Cannibalism was a solemn ceremony of revenge, believed to destroy an enemy's ghost and fuse it with the eater's, with the savage mind showing no pretensions of consistency. [1] Character is measured by the ability to resist holding grudges, not seeking revenge but instead having faith in truth and love for others. [2] Creative imagination inhibited by prejudice, hate, fears, resentments, revenge, and bigotries yields unworthy fruits. [3] Revenge, an early cause of war, persisted throughout history as tribes sought vengeance for the death of their kinsmen. [4] Jesus abhorred retaliation and taught his disciples to resist evil with love and forgiveness instead of seeking revenge. [5] Judas harbored deep-seated feelings of revenge, fueled by his distorted sense of self-importance and his inability to trust and love. [6]
Make no allowance for revenge, retaliation, grudges, or the concept of an eye for an eye; assign these matters to civil government and the judgment of God. [7] Revenge is the mask of cowardice, a shadow of fear in the universe. [8] The new gospel of the kingdom calls forth the very best of man's higher nature, transcending the material irritant of immaturity such as revenge. [9] Revenge planned in mind courts judgment, but the Father in heaven judges by the intent. [10] The pride of revenge blinds the souls of those seeking to kill me for speaking the truth. [11] Ignorance of true longings breeds vengefulness, hindering maturity and obstructing the divine urge of life. [12] Do not seek vengeance, but rather return good for evil in the kingdom of mercy and love. [13] Jesus portrayed conquest by sacrifice, showing mercy to portray spiritual deliverance from grudges, grievances, anger, selfish power, and revenge. [14] Jesus taught his followers to respond positively and aggressively to every situation, overcoming evil with good. [15]
The aim of primitive life was vengeance, but religion has since modified this attitude. [16] Vengeance does not right wrongs; do not fight evil with evil. [17] Vengeance is mine, says the Lord, as society has evolved from tribal blood vengeance to religious teachings against retaliation. [18]
Suicide hunger strikes were ancient forms of retaliation, but the teachings of the Dalamatians and modern comforts have made life sweeter and lessened this custom. [19]