Chapter 4: How Christianity Addresses Peace and what this Means for Education

Our world is torn apart by wars, interethnic misunderstandings, religious strife, financial devastation, class and caste distinctions, human destruction of the rainforest and the ozone layer, sometimes racially tinged responses to natural disasters, the strange simultaneity of starvation and food wastage, and the contrast between globalization and excessive concern for self. All of these problems exist on a massive scale and all of them relate to peace and conflict. Peace cannot be built or maintained when situations such as these occur and reoccur.

By peace I refer to multilevel peace: inner peace; peace among family, friends, and coworkers; peace among ethnic, political, and religious groups; peace among countries; peace between humans and other species; and peace between humans and the environment (earth and beyond). Peace does not mean the absence of all conflict, because conflict is part of nature and human development. Peace is not merely the absence of war but, in my view, is instead a positive, active force for social justice, equity, and compassion.