Note
REMOVAL
OF PREJUDICE
" If this prejudice and enmity are on account of religion ( consider
that) religion
should be the cause of fellowship ,
otherwise it is fruitless . and if
this
prejudice be the prejudice of nationality ( consider that ) all
mankind are of
one nation ; all have sprung from the tree of Adam, and
Adam is the root of
the tree. That tree is one and all these nations are
like branches , while the
individuals of humanity are like leaves ,blossoms and fruits thereof. Then
the
establishment of various nations and the consequent shedding of blood
and
destruction of the edifice of humanity result
from human ignorance and
selfish motives.
As to the patriotic prejudice , this is also due to absolute
ignorance, for the
surface of the earth is one native land. Every one can live in any spot
on the
terrestrial globe . Therefore all the
world is man's birthplace . These
boundaries and outlets have been devised by
man. In the creation, such
boundaries and outlets were not assigned. Europe is one
continent, Asia is
one continent, Africa is one continent , Australia is one
continent, but some
of the souls , from personal motives and selfish interests, have
divided each
each one of these continents and considered a certain
part as their own
country . God has set up no frontier between France and Germany;
they are
continuos. Yea, in the first centuries , selfish souls, for the promotion
of their
own interests, have assigned boundaries and outlets and have , day
by day,
attached more importance to
these , until this led to intense
enmity ,
bloodshed and rapacity in subsequent centuries . In the
same way this will
continue indefinitely , and if this conception
of patriotism remains limited
within a certain circle, it will be the primary cause of the
world's destruction.
No wise and just person will acknowledge these imaginary distinctions.
Every
limited area which we call our native country we regard as our
motherland ,
whereas the terrestrial globe is the motherland of all, and not
any restricted
area . In short , for a few days we live on this earth and
eventually we are
buried in it , it is our eternal tomb. Is it worth while that
we should engage in
bloodshed and tear one another to pieces for this
eternal tomb? Nay , far
from it , neither is God
pleased with such conduct nor
would any sane man
approve of it. "