Sárospataki Füzetek 20. (2016)
2016 / 2. szám - ARTICLES / STUDIEN - Henk E. S. Woldring: Comenius' Search for Conditions of Peace set against the Perspective of Shalom
Henk ES. Woldring Comenius did not consider the world as a static whole, but as a terrain of possibilities which human beings can investigate to achieve improvements. One of these possibilitiess was a universal or global language which would have to introduced in all countries. However, Comenius did not claim a the existence of universal language as a condition for enduring peace. He discussed a universal language as a means to achieve enduring peace as a permanent situation.10 Finally he desired to improve the humanity of mankind, and in this way to contribute to the good life or happiness of human beings. This goal places enduring peace in the perspective of shalom. PART II: ENDURING PEACE IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF SHALOM 5. Destination of Peace: Shalom Comenius’ Angelus pacis was substantially influenced by Erasmus’ book The Complaint of Peace, that was published one hundred and fifty years earlier, in 1517. There is a clear relationship between both books, in particular concerning the theme of peace and happiness. Erasmus discusses peace as a source of ‘human happiness,’ and ‘happiness of all.’11 In 1659 Comenius had published a book titled Happiness of a Nation (Gentis felicitas), in which he used the word ‘happiness’ in the sense of general welfare. This means that it does not just concern material prosperity, but particularly to bring into practise justice and righteousness, This practice would promote the moral level of society, and the quality of life of the nation as a whole and of individual citizens. So, Comenius characterized welfare of a nation as happiness. As I observed before, in Angelus pacis Comenius discusses peace as the basis upon which to strive for general welfare, or peace as a necessary condition for achieving all-embracing welfare. Whatever the case may be, peace may be understood as a situation of striving for happiness or a situation that gives joy — a situation that may be typified with the Hebrew word of peace, shalom. Shalom means more than a situation of enduring peace. A situation of shalom is characterized by bringing into practice justice, righteousness and other moral virtues, material existential securities, and the quality of life one experiences, individually and collectively, as a joy. In other words, shalom is achieved in a moral community in which human beings live for mutual support of each other. The human being enjoys a life in harmony with himself and with others, with society and nature, and with God.12 Festschrift für Werner Korthaase zum 70. Geburtstag, Uhersky Brod, Muzeum J.A. Komenského, 2008, 337-343. 10 Comenius, J.A.: Via lucis/Der Weg des Uchtes, Lateinisch-Deutsch, eingeleitet, übersetzt und mit Anmerkungen versehen Voigt, U. von, Hamburg, Meiner, 1997, XIX, 6,15, XX, 13. 11 Erasmus, D.: The Complaint of Peace (1517). Amsterdam/New York, Theatrum Orbis Terrerum/ Da Capo Press, 1973. 5-7, 84ff. 12 See Wolterstorff, N.P.: Until Justice and Peace Embrace, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdmans, 1983.67-72. 70 Sárospataki Füzetek 20. évfolyam 2016 - 2
