Proverbs 16, 29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good

The path of the violent is violence and leads to violence.

The sermon on the mount

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have [thy] cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Perfect as in hebrew Tsaddik

Gen 6:9 These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.

While beholding the sunset the pupil said to his teacher ”God is love.”

The teacher beheld the evening clouds and answered “yes he is, the problem is however our conception of that love.”

Pupil, “How do you mean?”

Teacher, “Well my son, look at the wound at your leg, you cleaned and dressed it and it looks to be healing.”

Pupil, “Yes it does.”

Teacher, ”Still I am telling you that a bacteria infected the wound that it is now multiplying and it will eventually make you sick to death. That same bacteria is a creation of our God of love. Do you perceive that as an act of love?”

Pupil now shocked, “I certainly do not! God forbid!”

Teacher, “that is the problem with conceiving love when it is confined to man’s conception.”

KJV Romans 2 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; [their conscience…: or, the conscience witnessing with them; the mean…: or, between themselves] 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Many Christians claim moral superiority of having the truth on their side, judging and condeming others not having accepted their truth. But what does Paul teach? Gentiles doing by nature the things contained in the law, shewing the law written on their heart and their conscience bearing witness/judging them. How is that possible?

C.S. Lewis used the argument that the existence of universal moral values reasons for the existence of a universal moral Lawgiver. This argument of the existence of an universal accepted moral standard mirroring perfection maintains that the source of the objective moral values we experience must be an ultimately perfect Being.

C. S. LEWIS (1898-1963)

C. S. Lewis used an advanced form of the moral argument for God’s existence in his work Mere Christianity.1 Lewis argued that man’s idea of right and wrong is a clue to the meaning of the universe.2 Lewis reasoned that there must exist a universal moral law for several reasons. First, all moral disagreements between persons imply an appeal to a standard of behavior to which all persons are subject.3 People accused of doing wrong usually claim that their action did not violate the universal standard, or that they somehow had a special excuse for not submitting to the standard in this particular case.4 They do not usually deny the standard itself. Second, quarreling often occurs when one person tries to prove that the action of another person is wrong. However, the fact that two people quarrel about whether or not an action was moral implies that they agree that there is such a thing as right and wrong.5 One person claims the action was right; the other person claims the action was wrong. What they agree upon is the concept of right and wrong (the moral law).67 For instance, when confronted with imminent danger, a man may desire to run for safety but instead chooses to disregard his own well-being to rescue another. Therefore, the moral law is not man’s basic instincts. Instead, it judges between these instincts to determine which instinct is to be applied in the specific situation.8

For instance, when confronted with imminent danger, a man may desire to run for safety but instead chooses to disregard his own well-being to rescue another. Therefore, the moral law is not man’s basic instincts. Instead, it judges between these instincts to determine which instinct is to be applied in the specific situation.For instance, when confronted with imminent danger, a man may desire to run for safety but instead chooses to disregard his own well-being to rescue another. Therefore, the moral law is not man’s basic instincts. Instead, it judges between these instincts to determine which instinct is to be applied in the specific situation.For instance, when confronted with imminent danger, a man may desire to run for safety but instead chooses to disregard his own well-being to rescue another. Therefore, the moral law is not man’s basic instincts. Instead, it judges between these instincts to determine which instinct is to be applied in the specific situation.For instance, when confronted with imminent danger, a man may desire to run for safety but instead chooses to disregard his own well-being to rescue another. Therefore, the moral law is not man’s basic instincts. Instead, it judges between these instincts to determine which instinct is to be applied in the specific situation.Lewis also believed that it is wrong to say that this moral law is merely a social convention.9 For not everything that man has learned from others is a social convention. Some things, like mathematics, would be true even if it was never taught.10 The moral law is like mathematics in this respect. It is real regardless of what one’s society teaches about it.11 Social progress makes no sense unless the moral law exists independent of societies.12 If the moral law is merely invented by society, then one society (America) cannot call the actions of another society (Nazi Germany) wrong.13

Lewis declared that the moral law cannot be a law of nature.14 For a law of nature is descriptive. It describes how nature is, how it usually acts. But, the moral law does not describe how nature is. The moral law is prescriptive; it prescribes how nature ought to be.15 The moral law stands above man and judges his behavior.

Lewis concluded that there exists a moral law above all men to which they are subject.16 However, matter could not be the cause of moral laws.17 Matter gives instructions to no one. Experience shows us that mind is the cause of moral laws.18 Therefore, this universal moral law that stands above all men must come from a Mind that stands above all men.19

ENDNOTES

1 C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 15-39.C. S. Lewis, , 15-39

2 Ibid., 15.

3 Ibid., 17.

4 Ibid.

5 Ibid., 17-18.

6 Ibid.

7 Ibid., 22-23.

8 Ibid., 23.

9 Ibid., 24.

10 Ibid.

11 Ibid.

12 Ibid., 24-25.

13 Ibid., 25.

14 Ibid., 27-29.

15 Ibid., 28.

16 Ibid., 31.

17 Ibid., 34.

18 Ibid.

19 Ibid.

“History is a chain of events leading to the next,
sometime we need to break that chain to prevent the next.”
H. Blum, April 2007

“Mankind must put an end to war,
or war will put an end to mankind” - John F. Kennedy

Statement Mariane Pearl, wife of killed journalist Daniel Pearl: 

“The more people like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed spread fear, the more determined I am to resist by celebrating the values of humanism and dignity,”

“The only way to fight terrorism is to exercise self-control over the natural feelings of disgust and horror that his declarations provoke.” 

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” - Mahatma Ghandi

There had always been something about Ghandi which I didn’t understood; it was the same with the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
I found this non-understanding affirmed in the contradicting acts of Christian States and Religion. I concluded that the standard was set so high that it was impossible to reach for men. How wrong was I. I learned that we can only reach this standard with the help of a pole when taking the jump in the search for Truth. This is faith by experience and makes all the difference.

Ghandi was influenced by the writting of Leo Tolstoy about the Kingdom of God and especially his book The Kingdom of God is within you. Their correspondence can also be found on the web.

The book “The Kingdom of God” concludes with:

to serve the kingdom of God, that is, to contribute to the establishment of the greatest possible union between all living beings–a union possible only in the truth; and to recognize and to profess the revealed truth, which is always in our power.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. vi. 33.).
The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity by contributing to the establishment of the kingdom of God, which can only be done by the recognition and profession of the truth by every man.
“The kingdom of God cometh not with outward show; neither shall
they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is
within you.” (Luke xvii. 20, 21.)

This book can be found here The Kingdom of God is Within You

Exerpt of concluding chapter 12 on the delusion of State and Religion on how they get their subjects sofar to kill in the name of:

278  “THE KINGDOM OF GOD
All we can know is what we who make up mankind ought to do, and not to do, to bring about the coming of the kingdom of God. And that we all know. And we need only each begin to do what we ought to do, we need only each live with all the light that is in us, to bring about at once the promised kingdom of God to which every man’s heart is yearning.

CHAPTER XII.
CONCLUSION-REPENT YE, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.
I. Chance Meeting with a Train Carrying Soldiers to Restore Order Among the Famishing Peasants-Reason of the Expedition-How the Decisions of the Higher Authorities are Enforced in Cases of Insub­ordination on Part of the Peasants -What Happened at Orel, as an Example of How the Rights of the Propertied Classes are Maintained by Murder and Torture - All the Privileges of the Wealthy are Based on Similar Acts of Violence.
2. The Elements that Made up the Force Sent to Toula, and the Con­duct of the Men Composing it -How these Men Could Carry Out such Acts-The Explanation is Not to be Found in Ignorance, Conviction, Cruelty, Heartlessness, or Want of Moral Sense - They do these Things Because they are Necessary to Support the Existing Order, which they Consider it Every Man’s Duty to Support- The Basis of this Conviction that the Existing Order is Necessary and Inevitable - ­In the Upper Classes this Conviction is Based on the Advantages of the Existing Order for Themselves - But what Forces Men of the Lower Classes to Believe in the Immutability of the Existing Order, from which they Derive no Advantage, and which they Aid in Main­taining, Facts Contrary to their Conscience ? - This is the Result of the Lower Classes being Deluded by the Upper. Both as to the Inevi­tability of the Existing Order and the Lawfulness of the Acts of Violence Needed to Maintain it-Deception in General-Special Form of Deception in Regard to Military Service - Conscription.
3. Bow can Men Allow that Murder is Permissible while they Preach Principles of Morality, and How can they Allow of the Existence in their Midst of a Military Organization of Physical Force which is a Constant Menace to Public Security? - It is only Allowed by the Upper Classes, who Profit by this Organization, Because their Privi­leges are Maintained by it -The Upper Classes Allow it, and the Lower Classes Carry it into Effect in Spite of their Consciousness of the Immorality of the Deeds of Violence, the More Readily Because Through the Arrangements of the Government the Moral Responsi­bility for such Deeds is Divided among a Great Number of Participants in it, and Everyone Throws the Responsibility on Someone Else - Moreover, the Sense of Moral Responsibility is Lost through the Delusion of Inequality, and the Consequent Intoxication of Power on the Part of Superiors, and Servility on the Part of Inferiors - The Condition of these Men, Acting against the Dictates of their Con­science, is Like that of Hypnotized Subjects Acting by Suggestion­ The Difference between this Obedience to Government Suggestion, and Obedience to Public Opinion, and to the Guidance of Men of a Higher Moral Sense - The Existing Order of Society, which is the Result of an Extinct Public Opinion and is Inconsistent with the Al­ready Existing Public Opinion of the Future, is only Maintained by the Stupefaction of the Conscience, Produced Spontaneously by Self-inter­est in the Upper Classes and Through Hypnotizing in the Lower Classes- The Conscience or the Common Sense of such Men may Awaken ,and there are Examples of its Sudden Awakening, so that one can Never be Sure of the Deeds of Violence they are Prepared for - It Depends Entirely on the Point which the Sense of the Unlawfulness of Acts of Violence has Reached, and this Sense may Spontaneously Awaken in Men, or may be Reawakened by the Influence of Men of more Conscience.
4. Everything Depends on the Strength of the Consciousness of Chris­tian Truths in Each Individual Man - The Leading Men of Modern Times, however, do not Think it Necessary to Preach or Practice the Truths of Christianity, but Regard the Modification of the External Conditions of Existence within the Limit Imposed by Governments as Sufficient to Reform the Life of Humanity - On this Scientific Theory of Hypocrisy, which has Replaced the Hypocrisy of Religion, Men of the Wealthy Classes Base their Justification of their Position - Through this Hypocrisy they can Enjoy the Exclusive Privileges of their Posi­tion by Force and Fraud, and Still Pretend to be Christians to One Another and be Easy in their Minds - This Hypocrisy Allows Men who Preach Christianity to Take Part in Institutions Based on Vio­lence - No External Reformation of Life will Render it Less Miser­able - Its Misery the Result of Disunion Caused by Following Lies, not the Truth - Union only Possible in Truth - Hypocrisy Hinders this Union, since Hypocrites Conceal from themselves and Others the Truth they Know - Hypocrisy Turns all Reforms of Life to Evil ­Hypocrisy Distorts the Idea of Good and Evil, and 50 Stands in the Way of the Progress of Men toward Perfection - Undisguised Crimi­nals and Malefactors do Less Harm than those who Live by Legalized Violence, Disguised by Hypocrisy - All Men Feel the Iniquity of our Life, and would Long Ago have Transformed it if it had not been Dis­simulated by Hypocrisy - But Seem to have Reached the Extreme Limits of Hypocrisy, and we Need only Make an Effort of Conscience to Awaken as from a Nightmare to a Different Reality.
5. Can Man Make this Effort? - According to the Hypocritical Theory of the Day, Man is not Free to Transform his Life - Man is not Free in his Actions, but he is Free to Admit or to Deny the Truth he Knows - When Truth is Once Admitted, it Becomes the Basis of Action - Man’s Threefold Relation to Truth - The Reason of the Ap­parent Insolubility of the Problem of Free Will - Man’s Freedom Con­sists in the Recognition of the Truth Revealer to him. There is no Other Freedom - Recognition of Truth Gives Freedom, and Shows the Path Along which, Willingly or Unwillingly by Mankind, Man Must Advance - The Recognition of Truth and Real Freedom Enables Man to Share in the Work of God, not as the Slave, but as the Creator of Life - Men Need only Make the Effort to Renounce all Thought of Bettering the External Conditions of Life and Bend all their Efforts to Recognizing and Preaching the Truth they Know, to put an End to the Existing Miserable State of Things, and to Enter upon the Kingdom of God

Taken from the document Silo Speaks by humanist Silo:

These, then, are the great enemies of humanity: fear of sickness, fear of poverty, fear of death, fear of loneliness. All these forms of suffering pertain to your mind, and all of them reveal your inner violence, the violence that is in your mind. Notice how that violence always stems from desire. The more violent a person is, the more gross that persons desires.

I would like to tell you a story that took place long ago.
There was once a traveler who had to undertake a long journey. He yoked his animal to a cart and began the journey to his faraway destination, a journey he had to complete within a certain length of time. He called the animal Necessity and the cart Desire; one wheel of the cart he called Pleasure, and the other he called Pain. Our traveler turned his cart sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left, yet he never ceased moving toward his destiny. The faster the cart traveled, the faster turned the wheels of Pleasure and Pain, carrying as they did the cart of Desire and connected as they were by the same axle. But the journey was very long, and after a time our traveler grew bored. So he decided to decorate his cart, and he began to adorn it with all manner of beautiful things. But the more he embellished the cart of Desire with these ornaments, the heavier became the load for Necessity to pull. On the curves and steep hills of the road, the poor animal grew too exhausted to pull the cart of Desire. And where the road was soft, the wheels of Pleasure and Suffering became mired in the earth.

One day, because the road was long and he was still very far from his destination, our traveler grew desperate. That night he decided to meditate on the problem, and in the midst of his meditation he heard the neighing of his old friend, Necessity. Comprehending the message, he arose very early the next morning and began to lighten the cart of its burden, stripping it of all its fine adornments. Then he set off once more toward his destination, with the animal Necessity pulling the cart at a brisk trot. Still, our traveler had already lost much time, time that was now irrecoverable. The next night he sat down again to meditate, and he realized, thanks to another message from his old friend, that now he had to undertake a task that was doubly difficult because it involved his letting go. At daybreak he sacrificed the cart of Desire. It is true that when he did so he lost the wheel of Pleasure, but then he also lost the wheel of Suffering. And so, abandoning the cart of Desire, he mounted the animal called Necessity and galloped on its back across the green fields until he reached his destiny.

See how desire can trap you. But notice that there are desires of different qualities. There are cruder desires, and there are more elevated desires. Elevate desire, purify desire, surpass desire! In doing so, surely you will have to sacrifice the wheel of Pleasure, but you will also become free of the wheel of Suffering.