"The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us." (Black Elk) (1)
Religious support for warfare, or the accommodation of religious beliefs to the exigencies of war, has been much more common in history than religiously inspired rejection of war. Even religions that have a strong strand of pacifism have at various times encouraged war:
• The tension between non-violence, on one hand, and the warrior’s duty to fight on the other is explored in the Bhagavad Gita, Hinduism’s most beloved sacred text.
• One of the most ardent champions of Buddhism was the Indian Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, famed for his conquest of much of the Indian subcontinent.
• Yahveh, the God of the Israelites who revealed his name to Moses, was Yahveh Sabaoth, the god of armies. The God of Moses was both martial and partial, siding with his chosen people in their great conflicts.
• The synthesis of spiritual and military leadership was perfected by the tenth and final Sikh guru, Gobind Singh, who is known as the ‘soldier-saint’.
• Christianity’s contribution to thinking about warfare was twofold, and in certain respects self-contradictory. The early and medieval Christian Church developed doctrines of restraint and discriminate use of force. On the other hand, the brutal and bloody crusade became the preferred means by which to spread the faith and punish non-believers.
• The prophet Muhammad was a successful military commander, and Islam was spread by the sword, including the conquest of Spain at the beginning of the 8th century.
• The Catholic reaction to the Protestant Reformation gave rise to orders such as those of the Duke of Alba to kill every Protestant in the Netherlands.
• Cromwell, Parliamentarian General in the English civil wars and then Lord Protector of the Commonwealth, was a devout Calvinist who believed profoundly in the involvement of divine providence in all that he did, both as a soldier and politician. (2)
As I reflected further on the relationship between war and religion in my own lifetime, some disturbing questions arose:
1. Why were the priests and nuns criticized so strongly in my former congregation for participating in civil rights and anti-Vietnam war protests?
2. Why do so few congregations participate in interfaith peace efforts?
3. Why are prayers around war limited in many congregations to supporting the troops? Why aren’t there more prayers for civilian or enemy casualties?
4. Where is the outrage in religious congregations over such incidents as prisoner torture in Abu Graib?
5. What forces shape support for war on a personal level?
6. Does religious wounding play a role in supporting war?
_______________________________
I identified 3 questions to ask people, in my interviews, to further my search for a better understanding of the role of religion and war:
1. Have you been wounded by religion?
2. What are some major causes of war?
3. What is religion’s role during wartime?
The following is a summary of these responses. I was particularly struck by how readily the interviewees responded to the question about religious wounding.
C: The Catholic Church’s cover-up of child abuse upsets her. She did not indicate she was a victim, but felt wounded that the clergy held themselves to a different standard of behavior. She felt strong empathy for the children’s suffering.
M: Her mother was unable to get a certificate for completing charismatic study in the Catholic Church because she did not have a marriage license. She felt wounded for her mother’s humiliation.
D: He was raised in a conservative Jewish home and teased by his Christian neighbors for being a Christ-killer. When he was 4, a neighbor woman forbade her children from playing with him. After the children played together, she came out with a switch to punish him. He hid in a garbage can. The woman pulled him out of the garbage can and spanked him. His parents took the woman to court, but could not afford a lawyer. The woman had a lawyer and the charges were dropped.
G: He feels wounded by conservative Christian groups that actively work to restrict rights for gays and lesbians.
________________________
I do not have definitive answers from this survey, yet my intuition tells me that religious wounding may play a significant role in perpetuating war.
When some people are wounded, they respond in hurt and shame by identifying with the “in” group that wounded them. Whether the “in” group are clergy, married, Christian or follow rigid gender roles, many people who feel excluded may in turn support wounding others who are “different”. Thus a fear of being perceived as “other” may have something to do with why many congregations are more comfortable supporting war against those who are considered “others”.
What is the challenge for us building bridges in interfaith? We need to recognize that many people are wounded by religion. Some are even wounded by a religion that they continue to support with their heart and soul. We need to hold compassion for our common suffering, while finding creative approaches that lead to a more peaceful society (3). This includes identifying religious core beliefs around peace.
In closing, we pray for blessings to bear witness to the wounding around us, and to find the courage to build community that recognizes our oneness with the universe and leads us to a sustained peace.
--------
NOTES
(1) Source: www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Wisdom/BlackElk.html
(2) The above material is adapted from the article "Religion and War," at www.answers.com/topic/religion-and-war.
(3) In researching the role that interfaith might play in promoting world peace, I found these two organizations particularly inspirational:
(a) The Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership, http://olivebranchinterfaith.org, focuses on non-violent action related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
(b) The Tannenbaum Center for InterReligious Understanding, www.Tanenbaum.org/Diversity, a secular, non-sectarian organization, works to support religious peacemakers who struggle in areas of armed conflict to overcome religious intolerance in workplaces and schools.
