Articles with the tag: war and peace

War & Peace

Torah does not preach pacifism. Indeed, the exact opposite: we have to “wipe out” Amalek, the Canaanites, etc.! Is religion aggressive?  Does it cause war? Would world peace be around the corner without it?
Let’s be honest. Fighting comes naturally to people; it exists without religion and society has always romanticized aggression. From Sparta to the Samurai, from the knight who jousted to the cowboy with the fastest gun, the duel was proof of courage and honor. 
In contrast, Judaism never considered violence glamorous. True, new recruits in Bar Kochba’s army proved their bravery by severing one of their fingers, but the Rabbis then strongly disapproved, considering it destructive and pointless. Still, despite the Jewish distaste for violence, Judaism recognizes…

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