1) The problem with this question is there are different interpretations of Christianity. Some people believe Christianity is not a pacifist religion because, as you commented, the Old Testament is not very pacifist/non-violent. My personal opinion is that as a Christian we should follow what Jesus taught first and foremost and I believe he taught people to be a non-violent, loving people, not people anxious to go to war.
I think when people who aren't Christians or people who aren't Pacifists use examples from the Old Testament in order to try and "prove" their point, Its stupid because the very nature of God does not allow for Him to be evil, because He is omnibenevolent. And everything God does is just because God's ways are higher then our ways, and God's thoughts are higher then our thoughts.
2) No, when you look at it from an outside perspective pacifism really isn't practical. But that's why I'm a Christian before I'm a pacifist, it's my faith in God and the desire to live the way Jesus taught me to that leads me to throw caution to the wind. Yes, there are times where Christian pacifism/non-violence may just be a shortcut to death, but I'd rather die in my insistence to not hurt anyone else than to live knowing I had caused someone else harm.
I don't necessarily agree. I think Pacifism is practical in that we can come together and resolve issues using peace.
3) Yes, the whole point is to solve everything with peaceful, non-violent means. This doesn't mean we can't step in, but that also doesn't mean we have to choose between not doing anything and violently defending someone. There's a pretty big spectrum of how people can solve problems, we're just usually too narrow-sighted to find better ways of doing so.
I agree. We can most definitely use other ways to solve our issues.
4) As idealistic, utopian and unrealistic is genuinely believing "thy kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven" is a call for us to live here and now like we expect to in heaven. Do we believe we will have war and violence in Heaven as we defend our corner of glory from "those other people"?
Well said.
5) Yes, I do. Turning the tables in the temple was not an act of violence against anyone. Not arguing his case when he should have legitimately been freed is an act of pacifism/non-violence. Telling his friend not to attack his attacker is pacifism/non-violence. Just look at the teachings in the sermon on the mount: turn the other cheek, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
I couldn't honestly agree with you more. Jesus Christ is not definitely a Pacifist. I honestly don't know how someone would be able to say anything otherwise.
6) I think the definition of communism is as much up for debate as the definition of Christianity. I consider myself a borderline communist, but the reason I shy from it a little is because I don't believe most people's definition of one (think Stalin/Lenin) is a communism that has room for pacifism. If the people are to overthrow the government and institute a vanguard party, violence is inherent. As far as communism in the sense of people coming together and sharing what they have (think Acts 4:32-37) then I think they are compatible, but a lot of people would probably say that's not really communism.
What's a borderline Communist?
7) I call myself a pacifist because I grew up in an area with a lot of different races. I wasn't "privileged" enough to come to a belief that my race/nation was superior and that it was worth fighting for or defending... especially not when I saw how Jesus treated people. Even those his culture taught him should be hated, he loved. He went against the establishment of the day and did things that were for the benefit of all of those around him, even if it meant dying for doing so. I just can't find a legitimate reason for violence against anyone at any time.
This truly was a very beautiful thing to say!