New Testament
Jesus’ ministry, on the whole struck a peaceful note.
Sermon on the Mount …”Blessed are the peacemakers” Matthew 5:9.
Sermon on the Mount …”Love your enemies…” Mathew 5:44.
Sermon on the Mount …”If someone strikes you on the right cheek …” Matthew 5:39

When Jesus was arrested he stopped one of his disciples putting up a fight.
“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” Matthew 26:52.

One of Jesus’ disciples was Simon the Canaanean and some think this meant that he was a Zealot. Zealots were dedicated Jews who wanted to remove the Romans from Palestine by force. They would have been regarded by the Romans as terrorists. Yet there is no indication that Simon encouraged Jesus to side with the Zealots. He must therefore have been a reformed Zealot.

In the letter of 1 Peter, the author says
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9

Other arguments used by Christians against violence
1. Some Christians would claim that the commandment Exodus 20:13 “You shall not kill” applies in every circumstance including war. The commandment is absolute.
2. Others take seriously the teaching about Agape – unconditional love. There can be no circumstance in which this sort of person woud resort to violence.
3. Some Christians claim that human life is totally sacred. Each person was made in the image of God.

Quakers (Society of Friends)
All members of the Society of Friends claim to be pacifists. The movement even in its earliest years argued against the use of violence.
During the second World War many members of the Society were put in prison as conscientious objectors.
The Quaker tries to look for something of God in each person.
In the 1980s many Quakers, along with other Christians, supported CND.