There are moments when taking up the sword feels justified, even righteous. This Via Negativa episode explores why refusing violence is not weakness, retreat, or denial of harm, but a disciplined spiritual stance shaped by trust, formation, and long memory. We sit with the tension between power that coerces and power that protects, and ask what it means to resist without becoming what we oppose.

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Creation’s Paths: A Creation Spirituality Primer

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Responding to Violence

02:08 The Challenge of Accepting Anger

03:37 Understanding Anger as Fire

06:42 The Forge: Making Tools, Not Weapons

10:18 Systemic Change & Historical Accountability

13:01 Discipline & Keeping the Fire Alive

18:24 Searing the Fire: Sustainable Practice

22:03 From Reaction to Intentional Action

22:59 Building Sustainable Energy for Change

25:21 Closing Reflection & Personal Discoveries

27:48 Closing Prayer