The Roots of War: A Deeper Look

War doesn’t begin with weapons—it begins in the human mind. The external conflict is merely a reflection of internal unrest—within individuals and societies. Let’s take a deeper look at the roots of war:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Hatred

Origin: Hatred doesn’t arise overnight. It accumulates through pain, injustice, and unresolved misunderstandings. When not healed with forgiveness or empathy, hatred becomes a smoldering fire.

Consequences:

On a personal level, it leads to violence and revenge.
On a societal level, it fosters extremism and an “us vs. them” mentality—fueling ethnic or ideological wars.
Example: The Israel-Palestine conflict stems from generational hatred.

2. Ego

Origin: Ego is the attachment to the self—the belief that “I am right” or “I am the center.” An inflated ego makes it difficult to listen or compromise.

Consequences:

Leads to conflict when no side is willing to back down.
In leadership, ego-driven decisions serve personal pride over public good.
Example: Many wars began from wounded pride between rulers or nations.

3. False Beliefs

Origin: When people hold distorted beliefs—like “our race is superior” or “only our religion is true”—they lose the ability to respect and understand others.

Consequences:

Fosters xenophobia, discrimination, and intolerance.
Turns people into tools of extremist ideologies.
Example: Nazi Germany and the Holocaust were driven by racist and false beliefs.

4. Arrogance

Origin: Arrogance is the belief in one’s superiority—morally, intellectually, culturally, or militarily. On a national scale, it becomes imperialism.

Consequences:

Justifies domination and conquest of others deemed “inferior.”
Excuses colonization and exploitation under the guise of “civilizing missions.”
Example: Western colonial powers used “civilization” to justify occupation and resource extraction.