription is inconsistent with the teaching and practices of
Christianity.
We not only feel abhorrence for the evils of war and
the suffering and misery connected with it, but we desire to
work actively for peace, endeavoring to remove the economic
and political causes of war. We wish to emphasize the
brotherhood of all men, and that unity and peace can only be
achieved by the Spirit of Christ working in the hearts of men.
It is our profound belief that the peoples of the world
desire peace, but we do not believe that it can be achieved
through a policy of military strength. Peace can only be built
when men seek to solve their common problems in a spirit of
reconciliation and national humility. We must act with love,
forbearance and forgiveness; trusting in God and in His Spirit
working in all men.
Today when talk about defending ourselves against an
enemy is very prevalent, we would encourage our members to
keep in mind that the only true shelter is peace.
As members of a Society which has always been
opposed to war, we must work unfailingly for peace as a
Yearly Meeting as well as in our local communities, ever
keeping in mind that peace must begin with ourselves in each
individual heart. Jesus Christ called His disciples, and still
calls us to a deep personal commitment to the way of love. It
is only by the working of this Spirit through us that the
problems of war, hate and strife can be solved and peace
brought to a troubled world.
RACIAL EQUALITY
We believe that all races are equal in God's sight.
Friends feel the burden of racial discrimination, social
injustices and intolerances, and should do what we can, under Divine leading,
to alleviate such wrongs.
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