Ideology of Peace
PEACE AND VIOLENCE
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the noblest line of conduct is to refrain from opting
for it.
The conditions prevailing in ancient times allowed
for war in self-defence. But this permission to go to
war conformed to the law of necessity. Now, in the
present situation, this need no longer exists,
therefore there should be a general ban on war.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AGRICULTURAL
AGE AND THE INDUSTRIAL AGE
As regards war, all religions and all ethical systems
are agreed upon one principle, and that is, that no
matter how great the justification for waging war,
i.e. even in an entirely lawful war, non-combatants
must not be assailed or killed. The attacking of non-
combatants is totally unacceptable.
Now let us look at how this principle is carried into
effect in wartime. This kind of condition, i.e. the
attacking only of combatants, could be fulfilled only
in the agricultural age. Today, owing to scientific
and technological developments, war is waged with
explosive weapons which do widespread damage.
When a bomb is dropped over an inhabited area, it
