“Christians should practise civil disobedience” Discuss.
Introduction
Define: Civil disobedience- the refusal to comply with certain laws considered unjust, as a peaceful
form of political protest.
Importance: Civil disobedience is technically involving breaking the law of the land and therefore
can be argued to be sinful but if it is justified under Divine law then it is acceptable for Christians.
Scholars: Bonhoeffer
Conclusion: Christians should practise civil disobedience.
Paragraph 1
Point: Christians should practise civil disobedience.
Argument: Bonhoeffer thought that civil disobedience was sometimes necessary as, in his view, duty
to God was far more important than duty to the State. In his work, “Ethics”, he wrote that there was
a need to break with the Lutheran teaching that a Christian should obey the civil authority and its
laws. Bonhoeffer wrote in a letter to Reinhold Niebuhr: “Willing the defeat of their nation in order
that Christian civilisation may survive or willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying
civilisation”.
Counterargument: Romans 13- “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, who have
been established by God. Going against the governing authorities means going against God’s wishes.
Exodus 20- “Do not murder”- civil disobedience that involves death should not be allowed.
Paragraph 2
Point: Christians should not practise civil disobedience.
Argument: Arguably, Bonhoeffer justifies civil disobedience because of his emphasis on obedience to
God, over everything else. But in an age of terrorism and extremism this feels like a dangerous idea.
How would we view those who choose to disobey the British Government because its laws go
against the holy law of their religion? Should we support those Christians who disobey the law in
their actions against abortion?
Aquinas- Primary precept- live peacefully in society. One shouldn’t create conflict. Civil disobedience
could be an apparent good and not a real good.
Counterargument: Jesus- Stood up for the poor and marginalised. Jesus said, “I have not come to
bring peace, but a sword”. He was a political revolutionary. He promoted love, harmony, respect for
others and tolerance, Christians have a duty to follow his example.
Paragraph 3
Point: Christians should practise civil disobedience
, Argument: Bonhoeffer argues that it was not enough for Christians to keep out of doing what the
Nazis were doing, and then feel as though at least they, personally, were not to blame. Christians
needed to make active challenges against injustice- Bonhoeffer became a double agent, working for
German military intelligence but actually linking with the Resistance and with the Allies. He sued
Church meetings to smuggle information. He disguised Jews as members of military intelligence and
smuggled them across the border to safety in Switzerland.
Aquinas- Civil disobedience could be a way of getting rid of a leader/policy that prevents people
from living peacefully in society. Civil disobedience could be secondary precept.
Counterargument: Jesus said to give unto Caesar what was owed to Caesar and to give unto God
what was owed to God. This suggests we should respect the state. Jesus promoted peace,
forgiveness and love, (turn the other cheek, those who live by the sword will die by the sword). He
didn’t resist capture when he was arrested, and he accepted his death.
Introduction
Define: Civil disobedience- the refusal to comply with certain laws considered unjust, as a peaceful
form of political protest.
Importance: Civil disobedience is technically involving breaking the law of the land and therefore
can be argued to be sinful but if it is justified under Divine law then it is acceptable for Christians.
Scholars: Bonhoeffer
Conclusion: Christians should practise civil disobedience.
Paragraph 1
Point: Christians should practise civil disobedience.
Argument: Bonhoeffer thought that civil disobedience was sometimes necessary as, in his view, duty
to God was far more important than duty to the State. In his work, “Ethics”, he wrote that there was
a need to break with the Lutheran teaching that a Christian should obey the civil authority and its
laws. Bonhoeffer wrote in a letter to Reinhold Niebuhr: “Willing the defeat of their nation in order
that Christian civilisation may survive or willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying
civilisation”.
Counterargument: Romans 13- “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, who have
been established by God. Going against the governing authorities means going against God’s wishes.
Exodus 20- “Do not murder”- civil disobedience that involves death should not be allowed.
Paragraph 2
Point: Christians should not practise civil disobedience.
Argument: Arguably, Bonhoeffer justifies civil disobedience because of his emphasis on obedience to
God, over everything else. But in an age of terrorism and extremism this feels like a dangerous idea.
How would we view those who choose to disobey the British Government because its laws go
against the holy law of their religion? Should we support those Christians who disobey the law in
their actions against abortion?
Aquinas- Primary precept- live peacefully in society. One shouldn’t create conflict. Civil disobedience
could be an apparent good and not a real good.
Counterargument: Jesus- Stood up for the poor and marginalised. Jesus said, “I have not come to
bring peace, but a sword”. He was a political revolutionary. He promoted love, harmony, respect for
others and tolerance, Christians have a duty to follow his example.
Paragraph 3
Point: Christians should practise civil disobedience
, Argument: Bonhoeffer argues that it was not enough for Christians to keep out of doing what the
Nazis were doing, and then feel as though at least they, personally, were not to blame. Christians
needed to make active challenges against injustice- Bonhoeffer became a double agent, working for
German military intelligence but actually linking with the Resistance and with the Allies. He sued
Church meetings to smuggle information. He disguised Jews as members of military intelligence and
smuggled them across the border to safety in Switzerland.
Aquinas- Civil disobedience could be a way of getting rid of a leader/policy that prevents people
from living peacefully in society. Civil disobedience could be secondary precept.
Counterargument: Jesus said to give unto Caesar what was owed to Caesar and to give unto God
what was owed to God. This suggests we should respect the state. Jesus promoted peace,
forgiveness and love, (turn the other cheek, those who live by the sword will die by the sword). He
didn’t resist capture when he was arrested, and he accepted his death.
