Monotheism, with its uncompromising nature, is often blamed for the scandal that people are killed in the name of God in many places around the world today. Religion and violence are frequently mentioned in the same breath and seem to be intertwined. Jesus proves the opposite. He lived radical nonviolence. The early church remained on his path and condemned violence. This now classic book has been revised and updated. It presents the core of Jesus' message and shows how the early church remained faithful to Jesus, even while having to live in contrast to the state. The early Christian communities were a highly vibrant counter-world that stimulated society. Gerhard Lohfink demonstrates how the focus on Jesus and the early Christians can inspire coexistence even today.