Who is a pacifist? It is a peacemaker, a participant in the peace movement throughout the world

From time immemorial people suffered from violence and wars. Through the tunnel of history were "prophets" who defended peace and rest. Today these warriors of peace and light are called pacifists.

The concepts of "pacifist" and "pacifism"

The word "pacifism" has Latin roots and in translation means "peacemaking", "carrying peace." This concept generalizes ideology, social movement and philosophical trends, whose common goal is to fight against violence, to establish peace, to prevent wars and bloodshed. He often merges with the anti-militarist movement and the anti-imperialist struggle, since he shares with them the common ideological root of preventing violence against the individual.

The Pacifist is a participant, a supporter of the peacekeeping movement. A person who propagandizes the complete elimination of cruelty, defining it as an immoral phenomenon. Methods of fighting pacifists are also nonviolent: peaceful rallies, manifestos, reaching a compromise through negotiations.

Origins of pacifism

The meaning of the word "pacifist" was scientifically defined only in the XIX century, although from the very beginning of humanity there was a confrontation between the forces of good and evil.

It is believed that the foundation of pacifism, its cradle, is Buddhism. This religious and philosophical doctrine has the basic doctrine of non-violence and the peaceful coexistence of all mankind. Siddhartha Gautama is the founder of Buddhism, in fact, the first known pacifist. It was he in the VI century BC. E. Propagated enlightenment and spiritual awakening through the development of the mind and heart.

Historical milestones of the peace movement

The first Christians took the anti-war torch. In the II century BC. E. They refused military service in order not to participate in wars and not to kill people. Many have been martyred for this, but historical documents testify to their incredible stoicism and faith in Christ.

Pacifism faltered when Christians accepted the idea of a "just" war. The Christian religion began to teach that any liberation war and the struggle against the enemy are sacred. But they swore never to start the war first, not to go with aggression against the unarmed, to defend the "God's world" throughout the world.

In the XVI-XVII centuries, Europe waged religious wars. It was the time of the Reformation, when a single Christian world broke up into many national churches. This fact had mixed historical consequences: brutal bloodshed caused many anti-war movements throughout continental Europe. His brightest representatives were Alexander Mack, George Fox, Grebel, Marpek, Simons, Erasmus of Rotterdam.

Napoleonic wars served as an impetus to the birth of another wave of pacifism. Anti-war demonstrations, international congresses were held, pacifists demanded to ban all military actions, completely disarm all countries, and resolve interstate disputes in court.

In Russia in the XIX century lived a famous pacifist. This is LN Tolstoy. His works for the peaceful transformation of society and the impossibility of any social transformation by violent methods made a huge contribution to the ideology of pacifism.

Flag of the pacifist

After the Second World War, which took millions of lives, pacifism became an extremely popular concept. At the forefront of human development, pacifists put the principles of humanity, mutual respect and individual freedom. Now the pacifist is not just a separate leader who advocates peace throughout the world, but also a member of an organized multimillion-dollar movement that has its own doctrines, offices and international representations.

In 1958, for their sign pacifists adopted a symbol, the basis of which was the rune Algiz. Its traditional meaning is protection, aspiration of consciousness up. Inverted, it resembles a tree rooted in the earth, symbolizing the mystery of ancient knowledge and wisdom.

This sign is portrayed by pacifists on their flags, rattling in the hands of demonstrators at antinuclear rallies and over the offices of defenders of peace.