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A Persistent Peace: One Man's Struggle for a Nonviolent World
All of us say we want peace, but only a few are willing to prove it. John Dear, SJ, has been arrested more than seventy-five times. He has spent more than a year of his life in jail. He has been mocked by an armed and angry U.S. National Guard battalion standing outside the doors to his New Mexico parish. All this because he so fervently believes in peace.
A Persistent Peace, John Dear’s autobiography, invites readers to follow the decades-long journey and spiritual growth of this nationally known peace activist, and to witness his bold, decisive, often unpopular actions before government officials, military higher-ups, and even representatives of the Church.
From his conversion to Christianity, to his calling to become a Jesuit, to the extreme dangers and delights of a life dedicated to truly living out the radical, forgiving love of Jesus, Dear’s incredible story will touch the heart of anyone who believes in the power of peace and the possibility of a world where love conquers all. Praise for John Dear and A Persistent Peace “Once more, and in a plenary way, we are blessed by the eloquence and moral passion of John Dear. . . . More power to this intrepid disciple of Christ—The Peacemaker.”
—Daniel Berrigan, author of The Trial of the Catonsville Nine
“John Dear understands that peacemaking is not a part-time job. . . . John has walked the talk for years, an inspiration to all of us to do more than we think we can.”
—Jim Wallis, author of The Great Awakening and president, Sojourners
“John Dear has been arrested in the cause of peace and human decency more times than anyone else I know. I am honored to consider him a friend.”
—Joan Baez, singer and peace activist
“John Dear is a great spiritual progressive leader whose wisdom, courage, and gentleness make him one of the most beloved teachers of nonviolence in America. . . . Reading this book will make you less lonely by knowing that you’re sharing your time on earth with John Dear.”
—Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun magazine “Look, I know this guy. He’s real; and he shows that it’s possible for ordinary folks to really live Jesus’ call to be peacemakers. . . . Prepare your own heart as you open this book.”
—Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking
“John Dear’s life story is inspiring and heartwarming.”
—Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States
A Persistent Peace, John Dear’s autobiography, invites readers to follow the decades-long journey and spiritual growth of this nationally known peace activist, and to witness his bold, decisive, often unpopular actions before government officials, military higher-ups, and even representatives of the Church.
From his conversion to Christianity, to his calling to become a Jesuit, to the extreme dangers and delights of a life dedicated to truly living out the radical, forgiving love of Jesus, Dear’s incredible story will touch the heart of anyone who believes in the power of peace and the possibility of a world where love conquers all. Praise for John Dear and A Persistent Peace “Once more, and in a plenary way, we are blessed by the eloquence and moral passion of John Dear. . . . More power to this intrepid disciple of Christ—The Peacemaker.”
—Daniel Berrigan, author of The Trial of the Catonsville Nine
“John Dear understands that peacemaking is not a part-time job. . . . John has walked the talk for years, an inspiration to all of us to do more than we think we can.”
—Jim Wallis, author of The Great Awakening and president, Sojourners
“John Dear has been arrested in the cause of peace and human decency more times than anyone else I know. I am honored to consider him a friend.”
—Joan Baez, singer and peace activist
“John Dear is a great spiritual progressive leader whose wisdom, courage, and gentleness make him one of the most beloved teachers of nonviolence in America. . . . Reading this book will make you less lonely by knowing that you’re sharing your time on earth with John Dear.”
—Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun magazine “Look, I know this guy. He’s real; and he shows that it’s possible for ordinary folks to really live Jesus’ call to be peacemakers. . . . Prepare your own heart as you open this book.”
—Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking
“John Dear’s life story is inspiring and heartwarming.”
—Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
John Dear
56 books30 followersFather John Dear (The Society of Jesus) is an internationally known voice for peace and nonviolence. A Jesuit priest, pastor, peacemaker, organizer, lecturer, and retreat leader, he is the author/editor of 30 books, including his autobiography, “A Persistent Peace.” In 2008, John was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
From 1998 until December 2000, he served as the executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the largest interfaith peace organization in the United States.
After the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, John served as a Red Cross Chaplain, and became one of the coordinators of the chaplain program at the Family Assistance Center. He worked with some 1,500 family members who lost loved ones, as well as hundreds of firefighters and police officers, while at the same time, he spoke out against the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan.
From 2002-2004, he served as pastor of several parishes in northeastern New Mexico. He co-founded Pax Christi New Mexico and works on a nonviolent campaign to disarm Los Alamos. These days, he lectures to tens of thousands of people each year in churches and schools across the country and the world. He also writes a weekly column for the “National Catholic Reporter” at www.ncrcafe.org.
A longtime practitioner and teacher of nonviolence, John has written hundreds of articles and given thousands of talks on nonviolence. John has two masters degrees in theology from the Graduate Theological Union in California.
* BIO EXCERPT FROM http://www.johndear.org/
From 1998 until December 2000, he served as the executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the largest interfaith peace organization in the United States.
After the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, John served as a Red Cross Chaplain, and became one of the coordinators of the chaplain program at the Family Assistance Center. He worked with some 1,500 family members who lost loved ones, as well as hundreds of firefighters and police officers, while at the same time, he spoke out against the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan.
From 2002-2004, he served as pastor of several parishes in northeastern New Mexico. He co-founded Pax Christi New Mexico and works on a nonviolent campaign to disarm Los Alamos. These days, he lectures to tens of thousands of people each year in churches and schools across the country and the world. He also writes a weekly column for the “National Catholic Reporter” at www.ncrcafe.org.
A longtime practitioner and teacher of nonviolence, John has written hundreds of articles and given thousands of talks on nonviolence. John has two masters degrees in theology from the Graduate Theological Union in California.
* BIO EXCERPT FROM http://www.johndear.org/
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 25, 2021
This is a challenging book, hammering relentlessly at the question: what does it mean to be a follower of Jesus in modern America; in the context of a militaristic, neo-imperialistic nation and an often blithely inhumane consumer-capitalist society and culture? What must we risk in order to resist the violence in which we are immersed? Father Dear's life story as presented here is a compelling answer to that question. I read this book as a followup to a biography on Daniel Berrigan, to whom Dear was very much a protege and successor. Like that book, this work is a fascinating insight into a whole world of Catholic activism and organization that often doesn't get much press; likely because it is transcends and is irreducible to the dichotomous political lens (red/blue, conservative/liberal, etc.) through which we are conditioned to view events.
October 5, 2025
What a wild slice of life. Very simple read and lots of familiar names. House arrest with Jesuits being worse than prison was a funny line.
August 14, 2019
I wish the last 50 pages were at the beginning. I expected more prayers and less name dropping. Regardless of the lack of humility there were moments of brilliance and respect for his work and bringing awaremess.
June 4, 2009
This was an inspiring and thought-provoking book about the life of a Jesuit peacemaker, a passionate man willing to take a stand (often all the way to prison) for his beliefs: that war and violence in any circumstance is evil and will only bring more violence, never solve problems or usher in peace. From organizing protests against the contra wars, to participating in the Ploughshares movement (based on the biblical premise of beating swords into ploughshares, which in practice meant destroying military weapons in protest), to advocating for those facing homelessness and the death penalty, John Dear tries to follow the path of Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr, and the "nonviolent Jesus".
The book is inpriring because Mr. Dear has a vision of truth, and dedicates his life to following that vision and living out the truth in his daily life, vigorously and despite some pretty harsh consequences. The battle against violence may not be my core issue, but each of us should have something we believe about that's worth standing up and fighting for (nonviolently, of course ;-), a contribution to make the world a better place -- and it doesn't have to take John Dear's style of outrage and indignation. But it should definitely be based on gospel Love. Dear had the advantage of being raised in a wealthy family, getting a fantastic education, personally getting to meet and befriend some pretty awe-inspriring people (Mother Theresa and a bunch of the Hollywood anti-war activist gang for example), and having an outspoken personality (the "Irish gift of gab")--but everyone has a purpose to life, and this helps to remind one of what it takes to pursue that purpose.
It was especially thought-provoking for me, as much of my family is ex-military, my boyfriend's parents work for Lockheed Martin, and I generally perceive many pros alongside the cons of American military action (though the balance between the two is often skewed far in the direction of "con"). With that as a starting point but trying to keep an open mind and heart, I found myself alternately irritated and moved. Dear's writing can be haughty and self-important at times, and often takes on the tone of speaking to those already converted to his ideas (which makes sense, as an autobiographical work, and he has written many other books already on peace and his rationale behind the activism, which I have not read). He often adopts a rather sneering attitude towards small town patriots and military families, along with Pentagon employees and fighter pilots. He definitely employs the use of peace rhetoric (as an antithesis to the despised war rhetoric), exaggerates some details, and conveniently ignores others, and holds up detractors as objects of obvious ridicule. That being said, he extends a challenge to really think about the impact of war and violence on our world, and about what a loving engagement in the world actually means when carried out to its logical conclusion.
The book is inpriring because Mr. Dear has a vision of truth, and dedicates his life to following that vision and living out the truth in his daily life, vigorously and despite some pretty harsh consequences. The battle against violence may not be my core issue, but each of us should have something we believe about that's worth standing up and fighting for (nonviolently, of course ;-), a contribution to make the world a better place -- and it doesn't have to take John Dear's style of outrage and indignation. But it should definitely be based on gospel Love. Dear had the advantage of being raised in a wealthy family, getting a fantastic education, personally getting to meet and befriend some pretty awe-inspriring people (Mother Theresa and a bunch of the Hollywood anti-war activist gang for example), and having an outspoken personality (the "Irish gift of gab")--but everyone has a purpose to life, and this helps to remind one of what it takes to pursue that purpose.
It was especially thought-provoking for me, as much of my family is ex-military, my boyfriend's parents work for Lockheed Martin, and I generally perceive many pros alongside the cons of American military action (though the balance between the two is often skewed far in the direction of "con"). With that as a starting point but trying to keep an open mind and heart, I found myself alternately irritated and moved. Dear's writing can be haughty and self-important at times, and often takes on the tone of speaking to those already converted to his ideas (which makes sense, as an autobiographical work, and he has written many other books already on peace and his rationale behind the activism, which I have not read). He often adopts a rather sneering attitude towards small town patriots and military families, along with Pentagon employees and fighter pilots. He definitely employs the use of peace rhetoric (as an antithesis to the despised war rhetoric), exaggerates some details, and conveniently ignores others, and holds up detractors as objects of obvious ridicule. That being said, he extends a challenge to really think about the impact of war and violence on our world, and about what a loving engagement in the world actually means when carried out to its logical conclusion.
November 23, 2014
A fascinating book. There are some factual errors, one worth noting is that he blames current Presiding Bishop Jefferts-Schori for a cowardly decision by the then Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Edmund Browning in 1995. It's not a huge error, Presiding Bishops of the Episcopal Church seem to excel at cowardly decisions, still the blame should fall on the correct coward.
Fr. Dear challenges the cowardliness we all share when we fail to decry all war as evil. Our reasons are many, quite often I know that I fail to speak out because I don't want to hurt people I care about. Fr. Dear seems to feel that when he was a parish priest in New Mexico the Gospel compelled him to speak with great force against all people involved in the production of nuclear weapons, knowing full well that one of his parishes had many members employed in that industry. He seems unable to understand why parish clergy oftendon't speak out. I feel that is a short sightedness due in part to his standing as a celebate. It's easy to dismiss the concerns people have about quitting their job and still being able to support their family when you have never had to do so yourself. It's also easy to get arrested and go to jail for civil disobedience when you know it won't cost you your job. If he has a weakness, it's a lack of empathy for the common person, and I believe that blinds him to the responsibility that comes with being an appropriately pastoral parish priest.
With my reservations duly noted, I find Fr. Dear to be an inspiration and a powerful man of peace. His message is one we all need to hear repeatedly until we internalize it. His courage and integrity are exceptional, and he walks in the footsteps of Jesus. I enjoyed this book tremendously and found his journey fascinating!
Fr. Dear challenges the cowardliness we all share when we fail to decry all war as evil. Our reasons are many, quite often I know that I fail to speak out because I don't want to hurt people I care about. Fr. Dear seems to feel that when he was a parish priest in New Mexico the Gospel compelled him to speak with great force against all people involved in the production of nuclear weapons, knowing full well that one of his parishes had many members employed in that industry. He seems unable to understand why parish clergy oftendon't speak out. I feel that is a short sightedness due in part to his standing as a celebate. It's easy to dismiss the concerns people have about quitting their job and still being able to support their family when you have never had to do so yourself. It's also easy to get arrested and go to jail for civil disobedience when you know it won't cost you your job. If he has a weakness, it's a lack of empathy for the common person, and I believe that blinds him to the responsibility that comes with being an appropriately pastoral parish priest.
With my reservations duly noted, I find Fr. Dear to be an inspiration and a powerful man of peace. His message is one we all need to hear repeatedly until we internalize it. His courage and integrity are exceptional, and he walks in the footsteps of Jesus. I enjoyed this book tremendously and found his journey fascinating!
March 31, 2012
Troubling
Let me start this review by stating the following in clear and unequivocal terms:
I have no problem whatsoever with people who protest and demonstrate for the things they believe in, especially those who do it like Rev. John Dear, who proceeds with the understanding that there is a possibility of arrest and detention as he protests for peace and against social inequity.
The positives of A Persistent Peace: One Man's Struggle for a Nonviolent World :
It is written in an engaging style, most of it can be easily grasped, even by those who are uninitiated in Christian theology. His story of how he struggled with the choice of whether or not to enter the priesthood is quite well told and interesting.
The chapters are organized by both time frames and theme so it is fairly easy to go back and find comments and stories.
The negatives:
That being said, I do have a problem with...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
May 3, 2010
Autobiography of one of the true heroes of our time. John Dear is a Jesuit priest and a peace activist who has devoted his life to the cause of peace and justice. He has been arrested numerous times for protesting policies of the US government that run counter to Christ's command that we love our neighbor as ourselves (including spending seven months in prison after a protest at an Air Force base in North Carolina) and has also spent time in Central America with the oppressed people of that part of the world.
So where does he find the impetus to lead the kind of life he has led? That leads me to one caveat. Dear is a man of great faith. He sees his calling through the lens of his Christianity. I found that quite inspirational but if it's not you cup of tea, I'd steer away from this book.
So where does he find the impetus to lead the kind of life he has led? That leads me to one caveat. Dear is a man of great faith. He sees his calling through the lens of his Christianity. I found that quite inspirational but if it's not you cup of tea, I'd steer away from this book.
January 23, 2016
Father John Dear chronicles personal relationships in his life with the themes of God's love, nonviolence, and peace from 1978-2005...many times as i read i felt tears welling up at the injustice, ill-treatment, craziness, loneliness, irony, despair, hate, and evil of the world...but also, over and over, John Dear shows us that there is love and hope in a person's commitment to forgive and bring healing and peace to the violence in the world...while i drew much inspiration from this book, i also felt discouraged...what can i do for the cause of peace?...since this time, i discovered another of Dear's books called "Living Peace: A Spirituality of Contemplation and Action" that suggests many things we can do on the journey to creating a more persistent peace in our world.
December 8, 2013
I don't think that I have ever had a book open my eyes quite the way this one did. The world would be a much better place if instead of getting sound bites from Palin & Cruz etc we got them from him. Wait, please understand this isn't true political book. In our wedge culture where we like everything defined and branded, Dear most likely falls into far left category. He speaks for a world without war and violence, so if you consider that liberal then yeah it is. But, if you want a book that takes Christ's words and intent and applies them to the world today then this is your book.
December 14, 2008
I didn't finish this before I had to return it but what I read I enjoyed. I hope to finish it someday.
It's the story of a Jesuit priest who has devoted his life to nonviolence. His sincerity and love for Jesus is very touching. I admire people who really devote their lives to getting rid of war. Really, why are we still having wars? I don't understand....I don't like it.
So it's inspiring to read about someone who really tries hard to promote peace and stop wars and violence.
It's the story of a Jesuit priest who has devoted his life to nonviolence. His sincerity and love for Jesus is very touching. I admire people who really devote their lives to getting rid of war. Really, why are we still having wars? I don't understand....I don't like it.
So it's inspiring to read about someone who really tries hard to promote peace and stop wars and violence.
December 8, 2012
Always passionate without being preachy, Father Dear shares his own struggles with faith and staying the course for peace in a world consumed by violence. I saw him speak 10 years ago, and his is still one of the people in the world I admire most today. Definitely recommend this to anyone interested in non-violent activism.
May 5, 2013
I read this book in when it first came out. It was one of those books that, literally, jumped off the shelf for me.
It is extremely well written an inspired me beyond words. Even if one is not into the peace movement, I feel they can take many positives from it.
The basic message for me is to be passionate about life, your path, the beliefs you carry.
It is extremely well written an inspired me beyond words. Even if one is not into the peace movement, I feel they can take many positives from it.
The basic message for me is to be passionate about life, your path, the beliefs you carry.
February 18, 2015
Amazing stories of a life lived for peace and nonviolence! John Dear has been to the edge of what it means to resist the empire. Let it not be said of him that he is merely a naive idealist. His faith in nonviolence has been tested in the crucible of war zones, prison, death row, the slums, and the Pentagon itself. Fantastic.
November 18, 2008
What a truely blessed and gifted man. I found both this story about his commitment to the pursuit of peace not only in his daily life but throughout the world to be truely awe inspiring. Here is a man who daily walks his heart and his convictions to be more like the nonviolent Jesus.
September 14, 2011
This book is like an insider's history of the peace movement in the U.S. and abroad. While I do not agree with Dear's paradigm, I agree with his actions. GAndhi has many active followers and that is encouraging.
March 22, 2009
Interesting. It really makes you think about what is worth protesting for, and how one person can make a difference
December 16, 2009
The story of a Calling and considering what would Jesus or a God really do when faced with adversity, violence and poverty. (My Complete book review on Amazon)
November 4, 2010
I read this entire book in two days. Lots of messages still surfacing for me. In a world that seems so upside down to me much of the time, this is a story of hope and faith.
September 8, 2012
John Dear is a gift to our World!
December 29, 2014
I found this compelling. We need more people like him...
December 12, 2014
Challenging
December 18, 2017
A good man, an interesting story, but I deducted a star for his self-aggrandizement and exageration.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews