453. At this point some readers will naturally think that situations of war are not as a rule anything one wishes for, but something brought about as an inevitable necessity, as, for instance, in defence against oppression, repelling attack or aggression, and in protecting one's rights, and so forth. And it is correct that mankind is actually so far advanced in development that war is no longer such a shining ideal as in days gone by and in reality is not desired by its perpetrators, but is considered by them more of an absolutely enforced necessity. But this side of the question is actually evident only at the moment or at the juncture when war is let loose. The true cause of every war certainly does not lie in the moment, but indeed – as far as present day terrestrial man is concerned – it lies in causes thousands of years ago. The wars which are declared, or are prepared for today, do not have their true and deepest roots in the causes on which they are proclaimed to be based. In reality these are merely outer physical releasing factors. These factors are actually vibrating waves of reaction from a period of time which has disappeared long ago, a time with quite different day-conscious ideals and authorized moral principles than those we try to put into practise today as the way towards perfection.
      That this is so is certainly proved time and time again by the fact that many belligerent powers have had an authorized set of moral principles which are diametrically opposed to war. This applies especially to those powers who claim to be "Christians". Here, the compulsory authorized moral precepts or religious instruction in schools contain such fundamental maxims as: "put up thy sword into his place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword"; "whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also"; "dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves; vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord"; "thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself", and so on. And exactly these precepts are taught by thousands of equally authorized clergy in the official churches or religious institutions belonging to those same powers.
      As Christianity without these ideals cannot in any way be considered "Christianity", then war is a measure which cannot in any form whatsoever belong with the term "Christianity". That war may nevertheless come about as a fate which is a "moral" necessity only shows that such "morals" and such a fate have nothing at all to do with Christianity.
      Where do such morals and such a fate come from? The answer is straightforward. They can only originate from a period of time which was before Christianity. This is also exactly in agreement with the actual facts. Before Christianity, mankind's fate and morals were, indeed, based upon war. Only those that were skilful in battle were heroes and were qualified to enter the "heavenly kingdom" of those days. Indeed, it was the only desirable way of life at that time; war was the only activity which gave admission to "Valhalla" and to the favour of the gods. Furthermore, this way of life was the most natural continuation of that of animals from whom, of course, terrestrial man himself originated.