tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8842351178829758368.post1789317278303768504..comments2022-03-16T00:54:25.243-07:00Comments on Arthur's Peace: Facing the Myth of Redemptive ViolenceArthur Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12301486680730591997noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8842351178829758368.post-21884039782936836762012-07-04T15:06:26.829-07:002012-07-04T15:06:26.829-07:00A very perceptive comment. Thanks, Matt. I feel ...A very perceptive comment. Thanks, Matt. I feel sure Water Wink would agree. And history is piling up evidence that the ability to dominate and subdue opposing forces by superior violence is an inherited habit we must outgrow. Otherwise we face disaster. <br />I believe we have the countervailing forces, inherently non-violent, strongly working for a cooperative society. These are what have enabled us to survive and grow, and these can lead us to a more fruitful and creative future. <br /><br />ArthurArthur Palmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12301486680730591997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8842351178829758368.post-35599538526441922392012-06-28T00:43:41.586-07:002012-06-28T00:43:41.586-07:00All very true. My view is that this myth is based ...All very true. My view is that this myth is based on a deeper myth, which is that humans are inherently bad and that they need a strong force to keep them in line. This is the state, police, military and various action heroes, etc.<br /><br />However, history may show that violence is not a productive way to go about things. The most successful societies are not violent, on large and small scales. They are the ones that flourish and persist, and so humans, and mammals generally, have actually evolved very strong cooperative genes. It takes a lot of brainwashing and fearmongering to convince us otherwise.<br /><br />So how did it get this way? We cannot deny that the evil is human, we cannot put it onto others. We all know greed, fear, pride and desire for power, etc. We are capable of mass hysteria. These instincts can be exploited on a large scale where people live in large monocultural groups. Such groups are prone to war (and other woes), and this leads to weakness. Empires may be built with war, but they fall the same way. This process we can see happening now.<br /><br />Jesus had it right....<br /><br />Matt SAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com