THE WAYS AND MEANS OF PEACE

THE WAYS AND MEANS OF PEACE ~ 48 ~ discouraged. Events should be explained in such a way that people do not lapse into negative thinking, but on the contrary, feel stimulated to think along positive lines. THE POLITICS OF RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE Emotional politics is one reason for hatred and violence, especially when based on the slogan: ‘Religion is in danger!’ By presenting a wrong or exaggerated picture, certain writers and speakers try to give the impression that their religion is under threat from others. Now an emotional campaign is launched with great fervour in the name of safeguarding religion. Far from saving religion from danger, such politics only endangers society as a whole by destroying peace. This concept of religion being at risk clearly implies that a community other than one’s own is to blame. This fosters hatred in one group for another. And when a policy of confrontation fails to put an end to the supposed danger, frustration sets in. This leads to violence as a final strategy. And when violence does not give the desired result, suicide is resorted