Violence - Don't Be A Wage Slave

I am angry! I rail against the injustices in the world. Why don’t I act, strike you with blows, and try to incapacitate you? The reason, ultimately, is that it is pointless. All violence only begets more violence and in the end accomplishes nothing. It is only through dialogue that we move humanity forward. In every civilization, it is the written word and physical edifices that endure, not its destructive wars and killing of adversaries, though not all agree. (1)

So, where does the belief that violence resolves all come from? It is undoubtedly based on a lack of thought and the search for short-term results. Traditionally, the average person was illiterate and uneducated. He lacked critical thinking — the capacity to analyze a problem — a trade dispute, for example — and to find its solution. In a Western context, the Roman Empire brought increasing amounts of peace to the Mediterranean World. (2) Slowly, however, attention was not paid to the dealings of men, and moral corruption crept in. Christianity was the natural response to this moral collapse.

Jesus’s message of honor, equality, and immortality rang true with the Roman population. His message from The Sermon on the Mount (3) was one of non-violence and love for one’s fellow man and transcendence, of course, after death. In later times, however, The Word (4) became assailed by darker forces that threatened to overshadow this message of human harmony.

In response, St Augustine formulated the concept of the Just War. (5) This was never, nonetheless, a part of Christ’s teachings. In fact, violence is most notably absent in traditional Christianity: the belief was only in God’s love and pacifism. Organized religion, rather sadly, has refused to accept this fundamental precept of God’s message that we can only save the Earth through cooperation and through effort, not through war and killing.

We are now all tasked with conveying this message. Carl Jung has called Christ the archetype of the perfect man. (6) He was a psychiatrist and not speaking strictly from a religious stance, though he, unquestionably, was a spiritual man. The good doctor means that our subconscious moral image is embedded in the three years that Christ believed he had to empower us through the Holy Spirit (7) and preach the message of love. Violence is, thus, a fool’s game that will only wreak chaos and pain upon the Earth and its inhabitants — both human and non-human alike. Each of us is called upon to diminish its vicious thrusts.

The Dalai Lama leaves us with a thought: World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just the mere absence of violence. Peace is the manifestation of human compassion.

A closing thought: Our prisons are full. It would be ridiculous to say that we live in a peaceful world. Crime and anger are rife in society. Despite this, all actions must begin with me. I am a model of the self I want to be and present to the world. This is a difficult task, but at least we are on the path of this Jungian model.

To sum up: This week, we spoke of why violence is pointless and how to find peace in our lives.

To be noted: From a Chinese proverb — Deal with the faults of others as gently as your own.

Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYp9q3QNaQ&list=RDbsYp9q3QNaQ&start_radio=1

For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkfm_O3mWTg

This week, on your thoughtful walk, please reflect on what travel has meant to your life.

Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.

Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!

Quote: Live in a state of inner peace

Footnotes:

1) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/nov/07/can-history-teach-us-anything-about-the-future-of-war-and-peace

2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_Romana

3) https://bibleproject.com/videos/intro-to-sermon-on-the-mount/