Is war inevitable or can we end it?

This is the season of Lent. Many folks make challenging resolutions. I like to do something positive.

This Lent I will write about the many Methodist ministers and others who believe God doesn't start wars but man does.

First, let's talk about famous religious leaders who say and agree with the U.N. Charter: "War begins in the minds of men and war can end in the minds of men."

When in the army in 1943, I was being trained at the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. to be in the medical corps. I also went to church.

I would go to the Methodist Church and hear Rev. Rustin preach and then go to the Presbyterian Church and hear Peter Marshall. In 1946 I was living in New York City. There I went to church and heard Harry Emerson Fosdick, the outstanding Methodist preacher. I also went to hear Ralph Sockman and Norman Vincent Peale.

All of them thought we could stop war.

Today I am only going to talk about church folks, and sadly, close to 80 percent think man cannot stop war.

What surprised me was their common answer. They quoted the Bible, "There shall be wars and rumors of wars."

I often asked if they knew the passage in the fourth chapter of Micah: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Most didn't know this. Some knew that Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers."

During this Lenten season, I am sharing with you one of my missions. Hope many of you also have a mission to make a better world.

Robert Pendleton

Elk Grove Village