Ozeryanskaya icon, Kharkhiv, Ukraine
I have never understood why war unites like nothings else on earth. The word is often used in promotional slogans for certain things such as eradicating diseases, addictions or economic class. In Christian cosmology, the word is also used for events between good and evil forces. We are told that a great war in heaven occurred and the vanquished spirits of negativity fell to earth, where they seem to have found quite a home in the practice and experience of war.
The word and practice of war is a profound one, in that it is essentially the legally and culturally accepted perpetration of mass violence. Behaviors that would be unthinkable in normal circumstances, are cheered on in war. Everything stops, everything is crystal clear, everyone knows their place and acts accordingly.
Religion plays an interesting role in war. The unbelievers and those who find ritual tedious fall into place, uttering prayers and attending services all in the name of war. Those practiced in faith tradition find themselves very close to spirit during such times, and sing songs lauding the justification for their actions. Whom does the Spiritual World pay attention to during these times? Are some people at the front of the request line instead of others depending on the justification for war?
Ritual often accompanies threshold experiences on the earthly sojourn. Women experience thresholds when giving birth, traditionally men experience it in the battlefield. We all experience thresholds surrounding death. The deceased crosses the threshold into another life, and those left on earth mourn the separation. Enforcing death on others is a rather schizophrenic action here on earth. It seems that killing is bad under certain circumstances, while is glorious and sanctioned in others. What seems to be a universal response to killing, is the grief of the loved ones whose beloved was taken away, as well as this loss as a justification for further sanctioned killing.
War is sanctioned, acceptable mechanized killing. In the Old Testament, the wars in the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel are lauded. The slaughter of every Caanite man, woman and child is justified. I often wondered how the Cannanites felt about this. The final plague that hit the Egyptians, which led to the release of the enslaved Hebrews as the death of the first born son. It grieved the population so much, as well as the Pharaoh, that the petition from the Jews to be set free was finally granted. He later regretted his decision, and led his army to a watery death in the Red Sea.
The foundational act of Christianity is a state sponsored brutal execution. This horrific act on an innocent man is recognized as the catalyst for eternal life of the spirit. The sacrifice was the key to transforming the earth and humanity. It is the foundation stone for what humans later rationalize as redemptive violence. In a local military chapel, we see a stained glass window with a soldier kneeling before a helmet topped gun, and the phrase beneath it proclaiming "There is no greater love than when a man lays down his life for his friends." When can such love be applied without violence or death is my question. Could it be that the Crucifixion was meant to be a one time thing, and then we were supposed to consider other methods for enhancing redemption?
In the Orthodox Christian tradition, one of the worlds most ancient forms of Christianity, traditionally a man who kills during war is excommunicated for seven years. This means no access to Communion for seven years, as the soldiers who kill are seen as unworthy and unclean to accept the sacrament (which is seen as the literal transubstantiation of bread and wine into the body and blood of the Savior.) In a response to the wanton violence of the warrior class of nobles during the middle ages, the concept of a Just War was dusted off as a method of foisting violent young men onto foreign soils, so as to give the locals a break from the raping and pillaging.
Originally invented by ancient Egyptians, the Medieval concept of purposeful warfare, Just War, was implemented into the tradition of Chivalry. Protection of the weak, adherence to Christian values (except in the case of killing foreigners) and the chaste love of an unattainable perfect woman, along with forgiveness of all past and present sins during the quest, sweetened the deal. Rules for sanctioned slaughter created things like scheduled warfare, say not on feast days, festivals or Sundays, along with no violence on sacred ground. No violence of any kind was to take place in Churches. These rules were created and followed for the most part during numerous conflicts. Obvious confusion arose amongst the ranks when Christians fought Christians, say in the 100 Years War and various Crusades, but all was justified and allowed. What I have never quite understood is how one returns to the mundane tedium of daily life after participating in such violence. It seems only until after the First World War, such trauma was given a name for those returning home after the horror of trench warfare.
War never really solves anything, it just postpones conflicts, enriches the powerful and perpetrates grief for all. Neither side ever really recovers during peace time, and the conflict simply arises again and more violence ensues, because the hard work of collaboration, forgiveness and community has not been done.
Death has confounded the living for eons. When loved ones die at the hands of another, it gives an outlet for anger over the loss. Losing a dear one in their sleep, whom do you blame for your agony? An enemy who took away your loved one, your home and routine, there is someone to blame, and in several generations for the cycle to start over again. War creates a structure for this, and is a deep reason for the perpetual state of violence.
I often contemplate the story of Mary, mother of Jesus. Who was she really, does she still exist, and what are all those apparitions about that seem to begin in earnest during the Middle Ages? How can one being be omnipresent in different outfits and languages? What always seems to be the theme of the messages is that horrors are to come, pray, repent and be loving to one another to avoid the catastrophe.
This historical Mary gave birth in a strange place to adhere to an oppressive governments census, for tax purposes. The family became refugees to escape violence perpetrated on infant boys, so the Roman governor would hold onto secular power. Mary watched as her son became a leader for their people, only to be unfairly accused and tried, subsequently publicly executed in the most public, vile and agonizing way. Later, she is seen as the focal point for the foundation of the Christian Movement, and had the miracle of her beloved come back to her in the flesh.
As an art form, Mary is the symbol of the highest potential in humanity, that of collaborating with the Spiritual World to birth the Christ Impulse on earth. During times of plague, images of Mary have been paraded around the community to heal from the affliction. In other cases, banners with her image are carried into war.
Violence and war are humanity's way of forcing desires upon others. Talk and negotiations are tedious and do not lead to desired outcomes in a timely manner. Violence is the ultimate action whereas humanity gives suggestions to God. Can one justify violence to protect others? What is the true and proper response to injustice? Is violence transformative? Can redemption come through violence?
Some of the most magnificent music ever written has come in response to impending or completing war. Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil was composed and performed to benefit the World War One effort in Russia. When the Bolsheviks took over, all religious music was silenced.
At this writing, the violence is raging in Europe, but it is also raging in Syria, Yemen as well as in homes and streets all over the globe. Families are some of the most violent institutions on earth, marriage and romantic partnerships are the leading cause of death for women. How such things will stop is actually up to us. As we hear in the wisdom scriptures, there is a time for everything. How can we make it never time for violence and war?
How do we wrap our arms and minds over the incredible cruelty we see before us? The atrocities and suffering are nothing new on earth, but this time, for a large segment of the population, the victims look just like their neighbors, their family members and coworkers. It is not hidden like so much domestic violence. Modern technology and social bias is showing war in all of its consequences to the developed world, and those seeking relief are touching us in ways we have been able to ignore in other situations. Oh, those terrible wars, violence and refugees, that is far away and involves people who look and worship differently than we do, it does not strike a chord as deeply as the specter in Ukraine, Hungary, Russia and Poland.
We are also seeing the consequences of the perpetrators of violence and war. The aggressors have mothers and children, they are searching for answers and are just as heart broken as the victims. We see mercy shown to the soldiers families just as we see mercy greeting those crossing the borders. I often think of the song "When Will They Ever Learn" during times like this, when will be learn that war is really useless, horribly useless?
Humans often make wrong choices, but in every situation there are often two pathways. When we choose the difficult and harmful pathway, the spiritual world helps us to transform our deeds. We were created to transform everything from the earth to the cosmos to ourselves.
How can we transform this tragedy into something good, beautiful and truthful?
These are the questions we must ask ourselves. Life hangs in the balance, the future is in the balance, what choices are we to make of this situation when nuclear powers are clashing and the innocent are bombed while fleeing?
Can we learn? What is your, what is our choice going to be?
The Black Madonnas have narratives of endurance, particularly in the face of war. Seeing the rally cry to alleviate the suffering of those fleeing the bombs is a beautiful choice. It is a model for the present and future, that so much energy and response can be focused on loving our neighbors, healing the earth.
What choice will you make?
