Nonkilling Spiritual Traditions (Nonkilling Studies)

The Center’s Nonkilling Spiritual Traditions Research Committee, with over 30 members, envisioned a collaborative academic initiative to further understand and analyze: 1) the impact of the “Thou Shall Not Kill” / “Do not take any human being’s life” imperative across world spiritual traditions and non-religious humanist ethics, but also its internal intrareligious contradictions and controversies; 2) faith-inspired nonviolent/nonkilling leaders and movements throughout history; 3) spiritual practices related to nonkilling behavior and way of life, including meditation, prayers, art and spiritual guidance, with special interest in behavioral change—individual or social practices (e.g., meditation in prisons has shown to reduce violence and killings). The collection of essays compiled in this first volume represents a preliminary example of the possibilities offered by this line of inquiry, that it is hoped can be expanded.