War: Cognitive Dissonance At It's Finest

War is insanity. It is a situation in which generally normal men and women are placed into abnormal circumstances. How can you keep perspective? Rockets are exploding around you, comrades are falling, children are screaming, and the air is filled with the smell of smoke and death. Once experienced by the human mind, it can never be erased. Veterans carry war on their shoulders until the flag is at last draped across their caskets.

Our countries’ leaders tell their citizens that it’s a fight for freedom, a fight for democracy, or a fight to protect and preserve a secure and comfortable way of life. Leaders have been telling their citizens the same thing for hundreds of years. Our history books record cycles of war and peace, interspersed with technical and industrial advances.

The secular and/or religious leader begins the war. Citizens look to their religious leaders to either support or condemn the war (most religious leaders support their country’s decision to fight for freedom). After all, our country’s leaders are believed to be working with God’s backing. Most religions follow their country’s leader as if he in fact is working with God’s blessings. Many would follow their leader into quick sand if they were told it was the right thing to do.

Of course secular citizens believe contrarily to that thought process. They see political leaders playing a game of cat-and-mouse with the nations they are warring against. They see the soldiers on the ground, air, and water simply as pawns on a checkered board. They are leaders wanting a bigger piece of the pie of life.

Through the centuries, war has made little improvement, accomplishing little, except perhaps diminishing our world of its finest youth. How many future presidents and congressmen have been killed in Iraq? How many future doctors and nurses, butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers have been placed into Arlington Cemetery? How many mothers, wives, fathers, sons, and daughters will be spending the holidays without their loved ones, going to the prom without dad to kiss your cheek? It is a sad story? It is the ultimate cycle of violence; one that history has proven to be never ending. War is eternal, not God. The Christian Bible discusses wars and rumors of war. The history books remind us about the reality of war and its destructive powers.

The belief in a God leaves no logical room for condoning war. The two systems of thinking are antithetical and incongruent. Fighting for God is no different than stealing for God or murdering your children for God. It just doesn’t fit.