Learning From History

how to avoid going to war on false premises

"in the Church-services held on the occasion of the departure of troops for South Africa, certain hymns are used in a manner which substitutes for the spiritual enemy the human enemy. Thus for a generation past, under cover of the forms of a religion which preaches peace, love, and forgiveness; there has been a perpetual shouting of the words: 'blood' and 'war', 'fire' and 'battle', and a continual exercise of the antagonistic feelings".

Herbert Spencer on the Boers war.