In the Book of Revelation, John of Patmos, is reporting on the persecution and violence experienced by early peacemakers. John exhorts them to keep praying and working for peace. John uses symbolic language that includes war images. He begins by writing of a “rider called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.” “Out of his mouth came a sharp sword.” “I saw a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast.”
Using the Bible to sanctify violence is easy. Much of the Old Testament was written for that express purpose and some of the New Testament supports violence. It is accurate to say violence is Biblical. It is not accurate to say violence is Christian / Christ-like as Christ Jesus never practices violence. He practices peace, as in today’s Gospel, “Whoever loves me will keep my word,” and “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives it do I give peace to you.” People who do practice violence and oddly want to call themselves Christian, lie about the Book of Revelation’s peaceful message by converting John’s symbolic language into literal language. Lies against truth and against peace are the domain of propaganda. Propaganda is not truth but disinformation; information knowingly biased or misleading but willfully used – to promote not a peaceful world but a instead a harmful agenda. There is no more harmful agenda than that of the religion of Militarism for war. For example, presently being waged by Russians against Ukrainians. Militarism’s propaganda rarely, if ever, provides strategies and options for peacemaking nor truth about them. For example, it does not tell us about the work long done by historic peace churches to convert Russian soldiers. Nor about the people’s attempts to remove Putin and his supportive Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. Nor does Militarism’s propaganda inform us about defunding war plunderers like Putin and other Russian oligarchs by denying them banking institutions. In place of education and action on peacemaking Militarism produces propaganda. For example, media of all types are giving a platform to people telling viewers Ukraine needs more weapons. But these people are military personnel and weapons company executives who are lying for the purpose of selling their wares (L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon Technologies, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman). Corporate reporters rarely report on war as a business nor on its plunderers but frequently propagandize for war as necessary, even salvific. A recently canonized saint within the Catholic Institution who reported on war plunderers and their propaganda during the Nazi era was Carmelite priest Titus Brandsma (1881-1942) Like his predecessor author of the Book of Revelation, Brandsma too acts as a truth-telling journalist reporting during a time of persecution, “Those who want to win the world for Christ must have the courage to come in conflict with it.” Brandsma publicly criticized Nazi policies throughout the 1930’s. When the Nazis invaded his home country of the Netherlands in May 1940, Brandsma continued reporting on Nazi persecution and propaganda. One mission was to encourage news owners, editors, and writers to refuse the order to run Nazi propaganda. In the midst of his mission, in 1942, the 60-year-old Brandsma was arrested, imprisoned, and periodically tortured. He was eventually sent to Dachau, tortured more aggressively, and murdered by the Nazis. Brandsma is unfortunately not alone in being a murdered truth-telling journalist working for peace among plunderers propagandizing for war. Another such journalist is Shireen Abu Akleh (1971-5/11/2022). Like Titus Brandsma, Abu Akleh too was murdered for telling the truth about war plunderers, their propaganda, and the harm it did to the people. She too stood with a persecuted people targeted for violence, “I chose journalism to be close to people. It might not be easy to change the reality, but at least I could bring their voice to the world.” Abu Akleh told the truth about Israel’s war policies against Palestinians; the evictions, arrests, raids, terrorism, and murders. And Militarists murdered her for it. Persecution and violence are practiced by Militarists day after day, year after year, century after century.
Strategies and options enabling reporters to be truth-tellers and peacemakers about propaganda and warfare include organizations implementing monitoring and reporting mechanisms to keep journalists safe. They also include advocacy, awareness, and education policies, digital connection capabilities, legislation, and training, each with that same intent of keeping journalists safe. Like Titus Brandsma and Shireen Abu Akleh, we can all be truth-telling reporters about Militarism’s business of war helping to bring it to an end and create peace.
Prayer: Spirit, we vow to be courageous in our truth-telling and our peacemaking.
Question: How socially courageous can I be in witnessing truth and peace to people who propagandize for war?
May 22, 2022 Gospel John 14:23-29 Sixth Sunday of Easter
The sad part of all this misinformation are the reporters and pundits who have millions of followers who believe in white supremely and use fear as tool to indoctrinate more followers. They perpetuate violence and use Christianity as their shield. They have misunderstood the Bible. The New Testament should be the focus. I have always believed that Christ was sent to tell the world that those of the Old Testament had it all wrong and that the message was one of peace and love not war and persecution. Today’s leaders only want power and are not interested in their neighbor. They are willing to sell their soul even though they know what they espouse is wrong in order to retain power, stature, and wealth. So sad!!