Great Learning​—Yet Little Change

“In spite of the recent triumphs of science, men haven’t changed much in the last two thousand years; and in consequence we must still try to learn from history.”​—Kenneth Clark, Civilisation—​A Personal View.

THERE have certainly been some remarkable advances in science over the centuries. Time magazine says that these have “given millions of us the highest standard of living in history.” Some of the greatest advances have been in the field of medicine. In medieval times “medicine was crude and brutal,” says historian Zoé Oldenbourg. “A doctor could kill as easily as cure.”

Not Always Willing to Learn

People have not always been willing to learn. In the late 19th century, for example, many doctors ignored compelling evidence that they themselves were somehow transmitting disease among their patients. So they stuck to dangerous practices and refused to wash their hands before moving from one patient to another.

Still, science and technology continued to advance. Logically then, from past experiences humans should have learned how to make the world a happier, safer place. But that is not how things have worked out.

Consider Europe in the 17th century. That period was described as an age of enlightenment and reason. Yet, the fact remains that “with all its outpourings of genius in art and science,” says Kenneth Clark, “there were still senseless persecutions and brutal wars waged with unparalleled cruelty.”

In our time there is still a reluctance to learn from the past in order to avoid its mistakes. As a consequence, our very existence on this planet appears to be under threat. Writer Joseph Needham concluded that the situation has become so dangerous that ‘all we can now do is hope and pray that maniacs will not release upon mankind powers that could extinguish all life on earth.’

Why is it that despite all man’s genius and learning, we are still mired in a world filled with violence and brutality? Will this ever change? The next two articles will consider these questions.

The Nations Are Still Not Learning

“If men could learn from history​—what lessons it might teach us! But Passion and Party blind our eyes, and the light which Experience gives is a lantern on the stern which shines only on the waves behind us!”​—Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

DO YOU agree with English poet Samuel Coleridge? Is it possible that we can be so blinded by passion for a cause that we repeat the tragic mistakes of past generations?

The Crusades

Consider, for example, some of the things people did during the Crusades. In 1095 C.E., Pope Urban II urged “Christians” to take the Holy Land from the Muslims. Kings, barons, knights, and commoners in all the nations under the control of Urban II responded to his call. According to one medieval historian, there was “hardly a people living according to the law of Christ” that did not rush to support the cause.

Historian Zoé Oldenbourg states that the majority of crusaders had an “absolute conviction that in taking the cross [they were] enlisting directly in the service of God Himself.” They saw themselves, she says, in the role of “destroying angels falling on the children of the devil.” They also believed that “all who died would win the crown of martyrs in heaven,” says writer Brian Moynahan.

Perhaps the crusaders were unaware that their enemy believed something similar. Islamic soldiers, says historian J. M. Roberts in his book the Shorter History of the World, also went into battle with the conviction that they were fighting for God and “that death on the battlefield against the infidel would be followed by entry to paradise” in heaven.

Both sides were taught that theirs was a just war​—approved of and blessed by God. Religious and political leaders nurtured these beliefs and fanned the flames of their subjects’ emotions. And both sides committed unspeakable atrocities.

What Kind of People?

What kind of people did these terrible things? The majority were ordinary people​—little different from people today. No doubt many of them were fired by idealism and a desire to right the wrongs that they perceived in the world of their day. In their emotionally charged state, they seemed oblivious to the fact that in their fight for “justice,” they brought nothing but injustice, pain, and suffering to hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children who were trapped in the battle zones.

Has that not been the pattern throughout history? Have not charismatic leaders repeatedly moved countless millions of people​—who would never normally have contemplated such conduct—​into savage and barbarous wars against their religious and political opponents? The call to arms on both sides of the conflict and the claims that God was with each side legitimized the violent suppression of political and religious opposition. It was part of a well-established pattern that has served the interests of tyrants for many centuries. This, says Moynahan, is the standard that “would serve the architects of the Holocaust and modern ethnic cleansers as surely as it launched the first crusade.”

‘But sensible people today would no longer allow themselves to be manipulated in that way,’ you may say. ‘Are we not now much more civilized?’ That ought to be the case. But have the lessons of history really been learned? Who can honestly say that this is true when contemplating the history of the past hundred years?

The First World War

The pattern set by the Crusades was repeated, for example, at the time of the first world war. It is “one of the paradoxes of 1914,” says Roberts, “that in every country huge numbers of people, of all parties, creeds and blood, seem, surprisingly, to have gone willingly and happily to war.”

Why did huge numbers of ordinary people go “willingly and happily to war”? Because they, like those who so willingly went to war before them, had their values and beliefs molded by the philosophies of the day. While some may have been inspired by principles of freedom and justice, there is little doubt that many were moved by an arrogant belief that their nation was superior to others and thus deserved to be dominant.

These were conditioned to believe that war was an inevitable part of the natural scheme of things​—some kind of “biological necessity.” “Social Darwinism,” says writer Phil Williams, fostered the idea, for example, that war was a legitimate means of “eradicating those species not worthy to survive.”

Each one, of course, thought that his cause was just. With what result? During World War I, “governments,” says writer and historian Martin Gilbert, “beat the drums of racism, patriotism and military prowess”​—and people blindly followed. Economist John Kenneth Galbraith grew up in rural Canada during that war. He said that all around him, people spoke about “the manifest stupidity of the conflict in Europe.” “Intelligent men . . . did not lend themselves to such insanity,” they said. But once again, they did. With what consequences? Some 60,000 Canadian soldiers were among the more than nine million military men who died on both sides in the obscenity that came to be called the first world war.

No Lesson Learned

Within the next two decades, the same spirit began to manifest itself again with the rise of Fascism and Nazism. Fascists began to use “the traditional propaganda tools of symbols and myths to arouse peoples’ emotions,” writes Hugh Purcell. A particularly powerful tool they used was the potent mixture of religion and politics, praying for God’s blessing on their troops.

One who was “a master of crowd psychology as well as a brilliant orator” was Adolf Hitler. Like many demagogues of the past, says Dick Geary in Hitler and Nazism, Hitler believed that ‘the masses were swayed not by their brains but by their emotions.’ He played on this human weakness by cleverly exploiting the age-old technique of directing people’s hatred against a common enemy​—as when he “turned the fears and resentments of Germans against the Jews,” says Purcell. Hitler vilified the Jews, saying, ‘The Jew is the corrupter of the German nation.’

What is horrifying about this whole era is that millions of seemingly decent people were easily incited to mass murder. “How could the people of a supposedly civilised country not simply tolerate but become implicated in the horrific barbarism of the Nazi state?” asks Geary. And it was not just a “civilised” country but also supposedly a Christian country! They were drawn into this because they preferred the philosophies and schemes of men to the teachings of Jesus Christ. And how many sincere, idealistic men and women have been led into horrific atrocities since then!

“What experience and history teach is this,” says German philosopher Georg Hegel, “that nations and governments have never learned anything from history or acted upon any lessons they might have drawn from it.” Many may disagree with Hegel’s philosophy on life, but few will disagree with that statement. Sadly, people do seem to have severe difficulty learning anything from history. But must that be true of you?

Surely, one clear lesson to be learned is this: We need something far more dependable than fallible human philosophies if the tragedies of past generations are to be avoided. But if not human philosophy, what should guide our thinking? Over a thousand years before the time of the Crusades, disciples of Jesus Christ demonstrated what the true Christian course​—and the only reasonable course—​should be. Let’s examine what they did to avoid being sucked into the bloody conflicts of their day. But is it likely that nations today will learn how to do that and thus avoid conflicts? And regardless of what nations do, what will God’s solution be to bring an end to all this human misery?

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Barbarism and suffering have marked human conflicts

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Top: Refugees in war-torn area

How could supposedly civilized people become involved in such acts of unspeakable violence?

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Rwandan refugees: UN PHOTO 186788/J. Isaac; collapse of World Trade Center: AP Photo/Amy Sancetta

Learning From First-Century Christians

“Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ.”​—Colossians 2:8.

THAT was how the apostle Paul warned first-century Christians about the dangers of blindly following human philosophy. They could either stick to the dependable guidance given by Jesus and his apostles, teachings that had already brought them immense benefits, or become prey to the ever-shifting theories of men, a course that had already brought pain and misery to millions.​—1 Corinthians 1:19-21; 3:18-20.

Living “According to Christ”

The crusaders of about a thousand years ago missed the point that living “according to Christ” means much more than simply professing allegiance to Jesus Christ. (Matthew 7:21-23) It means living in complete harmony with the teachings of Jesus as found in God’s inspired Word, the Bible. (Matthew 7:15-20; John 17:17) “If you remain in my word,” said Jesus Christ, “you are really my disciples.” (John 8:31) “All will know that you are my disciples,” he said, “if you have love among yourselves.”​—John 13:35.

In truth, those crusaders had fallen prey to “empty deception according to the tradition of men.” And it is little wonder that ordinary people were deceived, when their religious leaders, their very bishops, “became renowned as military men.” A “warlike spirit became so common among the clergy,” says the Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, by McClintock and Strong, “that whenever anything was to be gained [by it], they were ever ready for war.”

What led to this sad situation? Following the death of the first-century Christian apostles, apostate church leaders increasingly deviated from Christ’s teachings, just as God’s Word had foretold. (Acts 20:29, 30) A corrupted church eventually became more and more entangled with the secular state. In the fourth century, Roman Emperor Constantine supposedly converted to Christianity on his deathbed. Then, says the Cyclopedia, “the exchange of the idol standards for the banner of the Cross laid every Christian under obligations to serve as a soldier.”

Of course, Christians really had no such obligation. But the “persuasive arguments” of human philosophy led them into gross violations of all that Christ stood for. (Colossians 2:4) Some very deceptive arguments have long been used to justify human wars and conflicts. Really though, for a humane or godly person to get involved in “the diabolism of war, as systematically practiced in ancient or modern times,” says the Cyclopedia, “cannot for a moment be reconciled with . . . the principles of Christianity.”

The religions outside Christendom have also resorted to war down through the centuries. Just like the churches of Christendom, they have slaughtered members of their own religion as well as others because of national, political, and religious differences. They have used violence or the threat of it to convert others to their own beliefs. To try and gain their ends, some of them have participated in the bloodbaths of history. They are no different from the religions of Christendom.

Separate From the World

Why were first-century Christians able to keep clear of the bloody wars and politics of their time? Two basic principles helped them. First, there was the command of Jesus to the apostle Peter when Peter used a sword to defend him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) Second, the words of Jesus to Pilate when he asked about the nature of Jesus’ kingship: “My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.”​—John 18:36.

How did first-century Christians apply those principles? They kept themselves completely separate from the world, maintaining strict neutrality when it came to political and military affairs. (John 15:17-19; 17:14-16; James 4:4) They refused to take up arms against their fellowman. It is clear from history that first-century Christians joined neither the Jewish nationalist movements nor the imperial armies of Rome. At the same time, they did not try to tell the political leaders what to do, as that was the responsibility of those governmental leaders.​—Galatians 6:5.

Justin Martyr, in the second century C.E., wrote about Christians’ having ‘beaten their swords into plowshares.’ (Micah 4:3) In response to those who raised objections about the Christian position, Tertullian asked: “Shall it be held lawful to make an occupation of the sword, when the Lord proclaims that he who uses the sword shall perish by the sword?”

“Obey God as Ruler Rather Than Men”

Refusing to go to war did not make things easy for the early Christians. It went against the accepted beliefs of the day. Celsus, an enemy of Christianity, mocked their position. His belief was that everyone should go to war when those in power demanded it. Despite immense hostility, early Christians refused to follow any human philosophy that contradicted the teachings of Christ. “We must obey God as ruler rather than men,” they said.​—Acts 4:19; 5:29.

Jehovah’s Witnesses in modern times have followed their example. In Nazi Germany, for instance, they resolutely refused to be drawn into Hitler’s murderous wars. They were willing to endure savage persecution, even die if necessary, rather than violate their Christian neutrality. It is reported that “one-half of their number was imprisoned and one-quarter executed” by the Nazis for their adherence to Bible principles. (Of Gods and Men) Thus, of the tens of millions killed in World War II, not one was killed by a Witness of Jehovah. Rather than kill others, Witnesses were willing to sacrifice their own lives, as many of them did.

A Lesson We Can Learn

What lessons can history teach us? Surely one is this: Human philosophy has constantly led to hatred and bloodshed among nations and peoples. Ecclesiastes 8:9 rightly states: “Man has dominated man to his injury.” And the underlying reason for this is found at Jeremiah 10:23, where God’s Word says: “To earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” No, God did not create humans to run their affairs successfully, independent of him. They were not given this capacity. All history has proved that.

Now, as individuals, we cannot change what the leaders of the nations do as they repeat the tragedies of the past, nor are we authorized to try to persuade them to take a certain course. But we do not have to be swept up into their conflicts and become part of them. Jesus said of his followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:14) To avoid becoming part of this world’s conflicts, we must let God’s Word, the Bible​—not the shifting sands of human philosophy—​guide our lives.​—Matthew 7:24-27; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

A Marvelous Future

God’s dependable Word does much more than shed light on the past and the present. It provides sure guidance for the future. (Psalm 119:105; Isaiah 46:9-11) It also gives a clear picture of what God’s purpose is for this planet. He will not allow humans to destroy the earth by insanely misusing the immense powers that science and technology have given them. He will make sure that this earth reaches the Paradise condition he originally purposed for it.​—Luke 23:43.

In this regard, God’s Word states: “The upright are the ones that will reside in the earth, and the blameless are the ones that will be left over in it. As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth; and as for the treacherous, they will be torn away from it.” (Proverbs 2:21, 22) This will take place soon, as these troubled times give evidence that we are living in “the last days” of this present wicked system of things. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13) And for a certainty, these last days are numbered; they are running out. Bible prophecy teaches us: “The world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.”​—1 John 2:17; Daniel 2:44.

Soon God will “bring to ruin those ruining the earth” and will replace this present violent world with a new world in which “righteousness is to dwell.” (Revelation 11:18; 2 Peter 3:10-13) Then, for those who remain, “he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.” (Revelation 21:1-4) Wars and violence will be gone forever, as the prophecy at Isaiah 2:4 will be realized to the full: “They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.” You too can enjoy that marvelous, everlasting future if you learn from the lessons of history.​—John 17:3.