Will There Ever Be Peace on Earth?

[ChristineES]

Do some of you believe that people are innately violent? Sometimes I wonder that because of small things, such as a two-year-old throwing a tantrum (those who have children know that two-year-olds can have a pretty bad temper ). I remember school and all the fights the teachers and school staff had to break up. Every married couple I've known, even those with great marriages have the occasional argument (yelling, mostly). And even some discipline in the past was spanking a child.

 

[Awoon]

There always seems to be a war somewhere or a battle or some kind of riot. Do you think there will ever be a time when everyone on the earth lives in peace? Do you believe this question to be incredibly naive?

When people stop living for war and start living for peace.

 

[ReticentMouse]

Given what we know about human nature, I doubt anything short of God coming down himself and telling people to cool it would ever put an end to man's thirst for war and conflict.

 

[Quintessence]

Do some of you believe that people are innately violent?

I think phrasing it this way has some implications I don't agree with.

What I would say is that the human animal will innately use any and all means, abilities, or powers at its disposal to live its life as it sees fit, including but not limited to the possibility of violence. You cannot have hands for hugging that are not also hands for hitting.

 

[Penumbra]

Well, Europe was of central focus in the conflicts of World War 1 and World War 2, but now the European Union is a fairly peaceful place. There is of course still some crime, but in terms of war, their differences are a lot less. France and England have had countless wars over centuries, but now their disagreements are so much smaller and more civilized as allies. Germany works well with the rest of the European Union, and tends to have a leadership role in certain areas, especially financially. Who knows how long it will last, but I think it's a pretty unprecedented thing for so much peace, cooperation, and freedom of movement across Europe. On other continents there is still a lot of violence, especially parts of Asia and Africa.

Japan and South Korea have disagreements, but tend to be civil. Japan and the U.S. have been allies since World War 2. Japan and Korea are not exactly on friendly terms with China but the idea of a major war seems remote. In general, developed countries rarely have much war with each other these days- the idea never even really comes up. Instead it's mostly acts of aggression or over-response by developed countries towards lesser developed ones, or between lesser developed countries. I think some form of economic disintegration would have to occur before wars break out in most developed areas.

 

[Astravalon]

At the same time there are wars, there is also places of peace. But, even so, knowing that people are being killed and maimed while I am here in the quiet typing this reply can be a little disquieting, if it comes to mind. I sometimes torture myself while I am eating something while I know there are people going hungry, including small children. It's not healthy to do that, but once in a while, it does happen.

((*hugs*)) I can relate totally. Even in a fictional context, I dislike suffering, which is why I don't generally watch movies that have too much of it. And that's with knowing for certain that it's all acting! If I don't like it as a reality, why would I spend money at the box-office to sit there munching popcorn while watching people even pretend to go through it? Makes no sense.

That's probably why I find the (some call it pre-birth planning) theory somewhat comforting; it has been, for me, a refreshing alternative to the standard, rather hopeless-sounding, fare offered by the mainstream worldview to explain why apparently bad things happen.

There's something empowering about the idea that whatever's happening in my life could be happening because I, along with other key players therein, had sat down with God (and whatever celestial committee might be involved - hey why not? ) to plan it out that way, prior to coming into this world.

I think of the bible-verse where God is quoted as saying, "Before you were born, I knew you" (I doubt this is the only place the concept has been mentioned, but having been a Christian, it's the one I'm most familiar with). God knew us even before we were born, strongly suggesting that we existed prior to taking on the physical bodies, and the associated roles, we have on this earth. So during those times between births, He probably helps us script out how our life stories would play out, and we, knowing that we ourselves would be just fine in spite of everything, go off on our adventures. He didn't necessarily arbitrarily assign us these roles -- there's really no reason for me to believe that we didn't volunteer to go through whatever it is we go through.

I find it keeps despair at bay, leaving me more energy for helping out where I can, while not falling into depression where I can't. "All the world's a stage, and we are the actors". That's all there is to it, imo.

 

[ChristineES]

I think phrasing it this way has some implications I don't agree with.

What I would say is that the human animal will innately use any and all means, abilities, or powers at its disposal to live its life as it sees fit, including but not limited to the possibility of violence. You cannot have hands for hugging that are not also hands for hitting.

It might be better if I rephrased it to "Do you think people are innately prone to violence" or something similar.

 

[psychoslice]

There is a lot of peace on the earth, its when we are bombarded with the news and the media that makes the world seem bad. There are pockets of war and fighting but the majority of the world is beautiful and peaceful, if you are expecting a perfect world, then you may have to leave this planet lol.

 

[ChristineES]

There is a lot of peace on the earth, its when we are bombarded with the news and the media that makes the world seem bad. There are pockets of war and fighting but the majority of the world is beautiful and peaceful, if you are expecting a perfect world, then you may have to leave this planet lol.

Well, I don't think anyone going to expect the world to be perfect.

 

[gilligan8914]

Peace on earth=Heaven on earth.
This is what all christians fail to understand. The sermon on the mount was about peace. The sermon on the mount is the key to what Yeshua was trying to achieve. I believe that the sermon on the mount was and is what the main focus of his short life was all about. It was really bad times when he lived. The sermon on the mount was his way of achieving heaven on earth. Were all in this boat together, and we likely will perish in it together too. This was the basic message he preached.

 

[1137]

Do some of you believe that people are innately violent? Sometimes I wonder that because of small things, such as a two-year-old throwing a tantrum (those who have children know that two-year-olds can have a pretty bad temper ). I remember school and all the fights the teachers and school staff had to break up. Every married couple I've known, even those with great marriages have the occasional argument (yelling, mostly). And even some discipline in the past was spanking a child.

I think some people are innately more prone to violence. Prone to, not necessarily violent.

 

[Astravalon]

There is a lot of peace on the earth, its when we are bombarded with the news and the media that makes the world seem bad.

This is truly key, imo. It's amazing how much more peaceful the world seems when I avoid newspapers, news shows, etc.

I think about the panic resulting from the War of the Worlds story that was broadcast as a radio news bulletin back in the 30s. People thought it was real and were freaking out. I wouldn't be at all shocked to find out the media could do this deliberately, even if only very subtly, when public opinion needs to be swayed certain ways. After all, when it comes to reporting, they know that their audience isn't always going to be able to dash out of their homes to the actual scenes of the reported events to verify for themselves that what they see/hear/read in the news is indeed true. Even if something newsworthy were to happen right under my nose, there's still the chance that the event was staged for political reasons. Everything is not what it seems.

So I pretty much don't bother with the news media at all. I figure that if I truly needed to know what was happening on every square inch of the planet at once, I would have been gifted with omnipresence.

 

[psychoslice]

Well, I don't think anyone going to expect the world to be perfect.

I don't know, but I do know that there are many hoping for a perfect world after life, be it a heaven or whatever, so yes I think they would prefer this world to be perfect.

 

[ChristineES]

Peace on earth=Heaven on earth.
This is what all christians fail to understand. The sermon on the mount was about peace. The sermon on the mount is the key to what Yeshua was trying to achieve. I believe that the sermon on the mount was and is what the main focus of his short life was all about. It was really bad times when he lived. The sermon on the mount was his way of achieving heaven on earth. Were all in this boat together, and we likely will perish in it together too. This was the basic message he preached.

All Christians fail to understand??? All of them? I doubt that.

The Sermon on the Mount contained some very strong teachings and as followers of Y'shua, we are supposed to follow them. But he had other teachings as well: Peace on earth doesn't appear to be His basic message, but love is: To love God, to love our neighbors, to love and pray for our enemies and to love each other.

 

[illykitty]

I don't think well ever get 100% utopian peace, but close enough to that, would be to declare the earth common heritage - as in everyone gets resources not just the 1st world countries, have free education and so on. Many people already aspire to do this...

[youtube]4Z9WVZddH9w[/youtube]

Long movie but worth watching. First part discusses human nature vs nurture, second part is about issues in society related to our economy, third part talks about resource based economy and part four gives you a view of where we're heading and tell its up to us what happens.

Even if someone doesn't agree with it all, that's a great goal people aspire to. At least not all hope is lost if there's still this spark of light.

 

[RaXz]

Not that I expect it, but my faith in it is still there, there's still a whisper of hope even though my faith little in shambles. It's only possible if we all work at it, but usually greed seems to get the better of the world, and then you have the (social) traditions that people rather leave unchanged.

It sure is a road full with obstacles, but I like to stick to being stubborn, headstrong and keep working at it, even if I have to go about it alone and in my own way.

 

[Arkjoww]

Given the worlds history, conflict between world factions (often for religious purpose) has always happened. It often seems like it will never end and we will never achieve world peace. However, I am an optimist. I would like to think that someday we will get past this large and dark part of world history and move on to better times.

 

[Me Myself]

There always seems to be a war somewhere or a battle or some kind of riot. Do you think there will ever be a time when everyone on the earth lives in peace? Do you believe this question to be incredibly naive?

I assume you mean humans?

Well, if most of us are wipped out, and there are like, two or three humans, they will probably be too at war with the elements to fight among themselves.

Or two of em kill each other and the one thats left is left not in war with any other human.

I dont think the question is naive though, but it is a bit very general. We are gerally struggling within ourselves, it is hard that in the outside we could be at peace isuch a way, but armed conflict... Maybe they will cease and there will be a time international struggle is null (if only for five minutes worldwide? )

I dont really know.

 

[Walkntune]

There always seems to be a war somewhere or a battle or some kind of riot. Do you think there will ever be a time when everyone on the earth lives in peace? Do you believe this question to be incredibly naive?

I will say I don't think those who look for peace outside themselves will find it.

 

[ChristineES]

I will say I don't think those who look for peace outside themselves will find it.

Ain't that the truth!