War and Peace’, a literary work by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, was set during Nepolianic wars. The work is a fictional narrative with chapters discussing history and philosophy. It broadly focuses in Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812. Most of the characters are introduced at a party. The focus here is whether the people need ‘war’ or ‘Peace’. The men should learn from history the after effect of war whether it is between territorial or national. Every war brings lasting consequences that destruction never be rebuilt. War destroys community and families and often disrupts the development of the social and economic fabric of nations. The effects of war include long term physical and psychological harm to children and adults, as well as reduction in material and human capital. The effect of war include mass destruction of cities and have lasting consequences of a country’s economy. It affects infrastructure, public health provision and social order. The labour force is affected in many ways due to the drastic loss of life, change in population and destruction of infrastructure affect productivity. It takes long time to reset social order, may not be fulfilled completely. Refugees are also at an increased risk. Heinrich Boll, German Nobel Prize Winner remarked the long term effects of war. ‘The war will never be over, never, as long as somewhere a wound it had inflicted is still bleeding’. Economic crisis Alvarez of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tampico said that the roof collapsed while the worshipers were receiving communion at the Santa Cruz church in the Gulf Coast city of Ciudad Madero The Supreme Court of India has declined to legalize same-sex marriages, saying that the case is beyond its scope and should be decided by the parliament. The LGBTQ+ people in India hoped that the judges in the Supreme Court would recognize their constitutional right to marriage equality. An artillery strike on a displaced persons’ camp in north-east Myanmar has killed at least 29 people, which includes children. The camp is in an area that is controlled by the KachinIndependence Organization (KIO), one of several ethnic insurgent groups, fighting for independence for several decades. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,Bola Tinubu has confirmed that there would be a six-month increase to the minimum wage, as workers are prepared to begin an indefinite strike, while addressing the country on national television in its 63rd year of independence. Six men suspected of being involved in the assassination of Ecuador’s anti-corruption presidential candidate have been killed in prison, just a week before a crucial run-off election. The office of the attorney general confirmed that the suspects were killed in a penitentiary in the country’s largest city. The six suspects were arrested on the day that Villavicencio was assassinated. The voters in New Zealand have voted in support of the opposition National Party, rejecting the Labour government. The result of the election marked a surprising change in for the Labour Party, which secured a historic mandate three years ago.

Conflicts and disputes arise from our desires, our drive to covet, exploit and dominate. This is evident and is illustrated by political and economic history. During this process, over the centuries people of this world have been victimized. If we will not overcome violence, and act collectively and holistically, then violence will remain dominant on a massive scale, continuing to be pervasive and corrosive, and will eventually consume humanity and the world. The Root of Violence From the biblical perspective, all human conflicts stem from sin, the fall of humankind as recorded in the third chapter of Genesis. As per the next chapter of the book, the murder of Abel by Cain his brother is the consequence of sin. Sin is the root cause, while enviousness and jealousy are the consequences which led to the crime being committed. This biblical understanding of the world’s prevalent chaos is based on two presuppositions: one, the fall of humankind best explains the universality of sin and its consequences; and two, the need for a saviour whose salvation will have universal impact and significance. According to the Scriptural understanding, this latter need is fulfilled and thus the imperative and necessity is hard-won salvation for all. together, justice and peace have kissed” as recorded in the tenth verse of the eighty-fifth Psalm. A scriptural reconciliationwhich will restore peace and justice must be holistic,and include the spiritual, personal, social and ecological dimensions of life. We hope that our understanding of justice, restorative justice within community, will make its own just contribution to the search for reconciliation in the violent world of today. God’s salvation for the world through Christ confirms the fact that the God of peace seeks and earnestly desires more than punishment, and aims at restoring the broken world and its people to a condition of harmony and reconciliation.

The present world which combats with geopolitical tensions, clashes of ideologies, and societal unrest, the task of peacekeeping becomes a pressing need. From battles for political power to disparities in socioeconomic conditions, and from environmental beliefs and emotions often hold more sway than objective reality, making it difficult to find common ground for dialogue and resolution. In this context, establishing peace requires a concerte effort to rebuild trust, promote media literacy, and engage in dialogue that transcends ideological divides. It also calls for a renewed emphasis on evidence-based decision-making and a commitment to upholding the truth as a foundation for meaningful progress. Shalom: A Holistic Approach to Nurturing Peace Shalom is derived from the Hebrew root slm or shalam which means to be safe or complete. The term shelam, of Chaldean origin means both peace and restoration. Aramaic derivations shalam is said to mean safety, completeness and welfare. The Assyrian term salamu denotes to be complete, unharmed, paid/ atoned. The Arabic root salaam means to be safe, secure, and forgiven. It also proposes a personal commitment to the concept, action, and transcendence of peace. Wholeness and Completeness: Shalom signifies a state of completeness and safety. In peace-building, this implies recognizing the intrinsic worth and dignity of all individuals involved. It encourages efforts to address not only surface-level issues, but also the underlying root causes of conflicts, seeking comprehensive solutions that promote the well-being of all parties. Restoration and Healing: shalom underscores the idea of restoration. In peace efforts, this can translate to initiatives focused on reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing for communities affected by conflict. It involves acknowledging past grievances and working towards a future of renewed relationships and mutual understanding. Safety and Security: Across various linguistic roots, the notion of safety and security is central to the concept of Shalom. In peace-building, this emphasizes the need for creating environments where individuals and communities feel protected, free from the threat of violence or harm. Personal Commitment to Peace: Shalom places an emphasis on personal commitment to the concept of peace. In practice, this encourages individuals to actively engage in promoting peace within their communities. It might involve participating in dialogue forums, advocating for peaceful solutions, and fostering a culture of tolerance and understanding. Conclusion In a world rife with geopolitical tensions and ideological divides, the pursuit of peace stands as an urgent imperative. The enduring concept of Shalom offers a beacon of hope, emphasizing wholeness, restoration, and personal commitment to peace. It beckons us to strive for a deeper, more enduring form of peace that encompasses the holistic well-being of individuals, communities, and the world at large. The gospel of Mathew fifth chapter verse nine brings the word of Christ, blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God

Most contemporary wars are neither between states nor about resources, rather manifested through what we have come to call “ethnic” or “sectarian” conflict. Conventional wisdom attributes these cultural wars to socio-biology and ancient animosities, and differentiates themselves from one another.This leads to continuous disorder and violence, both interstate and intrastate, affected severely many nations. The project of globalization, an all-encompassing term, as it leads to large-scale wars and threats, have made reification of the individual the highest value of many societies, both developed and developing. The heedless pursuit of individual self-interest can lead to a degree of social destabilization that may collapse into uncontrolled violence and destruction. The search for a unifying theory of international peace and world order has been underway for centuries. Such ideas were offered by classical and pre-modern theorists. A safe life requires safe truths. The strange and the alien remain unexamined, the unknown becomes identified as evil, and evil provokes hostility. In its continuous search to overcome violence, and to seek peace, justice and reconciliation, the global church should evaluate critically the prevalent approaches to justice and consider which is more in accordance with the Scripture. If so, we can experience the global peace, the long-awaited dream of the seekers after peace. Humanity everywhere is threatened and under attack, and the global church must devise an appropriate global response. And she must restore global peace by instituting social justice. – (Chief Editor)