## Summary Walter Wink had written a [series of books](https://www.goodreads.com/series/55665-powers) dedicated to the proposition that how humans dealt with power--authority--was the foundation of most of the misery in the world. That [[Our -actual- God is violence|violent thinking]] is what gets us into trouble, and that abandoning our belief in [[What is the myth of redemptive violence|the myth of redemptive violence]] and [[Our -actual- God is violence|its god]] can lead us in a path that Jesus (he was a theologian) described to create a happier [[What is your world(-view)|world]]. <hr> ## Detailed biography Walter Wink (May 21, 1935 -- May 10, 2012) was an American theologian, biblical scholar, and activist, known for his work on the interpretation of the Bible and his contributions to the development of nonviolent resistance strategies. He was an influential figure in progressive Christianity and a strong advocate for social justice. Wink argued that, no matter our personal spiritual leanings, individually and Western society as a whole actually worship _violence_. If a person's God is that place or thing we go to to find salvation from our enemies, peace, and safety, then most of us seem to trust quite strongly in violence. We want those who harm or threaten us to be locked up or eliminated. Our investment in weapons and military bases seems to confirm that. This is also shown in our entertainment, as, by some measures, over 70+% of TV and movie conflicts are resolved by either killing or beating up 'the bad guy'. And, you have to _have_ a bad guy and a good guy in the first place for that to happen. If we define soft violence and coercion as "use of shame, blame, fear, guilt, punishments, or rewards" to manipulate people into doing what we want, both forms of violence are omnipresent in our world. Coercion is the veritable water we swim in without realizing it. Our parents tell us what to do and punish us if we don't. As do our teachers. As does the state. Since that is the way things are done, many of us are unaware that there is any other way. Wink wrote his "Powers" trilogy, consisting of three books: "Naming the Powers" (1984), "Unmasking the Powers" (1986), and "Engaging the Powers" (1992) to explain the Biblical concept of "principalities and powers," the spiritual energies behind social, political, and economic structures that either support or oppress human well-being. I have often said, "If you were the devil, would you try to convince good people to do evil? Or would you construct systems within which evil becomes necessary or is even framed as good?" ## Systemic violence Marshall Rosenberg talks about how bureaucracy ("Amtssprache") and belief in authority made it easy for the atrocities of World War II. Once spiritual "powers" are allowed to enthrone themselves within a society, they will continue the work of grinding up the weak by the strong in the name of a "greater good" until total collapse is inevitable. I believe that we are on the cusp of that collapse. Wink argues that these all organizations have a spiritual dimension, and that healing and transformation of these systems is available as we engage with them in the correct spirit. Wink is also known for developing a nonviolent approach to conflict resolution that is grounded in Jesus' teachings. The third way encourages people to find creative, nonviolent solutions to conflicts, rather than resorting to violence or passive submission. Walter Wink's writings have been widely influential in progressive Christian circles and among activists working for peace and social justice.