state-violence

Updated: June 6, 2025

There are Some who Assert the Necessity of a State Organization, and Others who Deny it, both Arguing from same First Principles Neither Contention can be Proved by Abstract Argument The Question must be Decided by the Stage in the Development of Conscience of Each Man, which will either Prevent or Allow him to Support a Government Organization Recognition of the Futility and Immorality of Supporting a State Organization Contrary to Christian Principles will Decide the Question for Every Man, in Spite of any Action on Part of the State Argument of those who Defend the Government, that it is a Form of Social Life, Needed to Protect the Good from the Wicked, till all Nations and all Members of each Nation have Become Christians The Most Wicked are Always those in Power The whole History of Humanity is the History of the Forcible Appropriation of Power by the Wicked and their Oppression of the Good The Recognition by Governments of the Necessity of Opposing Evil by Force is Equivalent to Suicide on their Part The Abolition of State-violence cannot Increase the Sum Total of Acts of Violence The Suppression of the Use of Force is not only Possible, but is even Taking Place before Our Eyes But it will Never be Suppressed by the Violence of Government, but through Men who have Attained Power by Evidence Recognizing its Emptiness and Becoming Better and Less Capable of Using Force Individual Men and also Whole Nations Pass Through this Process By this Means Christianity is Diffused Through Consciousness of Men, not only in Spite of Use of Violence by Government, but even Through its Action,and therefore the Suppression is not to be Dreaded, but is Brought About by the National Progress of Life Objection of those who Defend State Organization that Universal Adoption of Christianity is hardly Likely to be Realized at any Time The General Adoption of the Truths of Christianity is being Brought About not only by the Gradual and Inward Means,that is, by Knowledge of the Truth, Prophetic Insight, and Recognition of the Emptiness of Power, and Renunciation of it by Individuals, but also by Another External Means, the Acceptance of a New Truth by Whole Masses of Men on a Lower Level of Development Through Simple Confidence in their Leaders When a Certain Stage in the Diffusion of a Truth has been Reached, a Public Opinion is Created which Impels a Whole Mass of Men, formerly Antagonistic to the New Truth, to Accept it And therefore all Men may Quickly be Brought to Renounce the use of Violence when once a Christian Public Opinion is Established The Conviction of Force being Necessary Hinders the Establishment of a Christian Public Opinion The Use of Violence Leads Men to Distrust the Spiritual Force which is the Only Force by which they Advance Neither Nations nor Individuals have been really Subjugated by Force, but only by Public Opinion, which no Force can Resist Savage Nations and Savage Men can only be Subdued by the Diffusion of a Christian Standard among them, while actually Christian Nations in order to Subdue them do all they can to Destroy a Christian Standard These Fruitless Attempts to Civilize Savages Cannot be Adduced as Proofs that Men Cannot be Subdued by Christianity Violence by Corrupting Public Opinion, only Hinders the Social Organization from being What it Ought to Be And by the Use of Violence being Suppressed, a Christian Public Opinion would be Established Whatever might be the Result of the Suppression of Use of Force, this Unknown Future could not be Worse than the Present Condition, and so there is no Need to Dread it To Attain Knowledge of the Unknown, and to Move Toward it, is the Essence of Life.

graf Leo Tolstoy - The Kingdom of God Is Within You