The need to focus on the causes of violence

Some reflections on where my passion lies: For many years my thoughts, prayers and investment of time have centered around the causes of violence, the seeds of war. I heard a comment some years ago at an FGC gathering to the effect that we spend a disproportionate amount of time running around trying to catch bullets instead of dealing with the source of those bullets and how we might stop the firing as well as caring for the wounded. As I’ve wrestled with that comment for some years I have found help from some who are referred to as feminist theologians and one author (who doesn’t see herself in this group), Riane Eisler, most notably in her book “The Chalice and the Blade.”

To over simplify their thinking on the cause of violence would be to say that violence is not the issue, rather it is simply the tool to enforce a much larger and more demonic issue. That issue is ranking whereby any group or person is “ranked” above another and below others, i.e. whites above blacks, men above women, rich above poor, humans above animals etc. etc. You simply find your place and cow tow to those above and demean those below. Violence is the tool to enforce the “hierarchy”. Sometime the violence is physical but it can also be economic or psychological, etc. This pattern is most often referred to as “patriarchal”, though it is far more than a gender issue. It has been a way of life for thousands of years that informs and “dictates” religion, social patterns, government, economies, etc.

If we are to stop violence we must change the pattern that uses violence as it’s enforcer. To switch from an hierarchical to an interdependent cultural format is more than a formidable task, probably one that will take many centuries. It is a task that I would hope NEYM P&SC would want to invest some time to explore what might be required. Maybe this issue could be on our agenda for committee day January 30th.

Bain Davis