Is Peace Relative?



Peace is quietness, it is calm; it is related to love and prosperity; it lacks war yet it disguises turmoil.

An individual may display the appearance of being peaceful, serene. However our gut keeps telling us that there’s something off with that person…as if we were before a wolf disguised as a lamb. Psychopaths many times exude peace yet they may violently scythe our lives.

The members of a family may find its home to be peaceful because silence reigns; because the children play quietly; because quarrels dwell not there; because voices are never raised; because everything is so still…so dead. Apparent peace may mask oppression, lack of interest, estrangement, abuse, fear.

A country may consider itself to be in peace because it is not at war with any other nation; because famine does not abound; because destruction is not blatant; because infrastructures are intact, because everywhere its citizens look everything is apparently quiet. However, this illusive peace conceals sub-wars: racism, domestic violence, serial killing, serial abortions; drug and human trafficking, urban hunger; AIDS, Cancer; corruption; assassination of political opponents etc...

We need to stop regurgitating the word peace: if true inner peace (that can only occur upon full knowledge and acceptance of whom we are) and peace within one’s family (despite the differences amongst its members) is not reached how can we believe that peace exists in society? Politicians need to stop juggling the word peace: if governments and lawmakers cannot combat sub-wars how can they expect to generate real peace with other countries?

Peace, on earth, seems relative...


Image: Paradise and Hell by Bosch

Comments

  1. Amen to that! Conflict and dysfunction have so many dimensions that it is silly to declare peace when the most visible are gone.

    Augustine made some similar comments on this in The City Of God. It started from that theme, but basically argued that peace on Earth - even for the enlightened philosopher - was a foolish hope.

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  2. Max, wow, how do you know so much about peace, lol. You dissected every corner of the peace, and now I have nothing to add, lol. Girl you speak truth! Anna :)

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    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi! Removing the barriers to peace and social justice is a hard fought war as long as there are individuals with hate, greed and indifference in their hearts and minds.

    As for politicians, more than one has claimed, “Peace in their time”, only to end up with egg on his face due to ignorance or innocence and, undeserved trust in their corrupted counterparts.

    Will there ever come a time when we have true and everlasting peace and social justice for all? Humans being humans, probably not.

    Take Care,
    Peter

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  5. I’mmmm backkkk….

    So this is what you have been up to…can’t let you out of my sight! ;)

    Very interesting and eloquently presented article…

    Is peace relative?

    Peace is an interesting word that is loaded with a plethora of dynamic nuances for individuals and communities…

    It is of particular energetic application when juxtapositioned with war…

    Most of us want peace but we error to think everybody wants peace, there are evil people out there who want a piece of everything…

    Is it war if a nation state responds to defend itself or is that simply self defense…so the aggressor is actually the war maker? What does this mean when we turn to apply this to peace?

    Is peace on earth relative? I can certainly understand why one would think so but I suggest there is an absolute Peace available even here on earth…here it is:

    His disciples said, "Finally! You're giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won't have to put up with our questions anymore. We're convinced you came from God."

    Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."
    - - John 16:29-88 (The Message)

    Trusting in Jesus provides deep peace…indeed He is the only way to have true peace with God…absolutely…

    By the way what do you think of this work by Bosch?

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  6. Unfortunately, you are right, peace on earth is a very relative concept and I doubt it can be achieved. Yet, improvements could be made... peace is one high goal, working towards it is admirable.

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  7. There is always something disturbing peace therefore you're your own peace!

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  8. Hey Looney :D!

    "Amen to that! Conflict and dysfunction have so many dimensions that it is silly to declare peace when the most visible are gone."

    Indeed...

    "Augustine made some similar comments on this in The City Of God. It started from that theme, but basically argued that peace on Earth - even for the enlightened philosopher - was a foolish hope."

    I haven't read the City of God yet (but I will). I find myself agreeing with Augustine more and more *nodding*.

    Looney, thank you so much for this amazing comment :D.

    Cheers

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  9. Hey Anonymous!

    I appreciate immensely your visit here; and thanks for taking the time to browse my posts; but in the absence of something better to comment I would be much obliged if you wouldn't impose advertisement on my guests *bowing*.

    Cheers

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  10. Hi Anna :D!

    "Max, wow, how do you know so much about peace, lol. You dissected every corner of the peace, and now I have nothing to add, lol. Girl you speak truth!"

    lol girl *high 5*! You are too generous, thank you *bowing*!

    Anna, my girl, thanks a lot for your kindness :D.

    Cheers

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  11. Hello David :D!

    Welcome to the MAX!

    Thanks for having added my blog to your list - I don't see how I could've deserved such token of generosity.

    I will drop by your place and see what's all about: thanks for the invitation :).

    David, thanks for having dropped by :D.

    Cheers

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  12. Hi Peter :D!

    "Removing the barriers to peace and social justice is a hard fought war as long as there are individuals with hate, greed and indifference in their hearts and minds."

    Agreed.

    "As for politicians, more than one has claimed, “Peace in their time”, only to end up with egg on his face due to ignorance or innocence and, undeserved trust in their corrupted counterparts."

    Hear! Hear! Unfortunately this is so so so true...

    "Will there ever come a time when we have true and everlasting peace and social justice for all? Humans being humans, probably not."

    *nodding in agreement*....

    Peter, thanks a million for your input :D!

    Cheers

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  13. Hiiii LS! :D

    "I’mmmm backkkk…."

    He is backkkkkkk!

    "So this is what you have been up to…can’t let you out of my sight! ;)"

    LOL LOL this time I am inclined to agree with you LOL LOL ;)....

    "Very interesting and eloquently presented article…"

    Why, thank you *bowing*.

    "Most of us want peace but we error to think everybody wants peace, there are evil people out there who want a piece of everything…"

    I agree with you.

    "Is it war if a nation state responds to defend itself or is that simply self defense…so the aggressor is actually the war maker? What does this mean when we turn to apply this to peace?"

    I would say it is self-defence depending on the circumstances (who attacked first etc). In order to get peace wars must be fought; but then this peace is not absolute, it is only apparent; since humans will still have to fight the sub-wars.

    "Trusting in Jesus provides deep peace…indeed He is the only way to have true peace with God…absolutely…"

    It may provide peace to oneself; but not to everybody. I'd go even farther: within the Christian world, many find peace within by trusting Jesus, but not all of them do; thus peace is relative.
    Many trust Jesus, follow him, think that serve him and God (others trust God only, Buddha, Shiva etc) but then are racists, homophobics, practice violence upon women and children, fight diseases, traffic drugs, murder people etc...as long as these sub-wars are being fought peace, on earth, is never really attainable. Ask Jesus...

    "By the way what do you think of this work by Bosch?"

    Well, it is rather interesting how people are naked in both paradise and hell (suggesting either that in both stages people have nothing to hide [even if they wanted to] or that the earth hell, it is a corrupted version of paradise...[and here I could say so many things]).

    LS, marvellous comment for which I thank you :D!

    Cheers

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  14. Hi Zhu :D!

    "Unfortunately, you are right, peace on earth is a very relative concept and I doubt it can be achieved."

    You doubt it, I doubt it...

    "Yet, improvements could be made... peace is one high goal, working towards it is admirable."

    I agree with you.

    Zhu, superb comment: thank you so much :D!

    Cheers

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  15. Hey Dux :D!

    "There is always something disturbing peace therefore you're your own peace!"

    Beautiful!! :D

    Man, thank you so much for this gorgeous comment :D!

    Cheers

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  16. Peace for us is that moment when the mind, spirit and body are in perfect synch.
    Is it attainable? sometimes one gets it during the sleep but most of the times it is quite an impossible mission!

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  17. hink that serve him and God (others trust God only, Buddha, Shiva etc) but then are racists, homophobics, practice violence upon women and children, fight diseases, traffic drugs

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  18. Hi C.C :D!

    "Peace for us is that moment when the mind, spirit and body are in perfect synch."

    *nodding in agreement* this is beautiful, yes.

    "Is it attainable? sometimes one gets it during the sleep but most of the times it is quite an impossible mission!"

    LOL LOL that was a good one!

    Ah, C.C, thank you so much for your input :D!

    Cheers

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  19. Hey Gucci :D!

    Welcome to the MAX!

    Somehow I recognise these words...oh my, you quoted me!

    Thanks for having dropped by.

    Cheers

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  20. Sir Bliss

    Peace is truely relative because we cannot achieve absolute peace even when we think that the environment we find ourselves is peaceful, we still undergo intra-personal conflict and this equally keep us in constant duress and panic with this our lives will never experience absolute peace.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous :D!

      Deep thoughts, for which I thank you. And obviously, I concur with them.

      Thank you so much for your comment and please feel free to come back to us :D.

      Cheers

      Delete

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