Faith & Activism

Growing Up Influences

Urban Vision Catholic Worker Ploughshares

Private vs. Public Theology Biblical Imperatives

Growing Up

lower-middle class, egalitarian family

mainstream church upbringing

teenage evangelical conversion

Growing Up

crisis of faith 2nd conversion Urban Vision Te Ora Hou

Moana Cole (1993)

Catholic Worker

Dorothy Day & Peter Maurin Rule:

works of mercy & hospitality communal farming nonviolent resistance

Christian anarchism Notable associates:

Phil & Dan Berrigan Thomas Merton Amon Hennesey etc.

Ploughshares / Plowshares

Ploughshares

9/9/1980: General Electric Nuclear Missile Facility in Pennsylvania – Berrigans + six others damaged nuclear warhead nose cones & poured blood on documents

Principles:

absolutely nonviolent to people;

remaining on the scene to take responsibility;

some effort to turn swords into ploughshares

up to 18 years imprisonment

targets: live nuclear weapons, fighter jets, personal field weapons, satellite dish, etc.

Ploughshares

Private vs. Public Theology

Privatised faith Americanization of faith

Christianity & Consumerism

super-spirituality, dualism & other-worldliness

Bad Public Theology: abortion clinic bombings

‘enough is enough’ march

Hero Parade protest

The Principle of Grace (1 Corinthians 13)

Biblical Imperatives

Jesus' public mission (Luke 4)

OT imperatives: Judges / Kings / Prophets justice, hope & liberation

NT imperatives: grace, hope & new order

Personal-Public faith continuum

Faith & Activism in NZ

• Parihaka + prophets

• Suffragettes

• 20th Century Conscientious Objectors

• Riverside Community

• Anti-nuclear protests

• Springbok Tours

• Hikoi

• New Monasticism

East Timor (1993-1997)

America’s Cup 1995

Waihopai 2008

Waihopai 2008

South Pacific Christian Anarchists 2006 (Tauranga); 2007 (Queensland); 2008

(Akaroa); 2009 (Melbourne); 2010 (Wellington)

Sarvodaya (the constructive programme): alternative business models, gardening, neighbourhood

organising, refugee support, youth work, low carbon lifestyle, etc.

Satyagraha (the resistance programme) anti-war civil disobedience, dumpster-diving, decolonisation

education and activities, etc.

Te Tairawhiti 1998-2010