- We know from Newton’s 3rd law that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
“But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Jesus Christ, English Standard Version Matthew 5:39
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In this analogy you can liken the violence to the slap. The turning of the cheek to non-violence which is the opposite to the violent stimulus.
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Viewed from this perspective Jesus was making a lot
of scientific sense, in the form of physics, when he said to engage in the opposite force in order to quell the primary force. -
To give an analogy of this the violence can be seen as fire and the nonviolent reaction can be seen as water. When someone gets fire and one does not respond with more fire then they are responding with water and this will extinguish the flames of anger. Most people are not able to do this and they do react with violence for violence or in other words eye for an eye or tooth for a tooth. That’s why the world is burning, if we were to listen and incorporate the message of Jesus and turn thy cheek then there would be water and the force would be quelled with its opposite, instead of adding more fuel to the fire.
Any thoughts? Especially from Physicists?
