The previous article “A Luminous Sign” has tackled the message of peace as an important role to be played by people, and as a serious religious commandment given to man; therefore, religions have stressed on peace in order for man to pursue it towards one another in life. Peace is the origin of human civilization around the world. In “The Story of Civilization”, William Durant wrote: “Four elements constitute civilization: economic provision, political organization, moral traditions and the pursuit of knowledge and the arts. It begins where chaos and insecurity ends. For when fear is overcome, curiosity and constructiveness are free, and man passes by natural impulse towards the understanding and embellishment of life.”
Thus, Durant sees that civilization begins where people’s anxieties and worries end. Anxieties and worries shall never end unless peace and security have dwelt among the one society individuals, and among the world countries. Once peace prevails, people begin to take steps towards construction, restoration and progress.
Hence, people shall realize that peace is irreplaceable if they want to build up their societies. Going through pages of mankind history, we will come to find that the basics of societies flourishing and civilization were not laid in times of wars and conflicts, but contrarily, the more conflicts mounted, the faster societies were destructed and perished. Peace keeps countries’ security, besides, it strengthens people’s determination to construct, work and make achievements. Preparing the common humanitarian rules, which people shall pursue, one of the peace pillars in societies; life actually needs major flexibility. Hence, man shall tirelessly seek to acquire the flexibility of life, which enables him to deal with others in a way cognizant of the existing differences between people, and to address these differences with mature methods far from violence and abandonment, we shall remember: “Peace does not mean the absence of conflicts, as conflicts will ever remain. Rather, peace is to resolve such conflicts peacefully, through dialogue, education, knowledge and other humanitarian ways.”
Also, peace is the path societies shall take towards learning, getting preoccupied with studies and spreading culture in order to rise. The progress of societies has been achieved only at times of peace; it is the humanitarian procession the humankind shall walk through in order to grow and achieve construction ad loftiness. As for a society’s prosperity and comfort, they can only be achieved through man’s innovations, which could only be made when man feels security and peace. It is said: “A peaceful environment is the foundation of a successful social life”. This means that if today’s societies want to find way to prosperity, they shall spread peace among citizens via all means and methods, and if the world wants to set off for achievements, it shall unite together to have its ships in dock of peace.
The peace we are striving to fulfill now is basic to a prosperous life towards the future we desire for our children; as we take them far away from conflicts, allowing them to invest their potential in science and work, and to achieve innovations which shall take the country along wide steps towards leadership, progress and holding an important role in the international society. When societies know the way to peace, there shall become a clear invitation to investments; as investors on both local and global levels would feel safe and peaceful, and thus, an economic growth would be achieved, fulfilling prosperity for the citizens, besides the activity of social sectors.
Peace is always a pushing force towards growth and renaissance above all levels, and it is the only choice people shall choose, in case they aspire for life! And… Stories never end in beautiful Egypt!
The General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
