Ignorance is the mother of violence, fear is its father. Combined, they work together to undermine faith. Much of the world’s religions, including much of Christianity, has become based in fear and ignorance, and this is one of the greatest promoters of atheism. But atheism, too, is based in fear and ignorance. One who has a genuine faith in Christ no longer subscribes to fear and ignorance, and no longer hates, wishes to persecute or resorts to violence, either physical, emotional of verbal. As the apostle so clearly tells us, "we have not been placed in bondage to a spirit of fear," and our beloved father John the Evangelist enjoins that "there is no fear in love; rather perfect love drives out fear," and "whoever still has fear has not been made perfect in love."
— Archbishop Lazar Puhalo
Violence is the gut reaction to perceived loss of power and control and a desperate attempt to re-assert that control. I agree witht the Archbishop that at the very root of violence is indeed fear. As a society we have been fed a lie that violence is the domain of those who have the strength of will to harm another. What hogwash. True strength of will and character is found in the one who can, after being slapped on one side of his face, turn the other side to his attacker to be struck as well. Overcoming one’s fear is far more admirable than forming a fist and causing others violent pain.