PeaceDocs | Bibliography | General Works
GENERAL AND MULTI-PERIOD WORKS
1. Attwater, Donald. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. New York: Penguin Books, 1976.
Attwater, an editor of Butler’s Lives (8), and a member of the British chapter of Pax Christi, fills this handy collection of saints’ lives with unusual aspects, including the pacifism of many official Catholic saints usually overlooked in other collections.
2. Bainton, Roland. Christian Attitudes Toward War and Peace. Knoxville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1960.
The standard narrative and interpretation through the 1980s.
3. Bibliotheca Sanctorum. Istituto Giovanni XXIII della Pontificia Università Lateranense, 12 vols. & index. Rome: Società Grafica Romana, 1961-70.
The most complete collection of saints lives available, including iconography, copiously illustrated with excellent, signed articles and bibliography.
4. Bokenkotter, Thomas. A Concise History of the Catholic Church. Rev. ed. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1979.
Comprehensive and still of value.
5. Bosc, Robert. Évangile, violence et paix. Paris: Le Centurion, 1975.
Modern theological reflections on terms, the attitudes of the various churches toward violence, the just-war theory, and various Christian traditions from the just war to Liberation Theology. Peace can be pursued on various levels: the search for methods, in politics, the evangelical life, and that of political morality.
6. Brière, Yves, de la. L'église et paix. Paris: Flammarion, 1932.
7. Brock, Peter. The Roots of War Resistance. Pacifism from the Early Church to Tolstoy. Nyack, NY: Fellowship of Reconciliation, 1981.
8. Butler, Alban. Lives of the Saints. Donald Attwater and Herbert Thurston, eds. 4 vols. New York: Kennedy, 1956.
The best collection available in English.
9. The New Cambridge Medieval History. 8 vols. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998–2005.
The standard research and reference history for the period, edited and written by a series of distinguished historians. Excellent background for the chronology, personalities, institutions, and cultural life of the period 300 to 1500.
10. Carroll, Berenice, and Clinton Fink. Peace and War: Guide to Bibliographies. War-Peace Bibliographies Series, vol. 16. New York: ABC-Clio, 1982.
11. Clotfelter, J. “Why Peace Movements Fail,” Christian Century 99, 24 (July 21-28, 1982): 790-93.
A theoretical piece focusing on the modern period but having general application. Movements fail because they do not reflect the basic values of their societies; they identify too widely with national symbols and themes, or alternately, with symbols hostile to it; they focus on the past, present, or distant future, not on the immediate future; they are unwilling to convince their audience of the social costs of war; they fail to bridge class and ideological divisions; they are identified with appeasement of the enemy. Specifically Christian movements define peace too narrowly and dwell more on fear than on hope.
12. Comblin, Joseph. Théologie de la paix. 2 vols. Paris: Éditions universitaires, 1963.
13. Coste, René. L’église et la paix. Paris: Desclée, 1979.
Modern meditations on the choice between Mars or Jesus. Examines the face of war, the logic and the ethic of war, the Gospel message of peace, violence and nonviolence, the Bomb, strategies of survival, the arms industry and the merchants of death, and various reactions. These include prophetism, realism, and terrorism. The church is essentially linked to peace, however. Concludes with some suggestions for action.
14. Delaney, John J. Pocket Dictionary of Saints. Abridged ed. of Dictionary of Saints. New York: Doubleday, 1983.
15. Dictionnaire d'archéologie chrétienne et de liturgie (DACL). Ferdinand Cabrol, Henri Leclercq, and Henri-I. Marrou, eds. 15 vols. Paris, 1907-1953.
16. Dictionary of the Middle Ages (DMA). Joseph R. Strayer, ed. 13 vols. New York: Charles Scribner’s, 1982-89.
17. Douglas, James W. The Non-Violent Cross. A Theology of Revolution and Peace. New York: Macmillan, 1968.
18. Du Cange, Charles Du Fresne. “Pax,” Glossarium Mediae et Infimae Latinitatis. 10 vols. Paris: Osmont, 1937-38. 2: 228-31.
19. Egan, Eileen. “The Beatitudes, the Works of Mercy, and Pacifism.” In Thomas A. Shannon, ed. War or Peace? The Search for New Answers. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1982, 169-87.
20. Erdmann, C. The Origins of the Idea of Crusade. Marshall W. Baldwin and Walter Goffart, transls. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1977.
21. Fahey, Joseph J. “Pax Christi.” In Thomas A. Shannon, ed. War or Peace? The Search for New Answers. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1982, 59-71.
22. —. “Peace, International,” NCE 17: 494-6.
23. —. Peace, War and the Christian Conscience. New York: The Christophers, 1982.
Designed as a brief introduction to the topic, this booklet traces the peace tradition from Gospel pacifism and the Early Church, through just-war and holy-war traditions of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance-Reformation periods to statements of modern popes, councils, and U.S. bishops.
24. —. War and the Christian Conscience: Where do Your Stand? Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2005.
A survey and teaching syllabus of all Christian responses to war and peace. Fahey personalizes the often abstract an highly hidden histories and scholarly debates over Christian peace traditions and brings them refreshingly and convincingly up to date. This book is an ideal teaching tool and a trusty guide for the student, the mature reader, the parent and the citizen.
25. Ferguson, John. War and Peace in the World's Religions. Nyack, NY: Fellowship of Reconciliation, 1977.
A world-wide survey of the peace traditions in ten of the world's major religions.
26. Flannery, Harry W., ed. Pattern for Peace: Catholic Statements on International Order. Westminster, MD: Newman, 1962.
27. Fliche, A., and V. Martin, eds. Histoire de l'église depuis les origines jusqu'à nos jours. Paris: Bloud & Gay, 1934-.
A scholarly and authoritative history covering all of church history and institutions. Still in progress.
28. Guinan, Edward, ed. Peace and Nonviolence: Basic Writings. New York: Paulist Press, 1973.
Includes pieces by the Berrigans, Helder Camara, Cesar Chavez, Thomas Cornell, Dorothy Day, Danilo Dolci, Erasmus, Franz Jaegerstaetter, Thomas Merton, and various popes, bishops, and councils. Short bibliographies after each section.
29. Hehir, J. Bryan. “The Just-War Ethic and Catholic Theology: Dynamics of Change and Continuity.” In Thomas A. Shannon, ed. War or Peace? The Search for New Answers. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1982, 15-39.
30. Holmes, Arthur F. War and Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1975.
A collection of primary source readings, primarily on the just-war tradition. Pacifism takes a secondary place. Lacks bibliography.
31. “Irenics: The Study of Peace,” America 125 (Oct. 30, 1971): 336.
Describes the general field of peace studies, as it is emerging in the United States and in Catholic circles, as a legitimate field of research.
32. Johnson, James Turner. The Quest for Peace. Three Moral Traditions in Western Cultural History. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1987.
Examines the just-war, “pacifist,” and internationalist traditions from the early Christian church through the modern period. Johnson is a distinguished just-war theorist, and he views the nonviolent tradition as “pacifism” and “the withdrawal from the world and all its ills” (xi).
33. Klassen, Walter. “The Doctrine of the Just War in the West: A Summary,” Peace Research Reviews VII-6 (1978).
A brief but useful survey, covering all periods from antiquity to the modern age.
34. Lammers, Stephen E. “Roman Catholic Social Ethics and Pacifism.” In Thomas A. Shannon, ed. War or Peace? The Search for New Answers. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1982, 93-103.
35. Lawler, F.X. “Mystical Body of Christ,” NCE 10: 166-70.
Useful background for the dialogue within the Catholic, and Christian, traditions that forms a model for the process of peacemaking.
36. Logan, F. Donald. A History of the Church in the Middle Ages. New York & London: Routledge, 2002.
The best survey and introduction to the history and interpretation available.
37. Macquarrie, John. The Concept of Peace. New York: Harper & Row, 1973.
A modern, theological, ethical reflection on peace as more than simply the absence of war. Peace is a wholeness, a restoration of the "fractured areas" of our lives and the world. Peace is more than a concept but a technique.
38. McCormick, R.A. “War, Morality of,” NCE 14: 802-7.
39. McGinn, Bernard, ed. and trans. Apocalyptic Spirituality. New York: Paulist Press, 1979.
40. —. Visions of the End. Apocalyptic Traditions in the Middle Ages. New York: Columbia University Press, 1979.
Short selections from a wide variety of apocalyptic writings. Excellent bibliography.
41. Mayer, Peter. The Pacifist Conscience. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1966.
42. Merton, Thomas. The Nonviolent Alternative. Revised edition of Thomas Merton on Peace. Gordon Zahn, ed. New York: Farrar, Strauss Giroux, 1980.
43. Neill, Stephen. A History of Christian Missions. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1964.
44. O’Brien, David J., and Thomas A. Shannon, eds. Renewing the Earth. Catholic Documents on Peace, Justice and Liberation. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1977.
45. Peace and Change: A Journal of Peace Research. Conference on Peace Research in History. Consortium on Peace Research. Peace Studies Association.
A quarterly covering a full range of articles on historical topics, contemporary politics, diplomatic history, women's studies, prisoners of conscience, peace research and teaching, book reviews, etc. Articles but noted peace historians, including Elise Boulding, Peter Brock, Sandi Cooper.
46. Peace Spirituality for Peacemakers. Antwerp: Pax Christi International, 1983.
An excellent collection of modern reflections on peacemaking by some of the world's most prominent peacemakers and theorists, including Dom Helder Camara, Edward Schillebeeckx, Joseph Comblin, Donal O’Mahoney, and others.
47. Powers, R.T., and H.A. Freeman. “Conscientious Objectors,” NCE 4: 204-6.
Ranges over the entire history of Catholic peacemaking, concluding that the Catholic church has never condoned pacifism. Simply put: "as a general rule, a Christian living in the world does not have the objective right to adopt an attitude of total nonviolence as the basis for a refusal to fulfill his lawful duties as a citizen." Until John XXIII many Catholic writers continued to hold that Catholics were bound to obey human law above God's.
48. Recueils de la Société Jean Bodin 9 (1958).
49. Recueils de la Société Jean Bodin 14 (1961).
50. Recueils de la Société Jean Bodin 15 (1961).
51. Roemer, William F., and John Tracy Ellis. The Catholic Church and Peace Efforts. Washington, DC: CAIP, 1934.
This short pamphlet is an historical survey covering the Christian philosophy of peace, the church's influence in the Roman Empire, the contribution of the church to the law of nations, the Peace and Truce of God, Vitoria, papal arbitration and peacemaking, and the efforts of the Franciscans, Dominicans, and Third Orders.
52. Russell, Frederick H. The Just War in the Middle Ages. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1975.
53. Shannon, Thomas A., ed. War or Peace? The Search for New Answers. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1982.
54. —. What Are They Saying About Peace and War? New York: Paulist Press, 1983.
Includes discussions of the development of the just-war tradition in the world's major religions, an historical survey of Roman Catholic teachings on war and peace from the early church to John Paul II. American reflections include major pastorals, the writings of John Ford, Gerald Kelly, John Courtney Murray, Paul Hanley Furfey, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Daniel Berrigan, J. Bryan Hehir, Charles Curran, and Gordon Zahn, reflecting the full spectrum of Catholic thought and action. Shannon then surveys contemporary developments in the thought of American bishops individually and as a group, including the Bishop's Pastoral (1457 to 1485). He then examines the current state of the question of war and peace in Catholic thought and action and demonstrates how American Catholics have begun to move away from a theology of war to one of peacemaking.
55. Shiels, W.J., ed. The Church and War. Papers of the Twenty-First and Twenty-Second Meetings of the Ecclesiastical History Society. Studies in Church History 20. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, New York: Harper & Row, 1983.
The essays, by notable British scholars, cover the full range of Christian history from the early church to World War II, but they are remarkably unified in outlook and intent. While strenuously denying that the collection of essays was in any way affected by the full flush of Great Britain’s first military victory in a generation, in the Falklands (“the military actions in the South Atlantic” as the editor euphemistically puts it), he does admit with surprise that the theme of the collection was “unexpectedly topical.” This came about, not from the author’s intention for a collection on war and religion to be topical, but “in light of… the debate about the precise form of the national service of thanksgiving and remembrance which subsequently took place.”
Without doubt, religion and scholarship serve the state. The terms “peace,” “pacifism,” and others often at the center of discussion are never defined. In only one case, Peter Biller’s “Medieval Waldensian Abhorrence of Killing Pre-1400” (pp. 129-46) is medieval pacifism discussed, and this in the old equation with heresy.
56. Strattmann, Franziscus. The Church and War, A Catholic Study. New York: Kennedy, 1928.
Traces the emergence of Catholic theories on war and peace, pacifism, just war, and holy war. Takes the Erasmian notion of the church as the mystical body, with Christ as the head, and concludes that war is a tragedy that rends this body and pits one part against another.
57. Vanderhaar, Gerard. Nonviolence in Christian Tradition. Erie, PA: Pax Christi, 1983.
A review from the New Testament, to early Christian pacifism, St. Augustine, and the barbarization of Christianity in the Middle Ages. While the Middle Ages gave birth to the Crusades, it also saw St. Francis of Assisi and such pacifist groups as the heretical Waldensians, forced to hide in the hills. From Erasmus and the Reformation the trail leads straight to the Quakers. In the modern world nonviolence may almost have succeeded in making the American colonies independent of Great Britain. In the twentieth century Gandhi has inspired peacemakers as diverse as Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, and Danilo Dolci. The question remains, however: can nonviolence succeed in today's world?
58. Woito, Robert. To End War: An Introduction — Ideas, Books, Organizations, Work That Can Help. Sixth ed. Berkeley: World Without War Council, 1982.
Surveys all aspects of the apparatus of peacemaking: ideas, contexts, and actions. Realms of action include politics, arms control, internationalism, economics, human rights, the environment, and world organizations. There are also sections for personal reflection, analysis, and planning.
Chapters 15, “Religious and Ethical Thought on War” (pp. 382-415); 16, “Social Change: Nonviolent Approaches” (pp. 416-33); and 17, “Peace Research” (434-60) are especially valuable. Good bibliographies. Excellent list of organizations and publications.
59. Zahn, Gordon. War, Conscience and Dissent. New York: Hawthorne, 1967.
60. Zampaglione, Gerardo. The Idea of Peace in Antiquity. Richard Dunn, trans. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1973.
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