Modern Conscientious Objection A Quaker Perspective

This provides the historic foundations of conscientious objection and how this has changed

1. Conscientious Objection

From Personal Refusal of War to Holistic Resistance

2. The Theological Foundation

Rooted in the belief that violence violates "that of
God" in everyone.

George Fox (1651): Declared he "lived in the virtue
of that life and power that took away the occasion
of all wars."

This establishes peace as a spiritual state that
removes the *root causes* of conflict (e.g, lust,
aggression).

Formal Declaration (1660): "We utterly deny all
outward wars and strife and fighting with outward
weapons...”

3. A Legacy of Civil Disobedience

Quakers have a long history of defying state power
when it conflicts with divine law.

Early Examples: Refusing to swear oaths, non- 4
payment of war taxes, and refusing military i
service.

The principle of civil disobedience under the
guidance of conscience is affirmed as an i |
honorable witness.

Guiding Query: "Do we faithfully maintain our a3 (|
testimony against preparation for and
participation in war?"

4. Historical Practice

5. An Escalation of Resistance

1969 (Vietnam War)

Jeff Kisling *resists CO status
itself*, calling it a "safe alternative"

1917 (WWI)

‘AFSC founded. "Absolutist" COs

(Merlin Chamness) beaten; others ‘and co-option by the “military
serve in reconstruction. machine.”
1861 (Civil War) 1948 (Peacetime
Seth Laughlin refuses duty. Endures Draft)

torture but prays for executioners,

Don Laughlin & Harold Burnham
who refuse to fire.

“refuse to register*—a radical step
beyond refusing service. They are
imprisoned.

6. The Evolution

7. The Historical Paradox

Quakers maintained "two different and
contradictory peace testimonies.”

The traditional testimony applied to "white wars,” while the community often remained silent
about and benefited from violence against Indigenous peoples and profited from empire.

8. The "New CO": Holistic Resistance

This history demands an expansion of the peace
testimony.

It shifts objection from just *war* to the *entire
system* of "Christian Colonial Capitalist Violence.”

This "New CO" reframes resistance using familiar A call for
language: peace, resistance, and conscientious sustained

objection. action
against

It directly connects the peace testimony to
modern decolonial and abolitionist commitments.

for Gaza
r

9. Pillars of Holistic Objection

LANDBACK Mutual Aid olitio

Committing to decolonial action Building new community structures
and addressing the foundational based on reciprocity, outside of
violence of colonialism. capitalism and state control.

Reframing the abolition of police
and prisons as a necessary
expression of the Peace Testimony.

10. Abolition as the "New Peace”

The Core Link

Abolition is reframed as "the necessary expression
of the testimony of Peace.”

The Guiding Logic

It expands the testimony to reject *domestic*
instruments of state violence (police and prisons)
that enforce the colonial order.

11. The Modern Epistle

"We conscientiously object to and resist
capitalism and white supremacy.”

— Epistle to Friends Regarding Community, Mutual Aid and LANDBACK

12. Questions?

Thank you.

13. Image Sources

hetps:ihsp org/sites hsp orglfles/Goorge-Fox-Portrait-5157jpg
Source: hsp.org

hutps:fimages-cdn bridgemarimoges.com/api/LO/imoge/600wm NW 551349407055475/4939976 jpg
Source: wwwbridgemanimages.com

NOTAR https:fwolpalestine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Copy-of-Statement-Graphics-1080-x-1350-px-2-1920x2400 png
Source: wolpalestine.com