I just listened to the short story The Toys of Peace by Saki on Selected Shorts. It is a clever story about a well-meaning, but clueless couple trying to properly educate a pair of boys (9 and 11) towards peace rather than violence. Their uncle buys them toys resembling municipalities, industry, and public works as well as individuals resembling politicians and civil servants. Their hope is that the boys will change their play from a focus of warfare to one of peace. SPOILER ALEART As the story ends the boys have made the toys into a bloody confrontation.
This is an excellent satire on human nature as well as those who think they know better. Is it our natural proclivity to lean towards violence? Do we need to learn how to be civil towards each other, and do we do this out of a feeling of necessity (as some philosophers suggest)? Give a child a stick and it quickly becomes a sword.
This partly addresses the wonderful question of nature vs. nurture of the naturalists, or original sin vs. original capacity to sin for the religious. I know there are those out their who immediately argue for original sin, agreeing with the idea of nature. If this is the case, than the sanctifying grace of Christ is necessary to keep us all from becoming blood-thirsty killers. Yet there are many non-Christians who are not blood-thirsty killers perhaps suggesting that there is a nurturing affect on people that teach us a code of conduct and self-control.
We can do better on our own or with Christ. A question, then, is if Christians get a leg up because of sanctifying grace, or if it is just a different way to try to avoid one’s natural inclinations towards violence. That is if you buy such an idea.
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