"A thundering harmony of peace.” (Shane Claiborne)

REVIEW: THE FORGOTTEN

David's passion for his subject is quite clearly seen in the choice of text for this compilation. Even those who do not share his pacifistic view of Christianity are left in no doubt as to the author's intent. In his introduction he mentions that many of the articles which he is reproducing often seem to have been forgotten. Hence the title, The Forgotten.


The first article, also called The Forgotten, is a pro-peace tract by David Holdsworth himself. Based on the premise that the Kingdom Jesus offered was not of this world, David speaks of violence as a heresy, and praises the efforts throughout history of small groups of radicals.

Shane Clairborne's Iraq Journal is the second article, bringing us right up to date. Shane is one of those radicals of the modern era who put himself into danger for the sake of Christian Peacemaking. One may not agree with such an approach, but it does highlight the fact that pacifists are not cowards!

A quotation from Jonathan Dymond's Inquiry Into the Accordancy of War with the Principles of Christianity (1869) reproves Christians for their use of violence in the name of the Prince of Peace!

In an extract from a collection of present day articles under the heading New Generation, Michael Waterworth encourages Christians to live out Matthew 5-7, the Sermon on The Mount.

Peter Chelciczy's The Net of Faith (1947) informs us that the sword separates the Christian from God.

Adin Ballou speaks of Non-resistance (1839), whilst Daniel Musser (1864) has a brief article entitled Non-resistance Asserted. The latter takes as his start point that Jesus said in Matthew 5:39, But I say unto you that ye resist not evil.

A Solemn Review of the Custom of War by Noah Worcester (1833) is refreshingly flanked by two poems by David Holdsworth: A Word Called Love, and Peace.

Then Mark Twain drives the point home in his own ironic way via a War Prayer.

Some extracts from George Fox's Autobiography, 1908 edition, highlight the fact that that Friend never wore or bore a carnal sword.

Martin Luther King's Letter from the Birmingham City Jail (1963) brings us to another episode of passive resistance, where he writes to his fellow clergymen for the cause of Peace and Brotherhood.

Leo Tolstoy's articles of belief (1886) are of interest, whilst a 1910 extract from Adin Ballou's Christian Non-resistance exhorts us to resist not injury with injury, for evil can be overcome only with good. Noble sentiments indeed!

Some black and white photographs with the theme of peace and justice bring the main part of the book to an end, but an added special feature is a play by David Holdsworth entitled Not Peace but a Sword. He is driving home his point to the very last page!


Overall the argument has been made in favour of Christian pacifism. David is a man of his convictions. Whether we come to the same conclusions, the question/argument will not go away.