Compare and contrast the approach of the spokespersons of peace and justice for

Question

Compare and contrast the approach of the spokespersons of peace and justice for Christianity such as Martin Luther King and Jane Addams, and spokespersons for peace and justice for Buddhism such as The Dalai Lama and Aung San Suu Kyi. SPOKESPERSONS FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE Jane Addams (1860-1935, United States, Protestant Christian) founded Hull House in Chicago, an early settlement house for immigrants. Working both to meet i mme- diate needs and to uproot the causes of poverty, she engaged in political acti against child labor and on behalf of immigrants, industrial safety, labor unions, lim- ited working hours, and women's right to vote. Arguing that war destroys social reform, she helped found the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), of which she was the first president, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.

Explanation / Answer

It is felt that any direct value based comparison between the theological approaches of the given peace activists is neither possible nor desirable as both the Christian and Buddhist peace activists have made significant and equally valuable contributions to ensure the standards of peaceful life for the marginalised sections in their respective societies. Nonetheless, we can do a comparative study of their target or aim and the method of their approach.

If we analyse the lifework of the Christian spokespersons for peace and justice, then it emerges that both Dr. Martin Luther King and Jane Adams approached the social issues of the underprivileged, marginalised racial minorities through political means of establishing national level associations, protest rallies etc. Thus, while their moral arguments about racial equality, civil rights or suffrage for women were guided by the Christian philosophy, their method was based on the use of existing democratic approaches of political mobilisation. Their approach to peace and justice was defined by a social movement towards racial and gender equality.

In contrast, the Buddhist spokespersons for peace and justice namely, HH the Dalai Lama and Aung San Suu Kyi have faced the issue of using their religious philosophy and practices to tackle the political issue of democratic recognition and independence for Tibetans and Burmese respectively. In other words, they guide their Buddhist approach towards a political movement. In attaining this goal, they use a more global and universal perspective and sought to create political awareness about the suffering of their people in the world community such as through writing, international conferences and initiating mutual dialogue with leaders of other religious communities. Thus, the Buddhist approach to peace and justice highlights on the mutual coexistence and universal gains rather than concentrating the effect of their political movement on just one society.

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