This is not intended as a "let's make love and not war thread". Although personally, I would make love 100 out of 100 times over going to war.
Disputes, disagreements, conflicts and wars happen. They can happen for a myriad of reasons and in a myriad of ways. Some begin to defend oneself/nation, for protection, etc - and they could be justified.
Other times, they are the result of archaic thinking - wanting power and dominion over a region or country for political, religious or influential reasons and using the same method warring people used 5,000+ years ago when conquering others. (By war and destruction instead of diplomacy).
Unfortunately, for some nations, it is necessary because it is what they know and understand because that is all they have seen, known or understood for over 3,000 years.
They believe that justice can only be achieved by the sword. And maybe that has seemed true in past history. But for every person or nation that has been justified by the sword - how many people or nations suffered for that justice to be served?
Almost all religions have a foundational "Golden Rule" that states, "Treat others the way you wish to be treated". So if you live by the sword, expect justice to present itself as an "Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth". And on a macro level, that could be justified - but do not be surprised if one day the sword comes to you - justified or not.
Somehow - from a simple truth of the Golden Rule - evolved tens of thousands of words, texts, philosophies, religions, faiths, cults, belief systems, politics, cultures, rituals etc etc
And that's ok. It is part of the beauty of who we are.
That said - the further it evolves from that simple truth - the further it becomes something specific groups of people use to fit whatever their agenda may be.
Many view passages of the Old Testament as a way to justify war - I view and understand the same passages as a warning on how to prevent war.
This all said - we are entering an era that wars may not only be fought with missiles, tanks, etc but through cyber space, digital media, influence though propaganda, misinformation, sanctions, embargos, politics, terrorism and so forth.
The advent of AI makes this stage of our civilization more critical than any other stage in our known history.
AI - like many religions - in the most extreme circumstances - can lead to a golden age or it can lead to the end of the world as we know it.
If we can not COEXIST with the various religions, nations and cultures within us how do we expect to COEXIST with something that could likely have more intelligence and technological capabilities than all humankind combined, within a decade?
AI can be programmed and influenced to learn and understand and follow through with the way certain nations, cultures etc would like it to - similar to how certain people use religion for their own agendas - except AI could do it on a much broader level, faster and even more extreme. Is the current state of the world capable of handling that?
Will AI turn into various "AI sects" - certain nations, people etc following/supporting one AI over another?
That could happen - and if it does, will people even understand the world they are living in?
If we are not willing to understand others who are different that us, how do we expect to understand what is to come?
This does not mean someone needs to like or even agree with what they learn - they just need to respect it so that people who are different than themselves will respect them.
The United States has been known as "The Great Experiment" - a nation started from a rebellion against tyranny - built and founded by enlightened individuals for the pursuit of happiness through freedom and individual rights vs living a life determined by when you were born, who you were born to, the country you were born in and the various and volatile political climate, dogmatic religious/philosophical principles of the time, etc.
Although the United States began to separate itself philosophically, politically and through new ideas, free thinking principles dedicated for the advancement of mankind - it still held on to many ways of the Old World - the worst being the slave trade.
The Northern States eradicated and outlawed most slavery within decades of the foundation of the country. The Southern States - who relied on it for its economy could not do the same without suffering harsh economic results. So the initial dispute that could have ended the country began.
And eventually - it led to war - The American Civil War - the deadliest and costliest war in the history of the United States. The North won the war and the slave trade came to an end. But nonetheless, prejudice, racism bias persisted on a broad level. And a lot of it stemmed from the Southern States being forced to end the slave trade by the use of the sword (war).
Not that it is correct in thinking but imagine yourself as a southern state farm owner who was not only forced to let go of his entire workforce but also lost dozens of family members and friends in the war. And now that same farm owner had to respect the person they unwillingly lost everything for. If a person in that situation wasn't already overly racist - they would have been after the war. This empowered the rise of groups like the KKK as a way to protect the Southern Man from "Northern Tyranny" and to protect the rights the Southern Man was already granted through the constitution but was violently infringed upon by the war and the events there after (In their thinking).
The Northern States disregarded any pleas from the South (Mostly justified) but unfortunately - it led to an internal "cold war" over the rights of former slaves - the Black American. It took close to 100 years before black Americans were given the same rights as white Americans.
That said - the founding principles of this country prevailed over the worst times of this country,
In the end - it was not the sword but the word that allowed this country to persist.
It is never too late to understand that something that is led by the sword usually will die by the sword unless they are willing to COEXIST - and let the WORD prevail so that the world may continue to live in an era where living by the sword may no longer be a benefit to many.
Wars, conflicts, disagreements, etc will continue to exist. It is part of human nature, the natural world and on a broader scale, even the Universe can seem violent - whether you believe the events of the Bible or Science (The Big Bang).
It is how we handle these situations going forward that will dictate our outcome or "judgement".
It starts with each individual person. I certainly do not condone everyone becoming hippies overnight and preaching peace and love. That is as bad or more dangerous than going from an era of "war" to an era of "respectful coexistence"
Why? Because it opens up and allows the people unwilling to follow the same "peaceful" path an opportunity to persecute, oppress and take advantage of said group of people.
Now - more than ever - what was written holds true:
Matthew 10:16:
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as cunning as serpents and yet as innocent as doves."
In order to COEXIST your thoughts come first. As a conservative Christian when you see someone dressed in all black, with their faces covered wearing Islamic head gear - although your first thought may come as "Ugh - a radical Muslim who hates our country" - begin to think that the person underneath that head dress isn't necessarily a family member or friend but a well respected associate. And go on your way. Continue to do so.
And if one day, someone gives you a reason to no longer feel that way - deal with it in isolation as needed. And judge that person the way they deserve to be judged. Let justice be served. And then let it go by thinking about the other 100 times nothing of the sort happened.
The same goes for those ascribing to Islam - more specifically, the more conservative/extreme sects. Do not condone fellow Muslims that preach hatred and destruction of Western values as justified because they are "Infidels". Even if everything they preach and believe is correct in their opinion (it is not - in my humble opinion) where has it gotten you to this point? Are you not tired of 3000 years of conflict and war among your Holy Lands? How many more people must suffer and die because you do not follow the foundational principles and teachings of your very own Prophet?- instead you follow the ways of those who take 1000 words of war from a book containing 100,000 words of love and justice BUT use the 1000 words of war instead of the 100,000 words of love and justice. Does that make sense to you?
To the Jewish People of the world - The Israelites -The Chosen People of God - this holds more true to you than most. The trials, tribulations, suffering, redemptions, - winning freedom from oppression - losing it all - becoming subjects of mass genocide - but eventually regaining everything and potentially more - are the most documented stories among any people in our known history. Your very nature is to be strong-willed and headstrong - and that does not come from me but from your God, the God of Jacob who named him ISRAEL (One who wrestles with God). You know who and what God is. He is a God of Justice - to be respected and honored. When you stray, his grace strays. When you return, his grace returns - as it has been witnessed by the Prophets for over 3000 years!
Now - more than any time in recent history - you have the opportunity to lead by example. Wars and conflicts will happen - but is there a need to scorch the Earth of your adversary? They already despise everything you and your people stand for - you are their Adversary. When you kill their parents and their children survive knowing that you killed their parents and destroyed their country - you will not only be their adversary but you will become Satan in the flesh to them. They will live their entire lives bearing the cross of the loss of their parents and country but knowing that the one who did it is alive and dictates their livelihood. And you wonder how people become radicalized?
You know better. Peace within yourselves, your country and within the countries around you can happen - if you are willing to come back to your God. The Holy One of Israel and God of Abraham.
The Prophet Isaiah wrote:
Cease to do evil and learn to do good.
Pursue justice and rescue the oppressed; listen to the plea of the orphan and defend the widow.
Come now and let us discuss this, says the Lord.
Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be like snow.
Though they are as red as crimson,
they shall become as white as wool.
If you are willing to obey,
you will eat the best food
that the land has to offer.
However, if you refuse and rebel,
the sword will devour you,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
You know what to do - just do it.
To the people of all nations and territories - Palestine - Iran - Russia - China - Japan - Ukraine - Europe - South America - Australia - The South Pacific -
All the nations within Africa and Asia
This is Your World. This is our world. This is the world in which we live. We can live as brothers and sisters or we can live as strangers. Both can and will work as long as we are willing to respect one another the way we wish to be respected.
There will come a time when all will be revealed. It can come in Glory as a new age where the trials of Mankind persist but are overcome through the Word - or it can come like a Son of Man among the clouds - returning not to redeem but to condemn the ones who were once redeemed.
Strive to be headstrong in virtue - to respect one another and if conflict arises - deal with it as it needs to be dealt with - do not stand down - but once it ends - learn from it so that the same conflict will not arise again.
These words are not new. They have been preached by the Prophets of various religions for thousands of years. Now is time to open up your minds, your hearts and your Spirits - Do Good and Be Good.
