1. Violence: A Deeper Look
examining violence to understand the ways love can overcome it

2. What is Violence?
Any human action that causes harm of dignity to the human person
This includes harm to a person’s psychological, social, or spiritual well-being

3. Institutional violence
Occurs as a result of unjust social structures

4. Violent counter-response
Basic injustice
Violent response
Violent counter-response
Escalating violence
More injustice
The Spiral of Violence
A theory proposed by Archbishop of Brazil
Don Helder Camara in 1980s
States that “people usually respond to violence
by retaliating with an even greater act of violence”
Can you think of an example in history, the news, or your experience where the use of violence led to a more violent response?
Even when one side uses enough force to overwhelm the other, and the conflict appears to end, does the spiral really end?

5. war
The 250 wars fought in the 20th century claimed the lives of an estimated 110 million people
The great majority of deaths were civilian deaths
Does war really make the world safer? Or, more dangerous?

6. militarism
Reliance on military power to resolve conflict and provide security
“Reason and experience tell us that a continuing upward spiral, even in conventional arms, coupled with an unbridled increase in armed forces, instead of securing true peace will almost certainly be provocative of war.” -The Challenge of Peace, USCCB, 1983
Can breed distrust

7. The arms race
Competition between rivals to have the biggest and best military force
Based on the theory of deterrence: potential of one country to inflict significant harm will discourage adversaries from attacking first
How can the arms race make the world less safe?

8. Nuclear weapons
Arms race between the U.S. and Soviet Union left the world nuclear arsenal with 1.4 million bombs of the size of the one dropped on Hiroshima
Since then, a reduction of stockpiles, yet--
Nuclear proliferation among nations/groups

9. Breaking the spiral of violence
How can we respond to violence?
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. offered the following response:
“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy…Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

10. Responding to terrorism Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Terrorism can never be justified.
The struggle against terrorism must follow the moral law.
Efforts to prevent terrorism must focus on eliminating its causes.