What was The Pilgrimage to Nonviolence?

The Pilgrimage to Nonviolence is the period of human history leading up to the widespread abandonment of violence as an acceptable option in any circumstance of civil society. It is named for the essay Pilgrimage to Nonviolence by Martin Luther King Jr. in which King describes the development of his personal philosophy.

Humanity’s Pilgrimage to Nonviolence began thousands of years ago with unnamed practitioners who either never had a reason to choose violence or consciously avoided violence out of distaste. The virtue ahimsa was developed in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, which means nonviolence and deep compassion for all living things. Jesus Christ’s influential Sermon on the Mount advised to turn the other cheek when struck and to love one’s enemies. Percy Shelley’s poetry further contributed to the justification of the philosophy. Far too many other people and groups to name helped bring humanity closer to a world without violence by suggesting it was possible. Many brave souls modeled that future by daring to confront the evils of violence with nonviolent resistance.

Violence was always a behavior that was taught. It was justified most when it was used to survive. It was much less tolerable when it was taught as necessary to thrive. Most perverted was when it was taught for pleasure. Over time it became easier to survive, thrive, and find other sources of joy and so humanity got closer to the destination of their march. Violence was taught less and less.

It was a journey that commanded a heavy toll. Violence, however justified, was always an obstacle to a peaceful society. Blood was the obvious cost, but there was also foregone joy. Even socially acceptable violence would leave scars both visible and invisible. The collective appetite for violence was at a low point in the 21st century as the consequences were fully realized.

The Existential Climate Crisis was the final push humanity needed to throw away any preference for violence. The risk of escalating violence would make it impossible to make the necessary changes to society that enabled the Existential Climate Crisis to develop. The simple fact was that war was too expensive. Movements using nonviolent protest techniques would build support for bravely choosing a new world that would remain hospitable for generations to come.