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One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated - Jainism .... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you - Christianity .... None of you truly believes until you want for others what you want for yourself - Islam .... Treat not others in ways you yourself would find hurtful - Buddhism .... What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbour - Judaism ....
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The Myth of Redemptive Violence

November 25, 2007

     The myth of redemptive violence defends the belief that violence saves, that war brings peace.  It is one of the oldest stories in the world.
     It misappropriates the language, symbols and scriptures of Christianity.
     Its God is the tribal God worshipped as an idol.
     Its offer is not forgiveness but victory
     Its good news is not unconditional love of enemies but their elimination.
     Its salvation is not a new heart but a successful foreign policy.
     It is blasphemous. It is idolatrous.  And it is immensely popular. - Dr. Walter Wink, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City.

 How often do we justify violence with the claim that we are "fighting for peace"? And yet, how do we address the plight of those who are the victims of violence if we are not willing to oppose the perpetrators, sometimes with equal, or even superior, violence?

 The Golden Rule does not call us to be violent, but it does not allow us to be pacifists in the face of oppression. Rather, we are called to examine the needs and motivations of all of those we would interact with and to find the alternate solution, the path that negates the cause of violence and removes the source of its power.

 We cannot do that by becoming ourselves the source of the thing we would oppose.

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