Article – Nonviolence and Peace

War

In February 2022, Russia launched an offensive on Ukraine, resulting in a devastated country. This ongoing conflict is being likened to the atrocities committed during World War II by the Nazis.Throughout history, humanity has witnessed various forms of war and violence. These include armed conflicts, terrorism, genocide, crimes against minority groups, gender-based violence, and long-standing struggles against discrimination. However, the key to ending such wars lies in pursuing peace through agreements, resolutions, international organizations, and treaties.

Peace

Peace is a state of harmony, tranquility, and absence of violence or conflict among individuals and nations.Peace has always been a fundamental value advocated by religions such as Buddhism, Baha’i, Daoism, and Islam.An anecdote from Buddhism tells of an old man saving a scorpion from drowning, despite being stung repeatedly. He explains that it is in the nature of scorpions to sting, but it is in the nature of humans to save and uphold peace. Similarly, Jain monks walk barefoot to avoid harming any living creature, while the word “Islam” itself means submission to God and is derived from the Arabic term for peace.Ironically, many religious wars throughout history have resulted from misinterpretations of religious texts. However, when we delve into the teachings of various religions, we find common themes of peace and nonviolence. Violence contradicts the essence of love and has no place in any religion. As the Baha’i leader Abdu’l-Bahá stated, let us embrace peace as an experiment, and if its results are unfavorable, we can consider returning to the old ways of war. After centuries of darkness, it is time to move towards the light and embrace unity.