|
And the breeding- ground of all these tragedies is prejudice: prejudice of race and nation, of religion, of political opinion; and the root cause of prejudice is blind imitation of the past-- imitation in religion, in racial attitudes, in national bias, in politics. So long as this aping of the past persisteth, just so long will the foundations of the social order be blown to the four winds, just so long will humanity be continually exposed to direst peril. (247:2) Now, in such an illumined age as ours, when realities previously unknown to man have been laid bare, and the secrets of created things have been disclosed, and the Morn of Truth hath broken and lit up the world-- is it admissible that men should be waging a frightful war that is bringing humanity down to ruin? No, by the Lord God! (247:3) Christ Jesus summoned all mankind to amity and peace. Unto Peter He said: `Put up thy sword into the sheath.'[1] Such was the bidding and counsel of the Lord Christ; and yet today the Christians one and all have drawn their swords from out the scabbard. How wide is the discrepancy between such acts and the clear Gospel text! [1=John 18:11]
(247:4)
|