Pacifism covers a range of views and there are many subcategories of pacifism, some of which I will cover, but the main definition of the word pacifism is opposition to war and/or violence. Perhaps the most famous use of the word pacifism is found in the “Sermon on the Mount,” where Jesus states that “peacemakers” are blessed. In this passage the Greek word eirenopoios is translated into Latin as pacifici, which means those who work for peace. A common and simple argument for pacifism among religious groups or God-fearing people is the argument that God's revealed words say, through the Bible, "Thou shalt not kill." Universal pacifists are morally against all violence, not just killing. And many universal pacifists draw their views from the Christian gospel. Immanuel Kant believed that morally correct action consisted in choosing to act in such a way that one's conduct could serve as an example for all humanity. Some universal pacifists appeal to this idea, arguing that if everyone were pacifists, the world would be a much better place. Leo Tolstoy, who in his early years was a nihilist, and later in life became a fervent Christian pacifist or anarcho-pacifist, wrote this in his book My Religion or What I Believe, which is a comprehensive explanation of his faith: “Instead of considering it natural that our entire existence is controlled by coercion; that every one of our amusements should be provided and maintained by force; that each of us from childhood to old age should be from time to time victim and executioner, instead of this I tried to imagine the results if, with precept and example, we tried to inspire in the world the conviction that revenge is a feeling unworthy of humanity; that violence is not… middle of paper… the purpose of such violence is to achieve a greater moral good. But pacifist pacifists argue that the ends do not justify the means if the means are murderous. It is a tragic mistake to believe that there are great moral goods that can only be claimed by war, and the amount of moral good achieved by war is often greatly exaggerated and inequitable. Works Cited Chatfield, Charles, Bertrand Russell, and Ralph Barton Perry. The Ethics of War: Bertrand Russell and Ralph Barton Perry on the First World War. New York: Garland Pub., 1972. Print.Fiala, Andrew, “Pacifism,” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.) Lackey, Douglas P. “Pacifism.” Contemporary moral problems. By James E. White. 9th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2009. Print.Tolstoy, Leo and Huntington Smith. "YOU." My religion. New York: T. Y. Crowell &, 1885. Print.