[510] World Scripture - The Futility of War - 2.The Immorality and Futility

[대태양/김현수]

Part Four - Family and Society

Chapter 22 - Peace

5) The Futility of War

2. The Immorality and Futility of Aggressive War

World Scripture

In wars to gain land, the dead fill the plains; in wars to gain cities, the dead fill the cities. This is known as showing the land the way to devour human flesh. Death is too light a punishment for such men who wage war. Hence those skilled in war should suffer the most severe punishments.

Mencius IV.A.14 (Confucianism)

Fine weapons are instruments of evil.
They are hated by men.
Therefore those who possess Tao turn away from them…
Weapons are instruments of evil, not the
instruments of a good ruler.
When he uses them unavoidably,

he regards calm restraint as the best principle.
Even when he is victorious,

he does not regard it as praiseworthy,
For to praise victory is to delight in the
slaughter of men.
He who delights in the slaughter of men will
not succeed in the empire…
For the slaughter of the multitude, let us weep
with sorrow and grief.

For a victory, let us observe the occasion with
funeral ceremonies.
Tao Te Ching 31 (Taoism)

If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12.18-21

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
For the wicked shall be cut off;
but those who wait for the Lord shall possess the land.
Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look well at his place, he will not be there.
But the meek shall possess the land,
and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. 

The wicked plots against the righteous,
and gnashes his teeth at him;
but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.
The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows,
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those who walk uprightly;
their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
Psalm 37.8-15

Imam ‘Ali found a letter in the scabbard of the Messenger of God’s sword on which was written, “The worst of people in the sight of God is the killer of one who does not fight him, and he who beats one who does not beat him…for he has committed the crime of kufr (disbelief)

in what God has sent down upon Muhammad. Hadith (Shiite Islam) Do not fight the people until they initiate fighting, for then by the grace of God you will have justification, and leaving them alone until they initiate fighting is yet another justification. Then if you defeat them, do not kill the one who is fleeing, and do not finish off the wounded or expose nakedness or mutilate the dead.

Amir-ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali, Da’aim al-Islam (Islam)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

Think of how much money the world is wasting on war. Humanity needs to realize that we are committing fearful sins in the presence of history and our descendants. Let us take one example. How much money has the United States spent on the war in Iraq during the past three years? It is approaching $200 billion…

In this age, war is a most primitive and destructive means of resolving conflict, and will never lead to lasting peace. Now is the time, as the prophet Isaiah taught, to beat our swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks. Humankind should end the perverse cycle of war, which only sacrifices our children’s lives and squanders astronomical sums of money. The time has come for the countries of the world to pool their resources15 and advance toward the world of peace desired by God, the Master of this great universe.

(September 21, 2005)

God will not forgive a nation if it utilizes only for its own benefit the scientific technology it was given as a means to bring peace for all humankind. God granted science and technology to humanity for the happiness of all. It should not be monopolized only for the white race. Nor should it be used to create weapons, disregarding the realization of world peace.

(190:178, June 19, 1986)

In a war, how do you distinguish between the good side and the evil side? The evil side strikes while the other side is at ease. That is why when two students are fighting, the teacher asks them, “Who started it?” and takes the side of the student who was attacked. The student who attacks first always loses, because the teacher takes the side of the one who was attacked. Likewise, throughout history, God takes the side of the defender.

Why is it wrong to attack first? Originally, goodness should have taken the lead in the universe, but instead evil took the initiative. At the Human Fall, Adam and Eve were struck when they were doing nothing wrong. God was attacked when He was doing nothing wrong. Thus, a characteristic of evil is aggression. When an attacker inflicts harm, he should pay for the violation. The person whom he attacked may request compensation for damages.

God knows this principle. Do you think He initiates wars? No, God’s strategy is to be the defender, not the aggressor. Likewise, people on God’s side receive blows; they do not attack. They are not aggressors because God is not an aggressor, and they strive to follow God’s example. God’s people take the beating and endure, never giving up. Then they have the right to seek for compensation.

Satan is the king of aggressors. He is the father of all aggressors and evil people. God is the king of defenseless people who take beatings. The more a person is beaten, the more he can shorten the length of the indemnity period according to the principle of restoration through indemnity. 

We can recognize this pattern throughout history: Satan attacks first and loses, while God is attacked but gains in the end. Look at the example of World War I: Germany started that war, but they lost. The Germans thought they could win the war; otherwise they would not have started it. Satan always thinks he can win; that is why his forces start wars. But no one can win by violating heavenly law. Look at World War II: Germany and Japan started the war, but they lost. God, the Supreme Judge, admonished the aggressors, “You are in the wrong.”

(91:243-44, February 23, 1977)