There Will Be Peace

Confucianism, The Great Learning

The ancients who wished to manifest their clear character to the world would first bring order to their states. Those who wished to bring order to their states would first regulate their families. Those who wished to regulate their families would first cultivate their personal lives. Those who wished to cultivate their personal lives would first rectify their minds. Those who wished to rectify their minds would first make their wills sincere. Those who wished to make their wills sincere would first extend their knowledge. The extension of knowledge consists in the investigation of things. When things are investigated, knowledge is extended; when knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere; when the will is sincere, the mind is rectified; when the mind is rectified, the personal life is cultivated; when the personal life is cultivated, the family will be regulated; when the family is regulated, the state will be in order; when the state is in order, there will be peace throughout the world. From the Son of Heaven down to the common people, all must regard cultivation of the personal life as the root or foundation. There is never a case when the root is in disorder and yet the branches are in order.

Comments Regarding the Moral Foundations of Society

A good society is built on spiritual and moral foundations. In this technological and materialistic age many contemporary spiritual leaders are warning us that the steady decline of morality and spiritual values poses a looming threat to social peace. Among these neglected foundations are: first morality and virtue, which forms people into upright citizens; second, education–especially character education, which can give young people a sense of purpose and direction and empower them to shun the hedonistic lifestyle of sex and drugs; and third, religion. With its message of peace and conciliation, religion can tame the raging battles and self-aggrandising attitudes of partisan politicians; and by calling on God, religion can procure divine blessings for the nation.

In particular, America’s founding fathers were explicit about the role of morality and religion in securing the nation’s liberties and preserving its happiness and prosperity.

–Andrew Wilson, editor [World Scripture II. Universal Peace Federation, 2011] p. 980.