"Patience as Method"－John Howard Yoder's Epistemology of Peace
"Patience as Method" - John Howard Yoder's Epistemology of Peace
Chi W.HUEN
According to Mennonite theologian John Howard Yoder, “peace” is true so much so that nonviolence is in fact itself an epistemology. Pacifism is not mere passive avoidance of violence but proactive peacemaking, ie it is about becoming a peaceable people initiating peace and reconciling with the Others. “The truth in Christ” requires that His gospel be received as good (and as news), without coercion and manipulation. Yet “reasoning”, especially in the persuasive or argumentative mode, aims at being compelling and therefore can be controlling; in the pursuit of our will to truth, the agonistic tends to shade into the antagonistic. Yoder's proposal for an epistemology of peace tries to counter such epistemological violence and let the truth speak for itself. Three kinds of practice of patience as “method” are detailed: transtribal communication and conciliation (witness and reconceptualization); the Rule of Paul (open meeting and free dialogue); and the Rule of Christ (binding and loosening as fraternal admonition). As it turns out, patience is the only “method” that Christians can rely on in seeking and sharing truth timefully, vulnerably and agonizingly with others within or without the church
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Editor's Notes by Ng Kwok Kit In recent years, many Hong Kong people have been plagued by various negative emotions. Internationally, the trade war between China and the United States has brought about a political crisis, the war between Russia and Ukraine has caused inflation, and the COVID-19 epidemic has led to lockdowns. Locally, the anti-extradition bill turmoil has torn apart interpersonal relationships, changes in the political situation have given rise to conflicting emotions, and parting sentiments have emerged amid the wave of immigrants in Hong Kong. All these have directly and indirectly affected the mood of Hong Kong people, and the city seems to be shrouded in a thick haze. A 2023 statistical study pointed out that the happiness index of Hong Kong people ranks last in the Asia-Pacific region; especially young respondents have the lowest happiness index and are generally pessimistic about life. As a church community sent by God to be salt and light on the earth, how should we respond to the times and bring light to a dark world? This issue of "Sandow Journal" is themed "Living Faith in Hope" and hopes to bring enlightenment to modern Christians in difficult situations through scholars' research on the Old Testament, the New Testament and spiritual theology. ...
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