Comparison Between Jesus/Ghandi

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Comparative Paragraph In his quest of liberating India from British rule, Mohandas K. Gandhi modeled his teachings and actions of non-violence primarily after those of Jesus Christ. Jesus challenged His followers by opposing the ‘eye for an eye’ attitude presented in the Old Testament and replacing it with a new principle of non-retaliation; “You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Offer the wicked man no resistance. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also…” (Matthew 5:38-39) When arrested at the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus showed no resistance to the unjust act and demanded his disciple Peter to not retaliate after already cutting off a soldier’s ear. Jesus warned Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) Likewise, Gandhi upheld this attitude of non-violent resistance in his teachings. At a mosque he enlightened a large crowd, “We do not seek conflict. We know the strength of the forces arrayed against us, know that because of them we can only use peaceful means – but we are determined that justice will be done!” In Hinduism, ahimsa is a rule of conduct that allows for the use of violence for self-defense when being attacked by an enemy. As Jesus configured the beliefs of retaliation in the Old Testament, Gandhi furthered the beliefs of ahimsa by practicing complete non-violent retaliation towards armed enemies. Gandhi endeared Christ’s teachings of non-violence because he recognized that he could expose the brutality of attacking forces through enduring physical harm but not returning it. When Jesus was arrested and presented in front of Caiaphas and the scribes, He was struck by a temple guard for apparently addressing the High Priest in the wrong manner. Jesus answered by saying, “If I have spoken wrongly,

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