Ideology of Peace
THE WAYS AND MEANS OF PEACE
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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
