Love Drought
More than 20% of the world's population - roughly 1.7 billion people - were exposed to political violence. The number of forcibly displaced people around the world increased from 31 million in 2008, to over 88 million in 2022.
Anti-dote to Conflict
The Bible encourages us to be peacemakers and to seek reconciliation with those we are in conflict with (Matthew 5:9). In the book of Proverbs, it says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). Doing nothing through rivalry or conceit, but in humility (Philippians 2:3). We are also instructed to be humble and to be willing to listen to the other person's point of view (James 1:19).
Conflict which comes from within should be calmed by inner peace and wholesome qualities.
When freedom from malice... delusion... violence... arises within oneself, does it arise to one's profit or one's loss? (AN ii,191)
This is itself an end to the propensity to ignorance; this is itself an end of taking a weapon, of quarreling, contending, disputing, accusation, slander, and lying speech. (MN 18/i,109-10)
Hatred
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love” (Nelson Mandela)
Antidote to Hatred
The Bible tells us that hatred is a sin and that we should not harbor hatred in our hearts (1 John 3:15). We are also instructed to love our enemies and to do good to those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Jesus said, "do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). We should strive to forgive those who have wronged us and to show compassion and mercy to all (Matthew 6:14-15).
According to the Buddha, hatred is one of the basic roots of immorality along with greed and delusion. It may be suppressed or expressed verbally and behaviorally. Repression and accumulation at some point will be vented through anger or bad karma like harm and destruction. Hatred, therefore, is one of the fetters that bind beings to rebirth. The antidote to hatred, as taught by the Buddha, is the four immeasurables of love.
Discrimination
The UN declared that 'any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and must be rejected’.
Inequality & Inequity
The richest 10% of the global population currently take home 52% of global income, while the poorest half of the population earns 8.5%. Global wealth inequalities are even more pronounced than income inequalities (76% vs. 2%).
