How Did Daniel Berrigan Contribute To Religion

Peace activist John Dear wrote, “I considered him one of the most important religious figures of the last century, right alongside with Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day and his brother Philip… I consider him not just a legendary peace activist but one of the greatest saints and prophets of modern times.” Anyone compared to Gandhi and called a saint deserves recognition, and his name is Daniel Berrigan. Berrigan was one of the most famous Catholic priests of his time, but he also could be considered one of the most controversial. However, his eventful life got a lot of attention, therefore he himself is a contribution to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Through his amazing peace making skills and his ability to

He made a big difference in striving for justice, but his life also has a major impact on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. For one, he is the pinnacle for the exemplary Catholic peace making and pacifism. Berrigan lead his charge on the premise of chapter 2 verse 4 of Isaiah, which reads, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again,” (Dear). The verse applies how we must turn our swords into plowshares, meaning human desire for conflict and competition is transformed into peaceful, productive activities. More importantly, based off of the bible verse, he believed we must never turn to violence. Pacifism is a major part of the tradition, and Catholics must follow in the footsteps of Berrigan. However, like most things, too much of anything can be a problem. His life is a contribution to the tradition because of the example he set. Though, not every Catholic can live an extreme life like Berrigan. Furthermore, if every Catholic broke the law like Daniel, there would be anarchy. Catholics aware of his legacy and passion for peace can be just as affective in creating a more just world. Additionally, this is what Daniel wanted; his eccentric pacifism and peacemaking were intended to create awareness. Also, the tradition needs leaders like Berrigan to prolong from generation to the