Mohandas K. Gandhi

I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. -Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948)

This sounds good, but is it true? Or better, is it always true? It would be easy to find instances when it was true, but I question whether it can be raised to the level of a universal principle. Certainly there is one instance when it did not hold. The violence done against Christ resulted in the greatest good, but not the "good" the perpetrators intended. And I think Gandhi himself would say that some of the violence done against him and his followers in the nonviolent struggle for the independence of India brought lasting good, although again, not what the perpetrators intended.

Of course that is Gandhi's point, that violence never accomplishes, in a permanent way, the good that is intended by the perpetrators. But the question remains: is it always true? For example, does violence done in self-defense always ultimately fail, or in defense of another innocent victim? I do believe, however, that it is safe to say that even violence done in response to violence is in danger of being unjust and of failing to achieve its purpose. The bias in our thought should run very strongly against the use of violence in every circumstance.

Mt. 5:38-48 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'^{[g] 39}But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴²Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

⁴³"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor^[h] and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies^[i] and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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