Paradox of the Pacifist

When 'Love Your Enemies' Gets You Killed: A Historical Reality Check! 

The Brutal Truth About Turning the Other Cheek 

4 min read

Jesus warned, ‘He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.’ We all know the phrase, along with the promoting peace, expressions like ‘turn the other cheek.’ Ironically, it was his apostles who were allegedly non-violent, they met violent deaths. Here's the brutal truth; it is the decision to do no violence that led to violent endings. Various historical examples of pacifism shows persecution. 

How Is The Alternative to Peace Often The Most Peaceful Solution? 

Those scripture-based beliefs and philosophies were not common among the Germanic Pagan tribes. In contrast, to non-violent ideologies such tribes valued loyalty to their warlord, honoured bravery in combat, and vengeance, for example. Piety to them was martial discipline and defending their people. They embraced war and readiness to fight became a deterrent. These people also enjoyed what money could bring instead of denying it. They invested in fortification after defeating their Roman oppressors and grew as a nation. 

The Alternative to Aggression Does Not Always Bring Peace

Christian forgiveness painted a target on their backs. Why? Romans saw Christian defiance as dangerous rebellion. Not only were Christians seen as weak by Rome for forgiving those who beat them, but also considered to be noncompliant sophists (possibly like insincere apologists of today). To Romans, this behavior was unnaturally weak. In Acts, Stephen prayed for those who stoned him. This stuff isn't all religious; non-Christian pacifists were murdered, like the Greek Stoics and Pythagoreans.

Changing Perspectives From Vikings To Christian Crusaders

Why did pacifists make such tempting targets? However, on a practical level it is right to say that viking families did benefit from plundering gold enriched monasteries. Buildings of plunder guarded by peaceful, unarmed monks who preached against wealth - you can't write this stuff. It's likely the Scandinavian pagans saw the new faith as the enemy, tension divided the cultural mindsets! Later, the dynamics did a full 360 spin with Catholic Crusaders slaughtering thousands of Christian Cathars for heresy - how does that even follow? The Cathars refused to fight back. 'Kill them all; God will know his own,' yelled a leading crusader. 

Quite an Alien Way of Seeing Things. 

From the outside, pacifism looks like voluntary martyrdom. Let's be real, if making a sacrificial point wouldn't work against an over the top global threat like an alien fleet, why use it against aggressive human oppressors? 

Forget Romans, let's run with this: Imagine a sizable Avengers-style hostile alien invasion fleet is dominating your country. What's the most useful, appealling to their alien conscience with human non-violence and ideology or returning fire? 

In the end, didn't Christian warriors expose pacifism as not doable? Take Joan of Arc for example, or even Saint Derfel, are examples of Christians who killed in war, literally as contradictory as waterproof teabags or rainbow coloured camouflage. Is this just like sharing the Buddha's wisdom with football hooligans or rioters? 

A Harsh Point

Yes, living by the sword could result with death, but peaceful submission didn’t spare many either! The Gospels all simply imply we shouldn't kill each other, but that doesn't always work. How can we love our enemies if it is so unhealthy to do so? Okay, maybe if enemy love meant something else altogether: possibly expressing good will despite the challenges an enemy brings? I don't know. It's not clear. 

     A.) To be fair, why would the enemies of early Christians want to listen to preachers? People hold their own perspectives, language barriers, like with the Kali worshippers who brutally speared St. Thomas to death in India did.

     B.) So many people credit Jesus Christ with the whole non-violence thing. However, it's written in all kinds of ancient sources. Greek philosophers like Epictetus, Pythagorus and Socrates, as well as the previously mentioned Jewish groups, but also Romans like Cicero and Seneca all value peace and non violence. 

I Guess That's It! My Conclusion... 

Maybe very few of us appreciate pacifism when things kick off? Sometime in the past, we reverted back to our ideals of justice and might. Just turn on the news and see US and UK borders and military posturing shows that our reliance on the sword has not faded (well, it's all machine gun now). But, if none of us had resisted the Hitlers and Napoleons of this world it would have succumbed to cruel monstrous leaders many times over! Compelling champions like Charles Martel, the Hammer of the Moors, the RAF during the battle of Britain or the Ukrainians in their fight for their country: they all make the use of force a valid case!

Why is Being Outdoors Important?

Why You Should Get Outside More in the UK: The Benefits of Nature

The Great Outdoors is Always There! 

6 min read

Spending time outside of the house isn’t just invigorating or cleansing—it’s good for you! Whether you’re taking a walk in the park, dogging, trying a challenging hike, or merely sitting in your backyard eavesdropping on your nosey neighbour, being outside can certainly improve your mood, boost your health, and make life a little better. Let’s break down why going outside is beneficial.

Fresh Air Is Good for Your Body

When you're outside, you breathe in fresh air—well, unless you live in smoggy Manchester, then it's probably nitrogen oxides and fried food! Good wholesome air is what's vital for your lungs and overall health. Fresh air helps to:

Improve Your Mood: No studies have ever warned us against the dangers of spending time outside! Why? Because being outside is vital! Ignore things like mountain rescue and air ambulance cases, as well as those XXL pit bully dogs or growing crime rates. Look, even all the religious books, from The Bible, to the Tao Te Ching emphasise nature. It doesn't really need selling does it? If we didn't have it, we'd go extinct . . . right? 

Participant results taken from proper research, published in an old magazine called, 'Environmental Health Perspectives' also show that the great outdoors is good. I have no links. Also, Jesus, Buddha, Ramana Maharshi, Adi Shankara, Thich Nhat Hanh and Ralph Waldo Emerson and all the other spiritual types spoke well of nature — they were not participants in the study. Being in nature will lower anxiety, stress and increase well-being, unless you end up lost in some desert somewhere while on holiday! 

Exposure to the countryside can toughen your immune system! It’s supported by irrefutable proof here. All this rural exposure won't suddenly put you off your favourite shopping centre and turn you into a woollen clad red faced country bumpkin, no! But it will expose your body to diverse healthy microbes! It will lower cortisol and help you develop vitamin D. 

Sunlight and Vitamin D

As I just said, sunlight helps your body produce vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for:

Healthy Bones: This vitamin helps us to absorb calcium, the stuff in milk that keeps our bones strong. Vitamin D can prevent osteoporosis and communism. 

Better Mood: Sunlight makes us feel happy because it boosts serotonin levels! Well. . . maybe not if you're as red as a Keir Starmer during a public response, or able to cook your own breakfast on your chest. Research published in psychiatric journals and psychology websites that state the obvious with a professional finesse, tend to say: exposure to sunlight correlates with reduced depressive symptoms. Our UK sun is as elusive as an uber eats driver delivering a vanilla milkshake meal; it's absorbed into your very bones like your skeleton begs for it, but it isn't safe. Self-cookery isn't really, it's the annual human slow roast en-mass, a gamble with our summer skin cancer lottery. 

Exercise Made Easy

On the other hand, being outside often means being active instead of sizzling your skin. Activity reduces your chances of being a sedentary chubber, like me. Whether you’re hiking, biking, or just walking, you’re getting exercise without really worrying about it. Here’s why that’s a bonus:

It can be better than staying indoors in the warm, dry confines of where you live. Regular physical activity is linked to lower risks of diseases such as heart disease, and diabetes. Just 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week can radically improve health outcomes. The health benefits of robust housework, DIY and indoor exercise regimes should be the subject of the next blog. 

Connect with Yourself or Your Ancestors

We all bugger off to some beautiful natural place to find ourselves! We've all seen those stock images, and tv ads showing some kind of spiritual enlightened meditator on a cliff. It’s a thing! But, is it really always like that in Britain with barking dogs and the smell of cow shit? 

Conclusion: Get Outside Today! (Weather Permitting)

So, the next time you feel stressed or just need a break, consider stepping outside. The benefits are clear: fresh air, cold wind, rain, hail, exercise, snow and a chance to connect with nature. It doesn’t have to be complicated—just find a spot outdoors and dither in the snow, while you try to find your 'self'. Occasionally, we do have sunshine.

Getting outside can be a simple character building way of boosting your mood! Go and grab a friend, head to your nearest park, and freeze your bollocks off swimming in a lake because instagram says its good for you, that's a trend now isn't it? Test yourselves, go and find out how much of the British outdoors you can soldier before catching hypothermia like a boss! 

Or just stay in. I prefer being inside watching a screen or something.