Nonresistance

Nonresistance (or non-resistance) is a philosophy and strategy for social change that discourages physical resistance to an enemy. It is considered as a subdivision of nonviolence. Practitioners of nonresistance may refuse to retaliate against an opponent or offer any form of self-defense. In the modern times, this has been used as a tool for social protest. A well known example is the nonviolent resistance movement led by Mohandas Gandhi in the struggle for Indian Independence. 
==History==
The term nonresistance was used to refer to the Established Church during the religious troubles in England following the English Civil War and Protestant Succession. In the Anabaptist churches, the term is defined in contrast with pacifism. Advocates of non-resistance view pacifism as a more liberal theology since it advocates only physical nonviolence and allows its followers to actively oppose an enemy. In the 20th century, there has been differences of opinion between and within Amish and Mennonite churches, as they disagreed on the ethics of nonresistance and pacifism. 
Leo Tolstoy, Adin Ballou and Mohandas Gandhi were notable advocates of nonresistance. However, Gandhi'sSatyagraha movement did not believe in using non-resistance as an alternative to cowardice. 'I do believe,' he wrote, 'that where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.'"R. K. Prabhu & U. R. Rao, editors; from section “Between Cowardice and Violence,” of the book The Mind of Mohandas Gandhi, Ahemadabad, India, Revised Edition, 1967.
==Christian theology==
Christian nonresistance is based on a reading of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus says, :"But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also... Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you ...".Matthew 5 (New International Version)
Members of the Anabaptist (Mennonite, Amish, Hutterite, and Brethren) denominations and other peace churches like the Quakers have interpreted this passage to mean that Christians should do nothing to physically resist an enemy. According to this belief,only God has the right to execute punishments. Non-resistance Christians note that sacrificial love of Jesus resulted in his submission to crucifixion rather than vengeance.
==See also==
* Christian anarchism
* Christian pacifism
* Christian Peacemaker Teams
* John Howard Yoder
* Nonviolence
* Nonviolent resistance
* Nonviolent revolution
* Passive obedience
* Peace churches
* Turn the other cheek
* Tolstoyan
==Footnotes==
==References==
*
* NonResistance.org
*
* The Principle of Nonresistance - written in 1927 by John Horsch, a Mennonite church leader.
* Nonresistance - article in the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia
* Tolstoy on nonresistance
* Tolstoy's Legacy for Mankind: A Manifesto for Nonviolence, Part 1 
* Tolstoy's Legacy for Mankind: A Manifesto for Nonviolence, Part 2
Category:Doctrines and teachings of Jesus
Category:Nonviolence
Category:Christian pacifism