 November/December 2000 (XXXVIII 5) |
s an inaugural action of the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010), the US-based churches are calling for a "fast from violence" during the upcoming lenten season. Our culture is dangerously addicted to violence, and as people of faith we recognize this as a spiritual challenge. A change in the culture requires a change of heart — requires eyes to see and ears to hear — requires deep collective prayer and lamentation.
In the liturgical tradition of Great Lent, Christians undertake three spiritual disciplines — prayer, fasting and charitable giving. During Lent in 2001 (the seven weeks before Easter), we are all invited to enter into this special time by praying for situations of violence, fasting from the consumption of violence, and charitable giving that seeks to address the causes and consequences of violence.
We are each called to examine our own lives and choose a fast from violence that has meaning for us and for our community. Some examples of violence from which we might fast are:
- violent TV shows
- violent movies
- violent video games
- toy weapons
- toys which encourage violent play or which glorify war
- music with violent lyrics
- taxes that pay for war
- products manufactured in sweat-shops
- products manufactured by child labor
- financial investment in companies that produce violence
As the Quaker member of the World Council of Churches Central Committee, I extend a particular invitation to Friends to participate in this lenten journey. Our Quaker tradition teaches us to work for social change through spiritual commitment. Like John Woolman, who gave up wearing clothes produced by the slave industry, we can discover the transforming power of renunciation.
How do you consume violence? In what ways do you pay for violence or enjoy violence as entertainment? What are you called to renounce, in prayer and confession? How might that renunciation change you and your community? Will you pray, with St Francis, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace”?
Eden Grace
New England Yearly Meeting
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM