The Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence at Avila University will host Rev. John Dear, Catholic priest and Nobel prize nominee, for a talk and book signing on Tuesday, April 17. Rev. Dear is the author of “They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace and Nonviolence in a Time of Climate Change.”
“Peacebuilding is not only about relationships between people, but about humankind’s relationship with the Earth,” says Arica Maurer, university coordinator for the Buchanan Initiative. “We have invited Rev. Dear to speak because we believe it is important for the Avila community to hear his message about the environmental aspect of peacebuilding as well as to learn from his example of nonviolent, civil disobedience in pursuit of justice and peace.”
His current book is a landmark work which connects the way of active nonviolence with solidarity for creation; shows how our global epidemic of violence and war has led to catastrophic climate change; and explains why help is needed in building up a global grassroots movement of nonviolence to protect creation.
“Blessed are the meek, they will inherit the earth,” Rev. Dear says. “Meekness was the biblical word for nonviolence, and Jesus connected nonviolence and oneness with creation. He practiced nonviolence and lived as one with creation. We need to do the same.”
Rev. Dear will invite those in attendance to rise to the occasion, deepen themselves in nonviolence, take new steps into active solidarity with Mother Earth and a suffering humanity, and do what is needed to welcome a new culture of peace and nonviolence.
Rev. Dear is a long-time peace activist, lecturer and author of 35 books, including “Thomas Merton Peacemaker,” “Lazarus Come Forth!,” “Living Peace,” “The Nonviolent Life” and “The Beatitudes of Peace.” He has been nominated many times for the Nobel Peace Prize, including by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He works with CampaignNonviolence.org and the Vatican Nonviolence Initiative.
A reception will be held at 6 p.m. followed by a lecture at 7 and a book signing at 7:45 in the Whitfield Conference Center on the southwest corner of the campus, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Mo. 64145.
Copies of select publications by Rev. Dear will be available for sale at the event. However, copies of “They Will Inherit the Earth” are available now. For more information, call 816-501-3627 or email peace@avila.edu.