Nonviolent Direct Action As a Spiritual Path

Many of the world's best known activists for peace and social justice have also been deeply religious people. Nonetheless, it is easy to think of social action as an afterthought to our spiritual lives, something we do to express our values, rather than as part of our spiritual practice. Lifelong nonviolent activist Dick Taylor has observed that spiritual openings and deep faith experiences in his life have often occurred in the midst of an action. Similarly, he has found in his...
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Many of the world's best known activists for peace and social justice have also been deeply religious people. Nonetheless, it is easy to think of social action as an afterthought to our spiritual lives, something we do to express our values, rather than as part of our spiritual practice. Lifelong nonviolent activist Dick Taylor has observed that spiritual openings and deep faith experiences in his life have often occurred in the midst of an action. Similarly, he has found in his religious journey as a Quaker the strength, the courage, and the wisdom for discernment that have helped him in occasions of difficult and scary witness. Using his own stories, which span the civil rights movement to the present time, Taylor explores the relationship between spirituality and nonviolent direct action. Discussion questions included.