Newspaper - Thoughts for Sunday PN 2021

13/03/21 16:40

Peine has two newspapers, PAZ and PN. One is for those looking west towards Hanover (PAZ) and the other is for those looking east towards Brunswick (PN). In January I wrote and article for PAZ and in March for PN.

A Word for Sunday
Randall Smelser, Peine-Stederdorf

The Longing for Peace

In front of the UN Headquarters in New York City stands a sculpture from Jewgeni Wutchetitsch. The man in the sculpture is beating his sword and making a plowshare out of it. This symbol from “from Swords into Plowshares“ was also used by the East German Peace Movement and later also in the West Germany. We hear this phrase in many hymns, Spirituals and even Michael Jackson. The phrase comes originally from the Bible – the prophets Micha and Isaiah used it. “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Is.2:4 NIV).
This thought is so beautiful and in theory, a wish from the entire world. But there is a catch. This Bible text is used as human ideology from both atheists and believers although many atheists try to blame believers for all wars. Richard Dawkins maintains that without the „virus of Religion“ there would be no great world wide violence. Apparently he has not read a world history for the 20th Century. Violence is not a problem of religion, but of humans. Humans without religion – Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao – killed millions. Even though the wish remains that the UN, a human organization, can stop war or can create peace. In theory the UN is wonderful but practically is hugely lacking.
The problem is that the beginning of Isaiah 2:4 is always left out: “He (God) will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.” Without God, and I do not mean „religion,“ this wish for peace is impossible. Without God as Judge there is no standard, no rules for the entire mankind. Peace consequentially starts where God is admitted. Peace has to start in your heart.