What Truly Moves This World: Ostensibly, politics drives the world. But in reality, war, religion, and slavery are the true forces behind it. War redefines core values and shifts the balance of power in society. Naturally, power also plays a role. Even though the Roman Empire fell, the Christian Church has lasted over 2,000 years. Religion always exceeds politics. No slavery now? Even without an explicit system, slave-like traits and statuses still exist across society. Maybe this won’t disappear until the end of the world. War, religion, and slavery are fundamental to these economic systems and monetary policies . The flow of money and changes in the economic system can be understood through these three forces. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Jesus taught, “If you got slapped your right cheek, turn the other cheek.” One of the actions that the Jewish Qumran community denied and forbade was “pointing with the left hand.” Violations of this rule brought sanctions from the community. To hit the right cheek means the opponent strikes with an unclean left or right backhand. This cheek slap is deliberately insulting and humiliating rather than merely a pain-inflicting action. Therefore, this teaching of Jesus, “turn the other cheek,” suggests not allowing oneself to be struck by the back of the hand and can signify not being helpless but being active in nonviolent resistance without seeking revenge or retaliation. Perhaps this teaching carries a frightening meaning. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”