Australian Christian Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War Years 1964–72

Many young Christian men faced a moral dilemma when selective military conscription was introduced in Australia during the Vietnam War from 1964–72. The legislation was the National Service Act in 1964 (NSA). Some believed that their Christian conscience did not allow them to kill or serve in the ar...

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Autor principal: Geoffrey A Sandy
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Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: MDPI AG 2021
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Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/b89fd76fd9264736a42d2176a136a34f
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:b89fd76fd9264736a42d2176a136a34f2021-11-25T18:53:16ZAustralian Christian Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War Years 1964–7210.3390/rel121110042077-1444https://doaj.org/article/b89fd76fd9264736a42d2176a136a34f2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/11/1004https://doaj.org/toc/2077-1444Many young Christian men faced a moral dilemma when selective military conscription was introduced in Australia during the Vietnam War from 1964–72. The legislation was the National Service Act in 1964 (NSA). Some believed that their Christian conscience did not allow them to kill or serve in the army. Most of them sought exemption as a conscientious objector decided at a court hearing. Others chose non-compliance with the NSA. All exercised nonviolent Holy Disobedience in their individual opposition to war and conscription for it. Holy disobedience stresses the importance of nonviolent individual action, which was an idea of A.J. Muste, a great Christian pacifist. The research reported here is strongly influenced by his approach. It is believed to be the first study which explicitly considers Christian conscientious objectors. A data set was compiled of known Christian conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War years from authoritative sources. Analysis allowed identification of these men, the grounds on which their conscientious beliefs were based and formed and how they personally responded to their moral dilemma. Many of their personal stories are told in their own words. Their Holy Disobedience contributed to ending Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War and military conscription for it.Geoffrey A SandyMDPI AGarticleconscientious objectionChristianityconscriptionnonviolencepacifismholy disobedienceReligions. Mythology. RationalismBL1-2790ENReligions, Vol 12, Iss 1004, p 1004 (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic conscientious objection
Christianity
conscription
nonviolence
pacifism
holy disobedience
Religions. Mythology. Rationalism
BL1-2790
spellingShingle conscientious objection
Christianity
conscription
nonviolence
pacifism
holy disobedience
Religions. Mythology. Rationalism
BL1-2790
Geoffrey A Sandy
Australian Christian Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War Years 1964–72
description Many young Christian men faced a moral dilemma when selective military conscription was introduced in Australia during the Vietnam War from 1964–72. The legislation was the National Service Act in 1964 (NSA). Some believed that their Christian conscience did not allow them to kill or serve in the army. Most of them sought exemption as a conscientious objector decided at a court hearing. Others chose non-compliance with the NSA. All exercised nonviolent Holy Disobedience in their individual opposition to war and conscription for it. Holy disobedience stresses the importance of nonviolent individual action, which was an idea of A.J. Muste, a great Christian pacifist. The research reported here is strongly influenced by his approach. It is believed to be the first study which explicitly considers Christian conscientious objectors. A data set was compiled of known Christian conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War years from authoritative sources. Analysis allowed identification of these men, the grounds on which their conscientious beliefs were based and formed and how they personally responded to their moral dilemma. Many of their personal stories are told in their own words. Their Holy Disobedience contributed to ending Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War and military conscription for it.
format article
author Geoffrey A Sandy
author_facet Geoffrey A Sandy
author_sort Geoffrey A Sandy
title Australian Christian Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War Years 1964–72
title_short Australian Christian Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War Years 1964–72
title_full Australian Christian Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War Years 1964–72
title_fullStr Australian Christian Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War Years 1964–72
title_full_unstemmed Australian Christian Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War Years 1964–72
title_sort australian christian conscientious objectors during the vietnam war years 1964–72
publisher MDPI AG
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/b89fd76fd9264736a42d2176a136a34f
work_keys_str_mv AT geoffreyasandy australianchristianconscientiousobjectorsduringthevietnamwaryears196472
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