PEACE IN DIFFERENT RELIGIONS

and so on. All these virtues, unrelated to war and violence, stem from the possession of a superior set of values. And all these values can be established in society by persuasion rather than coercion. The teachings of Christ in the New Testament tell us clearly that peace was so important to him that he enjoined the establishment of peace at all costs. In one of his sermons, Christ observed: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. (5: 9) This shows that, according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, the most blessed task is to establish peace in the world, peace in family life, peace in social life, peace in national life, peace in international life. The following observation of Jesus Christ is perhaps a realization of this peaceful world: Your kingdom come - Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (6: 9) In this quotation from the New Testament, what is called the kingdom of God can also be thought of as the kingdom of Peace. The teachings of Christ attach the greatest importance to love and good behaviour. This is expressed in one of his sayings in the Bible: But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. (6: 27) This means that you should love everyone, even your enemies. You should adopt a peaceful attitude towards everyone, even towards those who choose to be physically abusive. It is this unilateral good behaviour which has been thus symbolically expressed: To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them back. (6: 29-30) Peace in Hinduism Hinduism is based on the principle of non-dualism, which means that in this world, the Creator and the Creation are not two different entities.