|
PARAPHRASED FROM ELEMENTS OF
PITIRIM SOROKIN'S BOOK
THE
WAYS AND POWER OF LOVE
Copyright
© 1995-2008 by Thomas E. Harries, Ph.D.
All Rights Reserved
|
| Principle of Non-Violent response in spite of murders | Quakers, Mennonites, and those of like values suffered less violence than other groups | |||
| Leo went to Attila alone, unarmed, heartfelt appeal, plus possible ransom | Attila spared city, left Rome, and never returned | ||||
| Quakers did not oppose, explained life saving mission | Kurds rode off without harming Quakers or stealing supplies | ||||
| Quaker woman asked for their help, introduced soldiers | Communist and German soldiers guarded supplies together | ||||
| Dr explained that he was enroute to treat a critically ill woman in the area | Robber thugs left him go, waited for him to finish call, then escorted him to safer area | ||||
| Treasurer explained that money was to afford treatments for those coming to his hospital | Robbers contributed $10 and left treasurer go | ||||
| Went unarmed and without armed protection | None were met violent death, none of the relief goods were plundered | ||||
| Troops put down guns during hostile action to execute recovery of buried laborers | Kakari stopped sniping and attacks, more effectively reduction of hostility than all prior fighting | ||||
| Quakers were reputed and admired for their non-violent life style | No communities of these non-violent groups were burned | ||||
| Gestapo soldier | Sisters were sheltering a Jew across from Gestapo headqtrs | Sisters offered soldier tea, who stayed for chapel services and songs, which became a daily ritual | When sister praised Jew in answer to question, soldier pulled gun in rage, then after a long moment, he gave it to her, acknowledge he was a sinner, left and never returned | ||
Christian Missionary | Brahmins denied untouchables access to key road between villages working enormous hardships | Repeatedly confronted enforcers where they were denied and beaten for almost four years, always in a non-violent posture of prayer | 16 months later, Brahmins gave in and opened road, and all other roads in the province, to the untouchables | ||
| American being taken to execution by soldier | American begin to sing and pray in tones that became relaxed and joyful | Soldier joined in, they shared experiences, soldier accompanied him to American lines. | |||
| Solders were intending to commandeer orphanage as only standing structures | Children had been prepared to sing Russian folk songs, Russian food and custodial services were provided by teachers | School left for use by children; Teachers put up sign saying school s under protection of Russian; when original soldiers left, strategy worked for the next group of soldiers. | |||
This table is made up of only partial notations from the list of the 50 examples provided by Sorokin in his book, The Ways and Power of Love (pages 48-58.) Hundreds of examples could have been provided from Sorokin's records, but space permitted him only 50. He states that, "Facts of this sort can be multiplied without end."
Sorokin Related WWW resources:
Templeton
Foundation Summary
celebration of his 110th birth anniversary
This page last updated on August 2, 2004