Conscientious Objectors and the Second World War
"Eller focuses on these COs' foundational arguments for pacifism and in particular on their views of the relation of consequences and moral rules. Although usually characterized as deontologists, these pacifists almost always invoked various theological or cosmological or anthropological convictions to undergird their conviction that 'following moral rules and achieving good ends are not competing claims, but complementary ones' and that 'following a rule of pacifism will yield good consequences' (p. 130). . . . This is a most helpful and illuminating study of pacifism, as seen by its adherents, and I strongly recommend it."--Ethics
"Eller offers a rich and accessible social history of the pacifist movement in World War II. Basing her study on a series of recently conducted oral and written interviews with sixty conscientious objectors (COs) during the war, the author attempts to establish and explore the full range of religious, philosophical, and psychological justifications of pacifist belief present in the World War II CO population. . . . [Eller] presents these varied voices with skill and sensitivity, emphasizing the immense variety and surprises to be found among the interviewees."--Religious Studies Review
"This carefully reasoned and richly detailed presentation is of value for those who are wrestling with their personal philosophy. It also is a useful record of events and people during a troubled period in the United States pacifist movement."--Friends Journal
"Eller focuses on these COs' foundational arguments for pacifism and in particular on their views of the relation of consequences and moral rules. Although usually characterized as deontologists, these pacifists almost always invoked various theological or cosmological or anthropological convictions to undergird their conviction that 'following moral rules and achieving good ends are not competing claims, but complementary ones' and that 'following a rule of pacifism will yield good consequences' (p. 130). . . . This is a most helpful and illuminating study of pacifism, as seen by its adherents, and I strongly recommend it."--Ethics
"Eller offers a rich and accessible social history of the pacifist movement in World War II. Basing her study on a series of recently conducted oral and written interviews with sixty conscientious objectors (COs) during the war, the author attempts to establish and explore the full range of religious, philosophical, and psychological justifications of pacifist belief present in the World War II CO population. . . . [Eller] presents these varied voices with skill and sensitivity, emphasizing the immense variety and surprises to be found among the interviewees."--Religious Studies Review
"This carefully reasoned and richly detailed presentation is of value for those who are wrestling with their personal philosophy. It also is a useful record of events and people during a troubled period in the United States pacifist movement."--Friends Journal
