Earlham College

Welcome from Earlham's President, Douglas C. Bennett

The Quaker peace testimony is perhaps the most distinctive of Friends’ beliefs, distinguishing Quakers from many other believers. It holds that violence, whether physical, emotional, or verbal, is an injustice that harms not only victims but also those who are violent, and is never the means to achieving a just and lasting peace. Friends also seek to challenge institutional and social structures that, while sometimes invisible or taken for granted, still do violence.

Many thoughtful and moral people disagree with the strong form of Quaker pacifism that deplores all use of weapons, but the Quaker peace testimony will always challenge us to seek non-violent responses to conflict and to look for just and peace-making solutions.

Practicing Peace and Justice:

We try to work actively for peace, for the resolution of interpersonal conflicts and disagreements, for the removal of causes of violence and other forms of injustice. We strive on a daily basis to enact a concern for a just and non-violent world.
Queries

When conflicts arise, do I make creative and non-violent efforts to resolve them?
Am I careful to avoid all forms of violence and coercion in my relations with others?
Do I think about power: who has it, and how it should be used? Am I careful to use my own power for just and constructive ends?
Do I think carefully about the ways the College as an institution can be a force for justice and peacemaking in the world?

About Earlham

Earlham is a national liberal arts college founded by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1847. Recognized internationally for its strong academic programs, Earlham is especially known for its Peace and Global Studies program. Earlham’s 1,100 students come from 48 states and 30 countries. Emphasizing rigorous academics in a challenging intellectual environment, an Earlham education creates a deep desire to use one’s talents for important purposes, to make a difference in the world.

Learn more about Plowshares at Earlham:

Peace Activities
Learn about campus peace-related news and events

Plowshares Staff
Meet the faculty and staff supported by the Collaborative

Peace Studies at Earlham *
Read about the campus Peace Studies program, past and present

Grant Application Forms
Faculty and students: Apply for peace grants funded by the Collaborative

Contact Earlham
Find out how to contact Earlham and the Earlham Plowshares Collaborative