Violence Hurts Us All

WHO has not been affected by violence? We see it constantly in news reports. We fear it on the streets and at work, and children face it from bullies at school. Even at home, where people usually feel secure behind locked doors, millions​—especially women—​feel unsafe. In fact, depending on the country, up to 70 percent of women report that they have been assaulted by an intimate partner.

In many countries, people fear violent political or social uprisings or even terrorism. These fears are reflected in the increased level of electronic surveillance evident in some lands, especially those that have been a target of terrorism.

Understandably, the video-surveillance industry is booming​—despite the global economic downturn. Who pays for all of this? Ultimately, we do, in the form of taxes and other fees. And such costs may well increase as security measures become more invasive, pervasive, and expensive.

The disturbing effects of violence should make us reflect on ourselves​—our ethics and our beliefs. The following articles will consider these questions: What part does the media play in the spread of violence? What factors can influence our attitude toward violence? How can we protect ourselves from negative influences?

Infatuated With Violence

THE world today is infatuated with violence. To be sure, violence has always been featured in entertainment. However, “in recent years,” says the Media Awareness Network, “something about media violence has changed. For one thing, there’s more of it.” For another, it is “much more graphic, much more sexual, and much more sadistic.” Consider the following.

Music: Songs featuring increasingly violent lyrics “have moved into the mainstream of the music industry,” says the above source. Using filthy language, some songs glorify murder and rape, even of wives and mothers.

Video Games: “The uncomfortable fact is, videogames have an unhealthy obsession with bloodshed,” stated a British magazine for video-game enthusiasts. It added: “To some degree, a love of videogames demands a love of violence.” For example, one popular game enables players to simulate beating women to death with baseball bats. Some authorities believe that video games, being interactive, may have a more powerful negative influence on children than TV does.

Movies: Studies show that violence, sex, and profanity have increased significantly in movies, and ratings may not be a reliable guide. Moreover, it is not just the “bad guys” who are violent. Nearly half the violence depicted on TV, in movies, and in music videos is committed by the “good guys,” according to one study.

News: “If it bleeds, it leads” is the guiding principle for many TV-news producers. News is big business, and newsmen know that violence attracts viewers and that high viewer ratings attract advertisers, who finance TV programming in many lands.

Web Sites: Both virtual and real-life images of torture, dismemberment, mutilation, and murder are available on the Internet. Many children visit these sites.

Can Media Violence Influence You?

Does violence in television, movies, books, music, and other forms of entertainment influence people? Granted, those profiting from media violence often argue that their products do no harm. But consider this: To influence people’s thinking, the business world pays billions of dollars for commercials, each of which may be just 30 seconds in length. Is it reasonable, then, to assume that a 90-minute movie, the heroes of which may be immoral and violent, will have little or no effect, especially on the impressionable minds of children?

Our Creator, Jehovah God, knows human nature far better than we do. What has he told us about associating with violent people​—including, in principle, those who entertain us through the popular media? Consider the following Bible texts:

● “Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one, and anyone loving violence His soul certainly hates.”​—Psalm 11:5.

● “Do not have companionship with anyone given to anger; and with a man having fits of rage you must not enter in, that you may not get familiar with his paths and certainly take a snare for your soul.”​—Proverbs 22:24, 25.

Of course, we cannot cut ourselves off from exposure to all bad influences. But we can choose our entertainment and the people with whom we socialize. So ask yourself, ‘What sort of person do I want to be?’ Then associate with people like that, people who have the same values and goals that you want to have.​—Proverbs 13:20.

While our choice of associates and entertainment may influence our attitude toward violence, other factors may also influence us. What might these be?

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Our choice of entertainment may influence our attitude toward violence

Causes of Violence

THE roots of violence tend to be complex. And often, they cannot be attributed to a single factor, such as associates, entertainment, or social environment. Many elements may be involved, including the following.

Desperation and despair. Sometimes people resort to violence when they are oppressed, discriminated against, socially isolated, or economically deprived or when they feel that they have no control over their life.

The mob spirit. As is often seen at sporting events, people in groups or mobs seem to have fewer inhibitions against bad behavior. Why? They are “less aware of their own moral standards and are much more likely to respond to violent or aggressive cues,” says the book Social Psychology. Such individuals, states another work, may become mindless puppets, losing “all the feelings of social responsibility.”

Hatred and jealousy. The first documented murder in human history was committed by a man named Cain. (Genesis 4:1-8) Inflamed with jealous hatred, Cain murdered his brother​—even though God warned Cain to control his emotions and promised to bless him if he did. How true are the Bible’s words: “Where jealousy and contentiousness are, there disorder and every vile thing are”!​—James 3:16.

Alcohol and drug abuse. Substance abuse not only impairs physical and mental health but also inhibits control centers in the brain. A result is that a person under the influence may become more prone to violent behavior and respond more aggressively to provocation.

Lax criminal-justice systems. “Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad,” says Ecclesiastes 8:11. Weak, incompetent, or corrupt systems of justice directly or indirectly promote violence.

False religion. Religion is often linked to violence, including sectarian violence and terrorism. But it is not just bigots, extremists, and fanatics who are to blame. During the two world wars, members of mainstream religions​—“Christian” and non-Christian—​slaughtered one another, often with the blessing of their spiritual leaders. Such behavior offends God.​—Titus 1:16; Revelation 17:5, 6; 18:24.

In view of the many forces that advocate or glorify violence, is it possible to become a truly peaceable person in today’s world? Yes, as we shall now see.

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VIOLENCE STARTS WITHIN

Even though violence may be triggered by a number of elements, its primary roots lie within ourselves. How so? Jesus Christ, who had profound insight into the human heart, stated: “Out of the heart of men, injurious reasonings issue forth: fornications, thieveries, murders, adulteries, covetings, acts of wickedness, deceit, loose conduct, an envious eye, blasphemy, haughtiness, unreasonableness.” (Mark 7:21, 22) We feed such wrong inclinations when we repeatedly look at, listen to, or think about bad things.​—James 1:14, 15.

On the other hand, when we feed our mind with wholesome things, such as those mentioned in the article on page 8, we starve and “deaden” bad desires and nurture good ones. (Colossians 3:5; Philippians 4:8) God will then help us “to be made mighty in the man [we] are inside.”​—Ephesians 3:16.

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VIOLENCE BAFFLES EXPERTS

Why do some countries report murder rates 60 times higher than others? Why have wars and other forms of violence been a constant feature of human history? Baffling questions are many; convincing answers are few.

Some researchers hold that poverty and inequality trigger violence. According to some statistics, about 90 percent of all violence-related deaths, including suicide, have occurred in the world’s less-prosperous nations; and the poorer neighborhoods of cities are often high-crime areas. But are poor people really more violent? Or do they suffer more violence because their communities cannot afford good-quality law enforcement? Then there are places like Calcutta, India, where millions live in extreme poverty. Yet, Calcutta has one of the world’s lowest murder rates.

Others theorize that the ready availability of guns makes a society more violent. Certainly, guns make violent people more dangerous. But why do some societies have a higher proportion of violent people? Again, experts cannot agree.

You Can Learn to Be Peaceable

ALTHOUGH we may be born with certain wrong inclinations, violent behavior is usually learned. The same is true of peaceableness. Who, though, can teach us the ways of true peace? Surely, the most authoritative person would be our Creator, whose wisdom is unsurpassed. Consider the following five points and the associated gems of wisdom found in the Bible.

1 “Do not become envious of the man of violence.” (Proverbs 3:31) Recognize that real strength lies in such qualities as self-control and mildness. “He that is slow to anger is better than a mighty man,” says Proverbs 16:32. Like the strong wall of a dam, he is able to withstand the pressures of provocation. In fact, he responds to anger with mildness, and thus “turns away rage.” (Proverbs 15:1) A man disposed to wrath, however, explodes at the slightest provocation.​—Proverbs 25:28.

2 Choose your associates wisely. “A man of violence will seduce his fellow,” says Proverbs 16:29. On the other hand, “he that is walking with wise persons will become wise.” (Proverbs 13:20) Yes, when we associate with peaceable people who have self-control and a mild spirit, we will most likely try to imitate them.

3 Cultivate true love for others. The best description of love ever written is found at 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. In part, it reads: “Love is long-suffering and kind. . . . [It] does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. . . . It bears all things, . . . endures all things.” Godlike love, Jesus said, extends even to one’s enemies.​—Matthew 5:44, 45.

4 Trust God to deal with the wicked. “Return evil for evil to no one. . . . As far as it depends upon you, be peaceable with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, . . . for it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.’” (Romans 12:17-19) When we have faith in God and in his promises, we enjoy an inner peace that people lacking faith cannot even begin to understand.​—Psalm 7:14-16; Philippians 4:6, 7.

5 Look to God’s Kingdom to bring true peace to the earth. God’s Kingdom is a heavenly government that will soon eradicate all the wicked and take full control of the entire earth. (Psalm 37:8-11; Daniel 2:44) Under that Kingdom, “the righteous one will sprout,” and there will be an “abundance of peace until the moon is no more.”​—Psalm 72:7.

Such Bible teachings have helped millions of people​—including some with a violent disposition—​to become lovers of peace. Consider the example of Salvador Garza.

I Loved Violence

As told by Salvador Garza

WHEN I was a boy, I loved violence and fought anyone who made me angry. A local boxing champion noticed this and taught me to box. In time, I was traveling around the United States as a professional boxer. Later, I worked as a bodyguard for a gangster.

My love of violence continued even after I married and had six children. By then, I was running a nightclub. Several times people tried to kill me, but I enjoyed the excitement. I once shot two men in a fight, badly wounding them. Some friends and I even planned to kidnap a prominent politician. But the police discovered the plot and arrested me. When the police caught up with the others, there was a shoot-out and my friends were all killed. So I am glad that I was in prison at the time!

Years later, I was released and found a job. On my way home from work one day, I suffered a sudden, incapacitating headache. I was so worried that I prayed for help. My wife, Dolores, who had been studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, had told me that God has a name​—Jehovah. (Psalm 83:18) So I prayed specifically to him.

Once I recovered, Dolores encouraged me to attend the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses at their Kingdom Hall. The kindness and genuine interest of the Witnesses brought tears to my eyes. As a result, I too began to study the Bible and my whole outlook on life began to change. I loved what I was being taught.

Learning to control my temper, however, took a little longer. To illustrate, one day while I was engaged in the house-to-house ministry with my friend Antonio, we met a man who spoke abusively to us. I was incensed, so I lunged at him. Fortunately, Antonio restrained me. Later, he patiently drew my attention to how Jesus endured much ridicule and abuse. The apostle Peter, who worked closely with Jesus, wrote: “When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return.” (1 Peter 2:23) I took those words to heart.

Looking back at the changes I have made over the years, I regularly thank Jehovah for his holy spirit, which helps us to exercise self-control and to become truly peaceable. (Galatians 5:22, 23) My family is together and happy, and we enjoy a quiet, peaceful life. Moreover, I have the privilege of serving as a full-time minister, helping others to find the peace of God.

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Studying the Bible helped Salvador find peace