The 10 Commandments of Peacemaking
Dr. Andrew Wilson
(Author of World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts)
Conference during the Middle East Peace Initiative;
December 21, 2003;
This conference of the Interreligious and International Federation
for World Peace is taking place in the
Nevertheless, from the democratic institutions of the State of Israel to
the diplomatic efforts of the UN, the pursuit of peace remains within the
canons of secular policies. Religious passions have been regarded as a nuisance
at best, and at worst as obstacles to be overcome. Today, we know this
assumption to be incorrect. Religious passions cannot be vouchsafed, and
dealing with religions is now recognized as a crucial piece to peacemaking.
As Hans Küng and many others have noted, harmony among religions is a
necessary prerequisite to world peace. Enlightened religious leadership is
needed to guide believers into tolerant and open-minded attitudes towards
people of other faiths. In this spirit as well, Rev. Moon is calling for the
clergy of every religion to recover their founders' spirit of love and
compassion for all humanity.
Every religion has its own unique rituals and doctrines. Dwelling on
them tends to divide people. Nevertheless, there is a universal ethic in all
religions, which elevates human relationships and promotes genuine love. The
first revelation of this universal ethic was the Ten Commandments, which God
gave to Moses as the basis of the first monotheistic religion. Today monotheism
has spread all over the world among all the children of Abraham, and the
precepts revealed to Moses are recognized everywhere as truth. Couldn’t the Ten
Commandments also become a foundation for peace among all the Abrahamic faiths?
In this light, I will delineate "Ten Commandments of
Peacemaking." Based upon the truth of the original Ten Commandments, these
commandments can be of utmost relevance to the present-day situation, and especially
applicable to making peace among the children of Abraham. They are recommended
to all leaders and all believers in the one God.
- Believe in God as the Parent of all human beings
"I am the Lord your God… You
shall have no other Gods before Me." There is
only one God. He is the Creator of all human beings. He is the Guide to all
humankind, the Source of the revelations of all religion. The commandment,
"Believe in God as the Parent of all human beings," begins from the
unity, authority and omnipresence of God to define the basic outlook of every
human being towards his neighbor, whatever his religion, race and nationality.
First, every human being is a
child of God. Every human being is therefore worthy of respect. There is no
justification in God’s sight for discrimination on the basis of race, religion,
nationality, class, wealth or social status. When we see the image of God in
our enemy, we can no longer regard him as an enemy, as Martin Luther King
taught:
When we look beneath the surface,
beneath the impulsive evil deed, we see within our enemy-neighbor a measure of
goodness and know that the viciousness and evilness of his acts are not quite
representative of all that he is. We see him in a new light. We recognize that
his hate grows out of fear, pride, ignorance, prejudice, and misunderstanding,
but in spite of this, we know God’s image is ineffably etched in his being.
Second, the method by which God,
the divine Parent, has chosen to educate His children is through religion. It
follows that God is the Author of all the major religions. All religions
contain God’s revealed truth; all religions continually receive God’s guidance
for the purpose of educating His children.
Third, as God gives parental love
and care to all people, human beings should likewise care for one another. As
any parent rejoices when his or her children live in harmony and are distressed
when they fight, we can bring joy to God by living in peace with our neighbors
both near and far. In sum, human beings are members of a single worldwide
family, sisters and brothers in the parental love of God.
- Recognize the Priority to the Heart and Mind over
Material Conditions
"You shall not make for
yourself any graven image." The second commandment
states that God cannot be portrayed in material terms. The same is true with
human beings, who are created in God’s image.
Humans are spiritual beings. The
motivations of the heart and mind far outweigh the conditions of the body. In
fact, whether a person is rich or poor, he can be moved to take up violence by
emotional forces like hate, envy and resentment. Osama bin Ladin is a son of
privilege. Conversely, the heart of love, compassion and forgiveness is found
in people at every station in life.
Poverty may contribute to
instability on account of the sense of victimization it creates in the mind,
but it is not the chief thing. Neither is the possession of land: with a
positive attitude even landless refugees can make a new life for themselves and
grow rich. On the other hand, religious passions can motivate a suicide bomber
to give up his life, or a settler to place his family in harm’s way.
Therefore, the human heart is the
most important factor in peacemaking. Good will and trust are more effective in
securing a nation’s security than battalions of soldiers on the border. Hence,
religious leaders have a great responsibility to move the people’s hearts
towards peace, as a precondition to successful political agreements.
Good will and trust are the most
precious commodities for establishing peace. Political negotiations are
fruitless when each side insists on pressing its maximum advantage; it is but a
continuation of the struggle by diplomatic means. A peace process can be more
fruitful when even one side has the attitude that it will yield a little here
and there for the sake of establishing good will.
- Channel faith into peacemaking, not proselytizing
"You shall not take the name
of the Lord your God in vain." Since God
is the Author of all religion, anyone who disparages someone else’s religion is
denying the work of God and breaking the third commandment, not to take God’s
name in vain. Quarrels among religions are one of the main reasons why people
become atheists, as Jesus foresaw when he counseled against sectarianism, when
he prayed concerning his followers, "that they may be perfectly one, so
that the world may know that You sent me." (John 17:23)
They days are long past when it is
acceptable to regard outsiders of other faith communities as
"infidels" and "heretics." In that mindset, the best way to
love the outsider was to convert him. However, once we accept that God is the
Author of all religions, we realize that proselytizing is not a true expression
of love. Attempting to convert someone only demonstrates lack of respect for
that person’s religion and ignorance of God’s work through that religion.
Ignorance of how the name of God
is universally honored throughout the cosmos leads people to make many
mistakes. The heavens, which declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), are not the
property of only one religion. Hence the suicide bomber, having been misled by
narrow-minded interpretations of religious texts, may awaken on the other side
to discover that the very Jews he murdered are destined to be his companions.
Would they leave him in peace to enjoy the company of the promised seventy
dark-eyed virgins? The key element in the spiritual world is love. Those who
learn to love well, and to love many different people, can live well there.
Instead of demonstrating faith by
missionary efforts to win souls, now believers should channel their faith into
efforts at peacemaking. God the Parent longs for peace among His children more
than anything else. The barriers to peace are high and its foes are strong and
ruthless; to surmount them we need today the same wonder-working faith that
once liberated
- Practice interfaith
dialogue
"Remember the Sabbath day, to
keep it holy." Each of the Abrahamic faiths has
its own sabbath day, when members of the community rest from their daily work
to remember God. Ironically, these times of worship in synagogue, church and
mosque can be the most segregated moments of the week—and hence the furthest
away from peace.
Today the Abrahamic faiths can
better honor the holiness of God by joining together in interfaith dialogue. As
God is present in a congregation of believers, He is a hundred times more so at
occasions where believers of two or more religions are sharing their beliefs
and their love.
Dialogue is an encounter,
"heart to heart." It is a process that arises from empathy and
compassion. Then comes discovery of the unexpected riches of the other's
traditions, and surprising similarities with one’s own. This may lead to
repentance for past wrongs and misunderstandings, or to forgiveness of the
other for past mistreatment. It may lead to joint action to address common
social problems.
Interfaith dialogue is not an
academic exercise, restricted to elite leaders. Ordinary people should be
encouraged to develop close relationships with people of other faiths.
Synagogues, mosques and churches should devote several weeks every year to
interfaith worship. Elementary school students should learn about the
teachings, symbols and festivals of all the religions in the region. Such teaching
of tolerance has become commonplace in
- Lead with a
parental heart
The fifth commandment, "Honor
your father and your mother," originates in God, who is the Parent who
governs the world. In human terms, we see parents as representing God in the
household. Parents have the key role of setting the spiritual tone of the
household and mediating disputes among the children. The parents’ heart is to
want the best for all their children. They don’t insist on a legalistic
standard of equality, but tailor their love to their children’s individual
circumstances. If one child has a disability, they give him more attention and
care than their other children, as love flows naturally to the lowest place.
Also, parents want their children to live in harmony, and encourage their
cooperation in chores and in play.
As God is the parent of all
humankind, any leader who would rule according to the model of God’s
sovereignty should do so with the heart of a parent. They should apply the same
heart to governing the people as they care for their own children. In
peacemaking as well, the mediator needs a parental heart to relate with both
sides. He or she establishes solidarity with both parties as the foundation for
mediating between them.
In ancient
A Corrective to Democracy
Democracy developed out of the
disappointment of living under corrupt kings, who ruled to enrich themselves
while disregarding the people’s welfare. Rejecting kingship for the principle
of equality, democracy functions well when the people have brotherly love and
share common values. However, in the absence of common interest and a
cooperative spirit, democracy quickly degenerate into squabbles among competing
special interests or even the tyranny of the majority.
Democracy is particularly ill
suited to situations where very different populations are vying for power in
the same land, as would be the case in a multi-ethnic state combining
Leadership with a parental heart
can be more comprehensive than democracy, embracing people with diverse
interests and attitudes and promoting a harmonious polity. A parental tradition
of leadership, governing for the benefit of all groups, would preserve minority
aspirations regardless of demographics. It could tailor policies to fit the
needs of Jews and Arabs, Christians and Muslims, secularists and religionists,
rich and poor, based on the model of the state as a large household in which
every member contributes out of their ability for the welfare of the whole.
- Let yourself be struck, rather than strike
"You shall not murder." Once
we understand that spiritual factors are at the root of conflict, it becomes
clear that violence does not solve anything. The defeated do not thereby lose
the mind to hate. Even if they perish, their vengeful spirits continue to haunt
the world. Only in those rare cases where the victors practice love and
compassion for the defeated even in the midst of victory—as America did towards
Germany with the Marshall Plan—can there be a good outcome, because only love
can induce the defeated to realize that they were wrong and deserving of
defeat.
On the other hand, as all the saints of religion know well, God’s strategy is to be struck first and then gain in the end. All the great founders of religion: Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and their followers, suffered abuse, insults and mistreatment at the outset; yet this laid the foundation for the final victory. Enduring difficulties without rancor or complaint is the royal road to abundant blessings. "If any one strikes you on the right cheek," said Jesus, "turn to him the other cheek also." (Matt. 5:39) The Talmud praises those "who are insulted but do not insult others in revenge, who hear themselves reproached without replying." (Yoma 23a) Even in a marriage, when husband and wife quarrel, the wise person knows it is better to be "wrong" than to be "right." Forbearance in adversity is the antidote to violence.
- Establish the family as the school of love and
peace
"You shall not commit
adultery." God designed the family as the fundamental
institution for forming human beings, especially as regards living for the sake
of the other. Growing up first as children, then as brothers and sisters, then
as spouses and finally as parents and grandparents, people experience
ever-expanding spheres of love and learn to live according to the norms of each
sphere. Children learn manners, respect for elders, kindness and cooperation
with brothers and sisters, and responsibility towards younger siblings. Husband
and wife learn what is required to protect and to yield. As parents, they learn
the meaning of unconditional sacrifice for the sake of their children. A
three-generation family is a small community in miniature. It should be able to
train its members in all the qualities that make for good citizens.
This is why the seventh
commandment, to not commit adultery, is fundamental to the health of any
nation. Yet in today’s society, families are breaking down and the institution
of marriage is being called into question. Some applaud this trend as
maximization of freedom and liberation, while others lament the cost in
coarsening values and loss of fine emotional sensitivity about love. The restoration
of the family is a desideratum, but what sort of family?
Aside from the obvious problems of
abuse and the loosening of moral norms, a less appreciated reason for the
disruption of families is clannishness in the face of a cosmopolitan society. Traditional
families often can carry ethnic prejudices. They oppose their members who
venture out of their ethnic circle. Such families can stand in the way of
peace, conserving boundaries that ought to be broken down.
Conversely, families that overcome
ethnic prejudice and embrace the other in their midst can be great resources
for peacemaking. This happens when a family member marries outside of the
ethnic circle. Loving the enemy becomes a daily reality in families which have
a spouse or in-laws from another religion, culture or ethnicity. The children
learn tolerance and peace at the breakfast table. These families are the
bedrock of a peaceful nation and world.
- Live for the sake of the other
"You shall not steal." In
forming lasting relationships, the key is to live for the other’s sake. In a
strong marriage, the wife puts her husband ahead of herself, and the husband
likewise places his wife’s welfare above his own. Living for the sake of
another requires accepting that person for who she is, her good points and bad
points alike. It means to love that person even when the favor is not
reciprocated. (Often, kindnesses at such difficult moments are the most
appreciated later on.) This is true love; it can be summed up in the ethic of
living for the sake of the other.
This requires us to turn 180
degrees from the customary self-centered way of life. We need, so we take, even
steal from others for our own survival—that way of life creates only animosity
and distrust. Giving to others, even when we ourselves are in need, is the
heavenly way of peace. While it often seems that to give is to lose, eventually
everything is returned manifold. The family member who is most serving and
solicitous of the others’ welfare becomes the center of the family. A nation blessed
with wealth should be generous and spend her wealth to uplift other nations;
otherwise she will become the target of accusation and resentment, and her
wealth will melt away.
This principle applies on every
level: the individual, family, community, nation and world. It will not do for
individuals to be sacrificial for the welfare of their family if the family is
stingy about contributing to the community. Patriotism can call forth noble
actions of public service and self-sacrifice, but if the nation only pursues
its interests at the expense of other nations, then patriotism is degraded to
ugly nationalism. Religions, likewise, should educate believers to live for the
sake of other religions; otherwise, intolerance can invalidate the noblest
religious virtues.
- Love your enemy
"You shall not bear false
witness against your neighbor." God’s
family is indivisible. To regard another person as an enemy, as if he were not
a brother or sister in God’s family, and then act with enmity towards that
person, is to bear false witness against your neighbor.
The principle of living for the
sake of other applies most especially to one’s enemy. Anytime people draw
boundaries beyond which they will not serve, short of serving the whole global
family, they fall short. Thus Jesus said, "Love your enemies" and the
Qur’an teaches, "It may be that God will ordain love between you and those
whom you hold as enemies." (60.7) Esau came at Jacob with a small army,
thirsty for blood, yet Jacob never forgot that Esau was his brother and offered
him gifts to cool his anger.
Mahatma Gandhi gained
Having flung aside the sword,
there is nothing except the cup of love which I can offer to those who oppose
me. It is by offering that cup that I expect to draw them close to me. I cannot
think of permanent enmity between man and man.
By following the example of Jacob
and Gandhi, Israelis and Palestinians can develop peace movements characterized
by love instead of hatred and fear, and which appeal to the conscience and
humanity of the "enemy" who is in reality a neighbor and a brother.
- Reflect
on yourself rather than accuse others "You
shall not covet your neighbor’s house…" One
of the universal tenets of religion is to look at ourselves for the cause
of problems rather than blame others. This is the message of the tenth
commandment. Rather than expecting others to change for our sake, we
should reflect on what changes we can make in our own behavior to improve
the situation. This is sound advice in saving a marriage; it is equally
valid in relationships between nations. When one side feels hurt, the most
natural reaction is to point the finger at the other side. Nevertheless,
there are two sides to every story. Accusations, even when valid, usually
only stiffen the resistance of the other side. As Hillel said, "Do
not judge your comrade until you have stood in his place." (Pirke
Avot 2.5) Muhammad counseled a follower to "find fault with himself
instead of finding fault with others."
From this perspective, the common slogan, "No
Justice, No Peace," contains a fundamental error. While it is true that
without justice there can be no lasting peace, making demands for justice is
probably not helpful in attaining the goal. Even if the demand is correct, when
it is made as an accusation, it only elicits a reaction by the other side in
the form of self-justification. Rather, true justice arises when compassion and
sympathy for the oppressed softens the heart of the oppressor. The way of
humility and self-criticism, as well as living in accordance with all of these
Ten Commandments, will create conditions of mutual trust and good will out of
which grows sympathy, and from sympathy comes the restorative justice that only
truly exists when the other party bestows it with a willing heart.
These 10 Commandments of Peacemaking should inform the work of the IIPC
and its Ambassadors for Peace. They can orient us as we engage in practical
activities for peace, so we will not deviate from the goal. The Word of God is
sure the foundation of peace. Guided by its truth, we will have success.